It’s been 17 years since White Lion’s last record, Mane Attraction. With only original vocalist Mike Tramp left in the fold, the Lion is back with a nice chunk of progressive anthem rock called Return of the Pride. Playing the part of original shredder extraordinaire Vito Bratta is the very capable Jamie Law, who shows a few chops of his own on this surprisingly good record. Tramp’s lyrics are heady as he questions religion on “Sangre De Cristo” and examines Custer’s last stand on “Battle of Little Big Horn.” “Dream” is a big-ass song with swagger and licks to spare. Tramp’s raspy vocals sound spot-on as you can feel the arena…well, maybe the small club rocking, but they’re still big in Belgium. (Or is that Citizen Dick from “Singles”?) Get your lighters ready for the balladry of “Never Let You Go” and the first minute of “Set Me Free” before it settles into a big rock groove.
There is nothing incredibly innovative about the album; it’s just well executed, thoughtful, and extremely well played big rock. Keyboards and acoustic guitars fill the spaces between guitar virtuosity and layered backing vocals as Tramp and co-producer and bassist Claus Langeskov know how to get the most out of their sound. It sounds like an ’80s record, but in a good way. There is enough space to hear the instruments, as opposed to just a deafening set of the higher end with no bass or drums. It is crowded inside the White Lion sound, but clear. Listen to the snarling bass line in “Battle of Little Big Horn” and try to keep your toe from tapping and your head from banging. Return is a welcome and pleasant surprise. The inclusion of live versions of their two biggest songs, “Wait” and “When the Children Cry,” are unnecessary. It should be okay for a band to evolve and move forward even if celebrating their past in the spirit of their sound, especially with a record as strong as this one. It’s okay to move forward, boys. Really. (Airline)
