I wasn't a fan of the last DSI record at all. I thought it came across as bland and boring and way too much like Armor For Sleep. 'Lion' is much better and less like AFS. It actually reminds me of two other Victory bands in Spitalfield and The Junior Varsity, mixing the vocal stylings of the former with the guitar work of the latter. And it works too - 'The Ties That Bind And Breaks Within' and 'Better In The Rain' are great rock songs which are energetic, catchy and full of the good stuff. I can't say this album is perfect and I can't say it's the best Victory release of the year, but it is a massive improvement on the last album. It's more a band who have found their own little niche rather than a band feeling around and picking off their influences. Good but not great, 'Lion' is worth a listen nonetheless.
