Lionville: A World of Fools (Frontiers)

A World of Fools is the third release from (mostly) Italian AOR band Lionville. I say mostly because they’re fronted by a Swedish singer; none other than Lars Safsund of Work of Art fame. A World of Fools is Lionville’s first album on the Frontiers label, and indeed it does seem like a step up for the band’s sound as well as their profile.

I have to admit I wasn’t the biggest fan of the first two Lionville albums. As much as I love Safsund’s “made for AOR” vocals, the band’s brand of Toto-worshiping AOR was just one (or two) steps too wimpy for me. Curiosity got the better of me here, and I’m happy to say A World of Fools was a pleasant surprise. Lionville still sounds like Lionville, but they seem to have made an effort to write catchier, more rocking songs, and it really pays off. The album is packed with catchier choruses, bigger melodies and huge vocals. Actually, it sounds like a Work of Art album, and that’s not a bad thing by any means.

It’s hard to pick a favorite song here, as A World of Fools is a surprisingly strong, surprisingly consistent album from start to finish. Album openers “I Will Wait” and “Show Me the Love” get things started on a high note, and were the songs that made me do a “this is Lionville?” double-take. The title track has a great Survivor vibe to it, and the layered vocal on the more laid back “Livin’ on the Edge” make it a definite highlight.

Fans of the first two Lionville albums are going to have no complaints at all about A World of Fools. How could they, when it is easily the strongest album the band has released? And people like me who had written this band off as too wimpy really owe it to themselves to give Lionville a fresh listen. A World of Fools is a fantastic AOR/melodic rock album that fans of bands like Work of Art, Pride of Lions, Place Vendome and of course Survivor and Toto will love.

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