British Lion – Live – Liquid Room Live Review

Review By Darren McIntyre Images by Scot Anderson

British Lion is a 5 piece hard rock band from London, England who were formed in 2012 by legendary Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris initially as a side project from his bass duties with Iron Maiden. The idea was to get back to playing smaller venues to allow Steve to get up close and personal with the crowd just like back in the old days, the project was initially a solo one with musicians penned as his backing band. The idea was re-positioned as a self-contained band as it was thought that the unit was just to powerful to be a solo project, the boys have given us albums British Lion in 2012 & The Burning in 2020 and are currently working on new material to bring to the table. Tonight the boys roll into Edinburgh @ Liquid Room to shake us to our very foundation, please join me as I walk us through this colossal night of British rock n roll at its very best. The place is rammed with every corner filled with eager punters ready to get a glimpse of this iconic musician as he lets the boys loose in Auld Reekie, first up tonight is the rousing beast

This Is My God – The intro takes bellows through the house PA as Steve and the boys make their way to the stage the tension builds as the track kicks in the doors and hits us with a full-on bassline that is pumping through the venue tonight as Richard lets his vocals do the talking from the get-go. The place is bouncing as we get the command of Let me see your hands and we oblige without compromise. The track is the perfect opener from the boys as we hit the ground running and this lets us know that we are in for a cracking night of good old rock n roll from these London boys, the pounding rhythm section is controlling the beat from the back of the room as we feel the energy pouring from the stage as we roll into –

Judas – A haunting guitar lick oozes from the off as the melodic vocals let this track come to life as the deep meaty bassline shatters the room with its intensity as the rhythm section gives us cymbal crashes that give this track attitude. The place erupts with sheer joy as the boys give us a real foot-stomping monster that is just getting us warmed up as the place takes these boys and welcomes them with open arms, the twin guitar attack gives this track depth as the track brings soulful vocals that work well through this arrangement, we slip into –

Father Lucifer – A full-on punchy rock track that has cool snare drum punches that are followed by bass kicks that just let this track break free. Richard’s vocals are melodic and just wrap themselves around this rocking beast as we just watch with joy as the boys bring it and then some, we are asked to raise our hands and let the boys do their thing as David hits us with a sizzling solo that catches our attention, deep full on basslines are dropping heavy grooves all through the midsection as Richard gets us to sing back to him as the snare rolls rain down on us from a great height as we move onto –

2000 Years( New Track) – The track begins with a shredding power-drenched guitar intro that gets the juices flowing as this track gets its Edinburgh debut. The arrangement is a rasping melodic number that works well with the cool vocals that are pouring from the stage tonight, we are just loving the new material as it slots into place from where the boys left off last year. The rhythm section brings cymbal snaps that have punchy bass kicks that fill the air as the track builds and builds with every note that is hitting us straight in the face tonight, we are bellowing back I Am to the delight of Steve and the boys, we stroll into the classic –

The Burning – From the off we get a thundering rhythm section that gives us a cool double bass kick that welcomes solid snare drum beats that allow the track to flow freely. The vocals are just on the money as they let the track open and wrap itself around us as the groove is coming for us with a real slick clean guitar riff that is filling the air as the boys settle into their groove and let this rocking beast take us to somewhere else as we are just feeling the tone coming at us right now, the track is a fast-paced rock track that is hitting us with short sharp bursts of shredding guitar licks and a real punchy pounding rhythm section that is giving it’s all tonight, we slip into the epic –

Legend – Guitar riffs greet us as basslines drop mellow tones all through the intro as the pounding rhythm section brings the heat in this foot-stomping beast. The cool soulful vocals are flowing effortlessly through the track as we are getting into these boys as they offload with real passion as this crowd favourite gets us going. The guys are enjoying themselves tonight as they look at our faces and know that we are enjoying ourselves tonight, the place is just oozing with joy as the boys stroll around the stage and feel the energy coming from this sold-out excited audience as Richard really delivers cool melodic vocals for this epic track, we roll into –

These Are The Hands – A punchy pounding intro that brings snare drum grooves that wrap themselves around this cool beat that has slick clean guitar riffs all over it. The whole arrangement is a rasping monster that has depth, attitude and bags of soul as Richard comes in with his unmistakeable vocal assault that just takes this track to another level as the place feels the energy pouring from the stage as full-on basslines drop funky tones that mix well with the crisp guitar licks that we are getting tonight, coming right at us is super cool –

A World Without Heaven – A crunching power-drenched intro comes at us with a real solid snare drum beat that allows this haunting effort to let loose as the acoustic strumming chords work well with the mix that is hitting us tonight. The deep bass tones fill every corner of this sold-out venue as we watch in awe as the boys take this gig up a notch with well-written lyrics that flow and grab a hold of you, this is a real winner with this sold-out Edinburgh crowd as they punch the air as Richard gives his all for this fantastic foot stomping rock n roll groover, we stop for a second as Richard explains the next track and what it means to him Grahame & Steve as it is a personal message from the boys as we get to grips with –

Spit Fire – Richard’s haunting vocals let this mesmerising track take us to another place as Steve mouthes every word of this epic piece of music. The track bursts into life with a solid pounding rhythm groove that has snare drum punches, and cymbal crashes with bass kicks that work so well in this awesome arrangement. The boys are doing their thing and just getting the crowd involved as Syeve comes centre stage as he proudly shows off his trademark Whale, Oil, Beef, Hooked shirt he rests his foot on the monitor as the boys deliver a foot-stomping beast of a track that is wrapped in the colossal smooth melodic vocals as Richard digs deep and lets the crowd in Auld Reekie know that the boys are happy you all came out tonight. The tempo dips so Richard can control the crowd and get them to sing along, and we rock right into the fantastic –

The Chosen Ones – Richard chats with the crowd and gets us to interact as he gives us the history of the track before it erupts into action as the heavy-bassline drops fantastic grooves that work well with the twin guitar licks that are pulsing through this awesome piece of music. The foot-stomping rock track is a crowd favourite as we sing along and get into the boys as they deliver a faultless rendition that is as good as it was in 2102, the rhythm section is dropping cool solid snare drum punches that drive this cool track onwards. The groove is a shredding power riffed tone that breaks halfway through as the crowd start clapping furiously as Richard’s soulful vocals pour from the stage and let this monster explain itself, we slide straight into –

Land Of The Perfect People – Crisp clean guitar picks ooze from the intro as cymbal snaps fill the air as this killer track builds and builds as it explodes into life. The deep meaty bassline is wrapping itself around this crunching rock n roll track as the boys are giving it their all tonight, the bass kicks are like a pounding on your chest as Simon is driving this monster track onwards. The place is bouncing as the boys are nearing full pelt we feel the energy oozing from the stage as the tempo changes pace a little. The clean guitar licks are driving forward as the cymbal snaps give the track some depth as the melodic vocal chants reach every corner of this sold-out venue, It’s an epic track finished with a slick clean solo that is just awesome. we are heading to the business end of the show as we roll into –

Us Against The World – There is a real Maiden tinge to this pounding monster as the tempo kicks in the doors and brings us a real haunting melodic groove. The haunting vocals are just awesome as they control this foot-stomping beast as the rhythm section delivers a colossal double bass kicks beat that brings in snare drum beats that are finished with killer cymbal crashes that let this track soar, the crowd loves every second of this killer track as they are singing along to every word as the boys have huge smiles on their faces as they see the crowd lapping up every morsel of energy from this fantastic outfit, we are in for a treat as the boys deliver another new track in the form of –

Wasteland – There is a real theatrical feel to this epic new track as the band pull out all the stops as this crunching beast rears its head and makes itself known. The gritty riffs are followed by a full-on bassline that is just giving us what we came for tonight let me tell you, the whole place is rocking and singing along to what they know before the tempo changes pace and takes us in a different direction as the whole band are just gelling as they bounce off each other and bring the groove to this foot-stomping beast as the whole place is shaking to its very foundations tonight, I will say that if you missed out tonight then shame on you as Richard takes us homeward with a cool sing-along that just puts smiles on faces tonight, we are 3 songs from the finish line as they drop the epic beast that is

Lightening – This is a personal story of Richard’s as he tells us that he was approached in the street on his manor and asked who he was and what he was doing. The story unfolds as he takes us through his experience and brings it to life through his music and the music of the boys, the rhythm section is giving it large from the back of the room as the snare drum punches rain down on us as the deafening bassline is dropping the hammer and giving us a deep beat that lets this mesmerising track come to life. The killer vocals flow effortlessly through the venue as we feel the tone hit us and let the riffs wrap themselves around us as we move on

Last Chance – A punchy snare drum beat rings out as this fast-paced rock n roll monster unfolds and brings this place to life with its gritty beat. The vocals are just on the money as this killer track lets us know that the boys are here and mean business as the slick well-oiled machine kicks into overdrive and brings epic punchy beats that are just cool. This is the last but one track and seems a perfect way to end this epic night of power-drenched rock tracks that have just soaked the crowd in pure classy riffs that is what we came for tonight, we come to the last track and it’s a goodie –

Eyes Of The Young – We bring down the curtain on a fabulous night of rock n roll in the form of this soulful arrangement as Richard comes in with cool vocals that are wrapped in a pounding rhythm section. The crowd are singing along as this bass-driven beast hits us with epic tones that are steeped in slick clean guitar grooves that allow this classy number the room it deserves as the place hits fever pitch and just watch in awe as Steve and the boys drive the British Lion juggernaut right through the heart of Edinburgh tonight. We get a slick cool guitar lick that works its way through the main vein of this incredible track as the place joins in in the chorus as Richard takes us homeward with a rousing vocal masterclass.

British Lion –

Richard Taylor – Vocals / Acoustic Guitar

David Hawkins – Guitars

Grahame Leslie – Guitars

Steve Harris – Bass

Simon Dawson – Drums

Setlist –

This Is My God

Judas

Father Lucifer

2000 Years(New)

The Burning