Lion's Share - Inferno

Lion’s Share return with Inferno, their first full-length since 2009’s Dark Hours—though calling it a “comeback album” is a stretch. The band has remained active, releasing an EP in 2018 and a steady stream of singles from 2019 through 2024. In fact, much of Inferno compiles those tracks, making it less a traditionally written album and more a curated collection of the band’s recent output. Semantics aside, what matters is the music.

Since 2007’s Emotional Coma, Lion’s Share have been fronted by Nils Patrik Johansson (NPJ), whose presence continues to define the band’s sound. Drawing from a long history that dates back to 1987, Inferno strips things down to riff-driven traditional metal. The power metal leanings of Dark Hours take a backseat here, replaced by a sound rooted firmly in the DNA of Dio-era heaviness and 1980's Black Sabbath, with touches of Accept and Saxon.

The Dio comparison is inevitable with NPJ, and the band doesn’t shy away from it—Inferno embraces those influences rather than disguising them. “We Will Rock” in particular feels like a direct nod, not so much a copy as a close relative. Originality isn’t the goal here; execution is—and Lion’s Share largely deliver.

Across nine tracks, Inferno offers a consistent dose of old-school heavy metal. It avoids filler, even if it never quite transcends its influences. Lars Chriss continues to anchor the album with strong, driving riffs, especially on “Pentagram,” “We Are What We Are,” “Chain Child,” and “We Will Rock,” all built on classic galloping rhythms. On the heavier end, “The Lion’s Share” channels the darker atmosphere of Headless Cross, while closer “Run for Your Life” leans into a sludgy, doomy feel reminiscent of The Devil You Know by Heaven and Hell.

NPJ’s voice has evolved over time. Where he once leaned on a smoother, more overtly Dio-like delivery, he now brings a rougher, gravel-edged tone that adds weight to his midrange. The resemblance is still there, but it feels less like imitation and more like identity.

Inferno isn’t groundbreaking, nor does it aim to be. Instead, it’s a solid, workmanlike collection of metal anthems that capture the spirit of the genre’s golden era. It may not rival the classics that inspired it, but it keeps that flame burning—loud and unapologetic.