Becoming The Lion began as a solo project and has returned to those roots. This newest EP sees the project reimagined as more of a Hard Rock/Alternative band than the previous Post-Hardcore stylings. Sometimes, you just have to change direction and see where it leads. That is exactly what Ross has done and it is quite easy to hear that he has some major influences from those two genres. There are still elements of the Hardcore and Metal subgenres, such as with the occasional harsh vocal layered in, but what do you expect? Nobody truly leaves their previous life behind without at least a few lingering aspects carrying over from the last iteration.

https://becomingthelion.bandcamp.com/album/turning-point

Band Members:

  • Ross Blomgren – Guitar, Vocals, Bass

Release Date:

January 19, 2024

Self-Released

Tracklist:

  1. Intentional Liar
  2. Great Escape
  3. Foolish Chameleon
  4. Stone’s Throw
  5. Turning Point

The album opens with a slow, delicate track called “Intentional Liar.” There is a haunting tenderness to the melody that compliments the lyrical theme. The build is quite well done, aided by the layered vocals that increase in both volume and intensity. The harsh backing vocals that fill in underneath the main melody line give the song a Nu-Metal feel within the Alternative Rock rhythm. That blending of genres works on a couple of levels. They play off each other very well, crafting a different tone than you often get in the Hard Rock style.

That harsh vocal mixed with the clean reminds me of one of the more diverse bands in the first wave of Nu-Metal, Sevendust, whom I love with a passion. Their ability to go from Heavy to Hard Rock and even Melodic Metal makes them one of the more creative bands going today. Becoming The Lion gives me some similar vibes, moving back and forth through various genres and styles, bringing different influences and sounds together in a rich mixture that is beyond much of what is available in the Hard Rock/Metal realm.

The layers of vocals and guitars, sometimes exuberant, often haunted, and melancholic, drive this EP. There is a lot of emotion in the music and the vocals, reflecting the lyrical content. The words and sounds are intimately tied together, weaving around each other, crafting a cohesive work that evokes exactly what the writer wants you to feel. The Melodic Hard Rock that permeates most of this EP is fully infused with enough emotion to fill your mind and make you question how you feel about what you just heard. This is the mark of good music. It challenges you to analyze how and why you think and feel as you do, so well done Becoming The Lion, you’ve accomplished exactly that.

MZ Ratings:

Musicianship:

  •             Guitars – 9
  •             Rhythms – 9
  •             Vocals – 10
  • Songwriting – 9
  • Production – 9

Overall – 9.20