As one of the most influential bass players in heavy metal, it should come as no surprise that
Iron Maiden's
Steve Harris' instantly recognizable galloping eighth notes ride high in the mix on his first ever solo outing.
British Lion, which was originally the name of the band that
Harris and some non-
Maiden mates formed in the early '90s to tear through some sword and sorcery-less, dive bar-ready hard rock in the vein of
UFO,
Deep Purple, and
the Scorpions, sounds exactly like its influences would suggest. Toss in a little
Rainbow,
Whitesnake,
Judas Priest, and a tiny smattering of his meal-ticket band and you've got a serviceable slab of unpretentious yet utterly forgettable '80s retro-metal that adheres to every cliché in the book -- which is forgivable, as it was brought into this world by one of that book's authors. ~ James Christopher Monger