Pride in Tact

Pride in Tact, released in November 1994, is the second album, on which Lionsheart sounded the drama of properly British melodic metal around Steve Grimmett's resilient voice. Thick guitar and keyboard support lift the choruses wide, and even where technique shows, the songs return finally to melodic clarity. The placement of powerful riffs, a soaring vocal and dense harmony shows a trust in traditional metal. From the opening “Déjà Vu” into “I'll Stand Up,” and on to “Gods of War” and “Stronger Than Steel,” there are twelve songs. Nick Burr proved fully equal to the role Mark Owers had held on the debut. Because it competes on the strength of song and riff rather than flash alone, it became hard-edged melodic metal that outlives the fashions of its moment. And it sold over 100,000 copies in Japan. In the age of grunge, the listeners who backed them hardest for holding this line were Japanese. The Japanese edition adds “Love Won't Bring Me Down.” It also widens the range of the debut, from AOR-leaning balladry to harder blues rock, and many name it the band's best.