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Daniel Lioneye is the side project of HIM’s Linde and Burton. To describe this project would be pointless, as the outfit’s two releases have very little in common. Their first is a semi-stoner rock album and was released only in a few European countries, while the new album has a decidedly Extreme Metal (more often than not of a Black Metal nature) bent to it – either way it’s safe to say that this has very little in common with their day jobs in HIM.
Vol. II allows the band’s extreme interests to dominate, while some songs bend toward the more progressive side of things (the best example being the downright amazing “Saturnalia”) or allow some over the tope melodies to creep in, the vast majority of the album is like a big, ugly steamroller that doesn’t care what you think about it. “Euroshaman,” “The Mentat,” and “Kiss of the Cannibal” are all fine examples of that that hold their ground even among the toughest of critics. “The Mentat” kind of sounds like what Billy Corgan might sound like if he were fronting an extreme band. HIM fans may find some common ground here with the more hard rock oriented “I Never Wanted to Be Number One”- which is probably the lone example of a song that might catch the attention of the mainstream.
What is most surprising about Vol. II is how seriously Extreme Metal fans are able to take this. I honestly thought that this album might be another round of jokes but if it is then no one is going to get it. It’s too good to be taken as a joke. If you like your music heavy, fast, and crushing then this is definitely worth investing some time and money in.
Bottom Line: Hard hitting, intense, and surprisngly great.
Key Tracks: "The Mentat," "Saturnalia"
Reviewed by: Mark Fisher
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