Lion Drome

stereostickman.com 6-02-2026 Review

Hero Down album

When a lead guitarist from the thrash metal realm first connected with modern rock and timeless 80s melodies and storytelling, the mighty Lion Drome were quick to deliver a series of uniquely creative, performative and brilliantly original songs.

Their music was consistently interesting – a key point to make – but also impressive and unpredictable, and this summer that truth resounds in swathes, as their highly-anticipated album Hero Down hits all major platforms.

Beginning with Black Light Cobra, the cinematic, arena-ready vastness and contrasting prog-rock distortion, the anthemic outcry, all collaborates well throughout an energising, mysterious opening song. Progressive rock is grounding, while the lyrics are playful, the vocals are impassioned and versatile, and the set-up and structure achieve some careful fusion of quirky theatrical and thoughtfully provocative.

It’s a strong start, from an album noting 11 original tracks in full, and turning the corner into a U2-esque ethereal rock whisper and wonder, for The Dream of Traveler VII.

Stories are the lifeblood of Hero Down, but they feel vague enough to be almost metaphorical and made the listeners own – the details intrigue, but the overall vibe and resolve of songs like this gift a personal feel, and that’s is a line that Lion Drome always walk well.

For the title-track we get a touch of psychedelic rock, lighter tones and a wonderful bassline, an intoxicating groove and something like Pink Floyd to Bowie vocals lightly soaked in reverb – plus a melody that’s partly melancholic, partly optimistic. An early personal favourite, and creatively powerful in contrast, instrumentation, and emotion all at once. We also hear the true talent and nuance of a superb leading vocalist on tracks like this – another worthy trait that keeps you coming back to the eclecticism of Lion Drome.

King Of The Club injects a twist of funky keys and countering drama, while First Train takes a more spacious eighties route and lays down something a little less lyrically full.

After this, the acoustic guitar picking of Lost Along The Way feels like the stripped-back Led Zeppelin moment of the album, again blending those eighties influences for something evocative and memorable – another personal highlight, but all the more effective for its smart placement before the soaring electric guitar riffs and high-octane tempo of a rather exhilarating Star 5280. The latter is easily one of the most instantly recognizable tracks on the album.

Something haunting and world-music infused lets the pop-rock groove of Deliver Us set a new kind of vibe, before we get a brilliant arena anthem of satisfying resolves and playful creativity letting 8 Trac Flashback add something like a post-punk crescendo to the album.

After this, a sultry funky soul and indie-rock or Brit-pop aura lets Goodnight Sleep Tight connect beautifully – Lion Drome masterfully arranging these diverse yet likable songs every step of the way.

I Will Follow (U2 cover) wraps things up with a classic pop-punk and rock-style anthem, a chant-like repeat and refrain, but there’s also a radio-edit of the distinct 8 Trac Flashback to appreciate, for those of a mildly more mainstream disposition.

Lion Drome are impressive, they’re interesting – first and foremost – they’re unpredictable, but they also make sure to engage listeners, with soaring riffs, powerful countering voices and energies, and stories that feel relatable but impossible to expect.

The influences are vast, but the sound still somehow holds closely to its own recognisable voice. Maybe that’s the frontman’s tone, the performative flair, the playfulness, the nuance or metaphorical implications. Maybe it’s the rise and fall of each song, the delicacy and ferocity all contained within the walls of every chapter.

In any case, Hero Down is a brilliantly cool, complex and unique album, and it’s absolutely worth a listen – especially if real rock music and artistic freedom are what moves you or fires you up.

stereostickman.com 3-27-2026 Review

Good Night Sleep tight single

The brilliant Lion Drome continue their climb, this time briefly softening the mood with something sultry, funky, but ultimately dark and intense in its commitment to concept. Featuring lush vocals, expressive and fluid, with long-form verse melodies that descend and satisfy with charm and character, Goodnight Sleep Tight is a compelling taste of the upcoming May album from Lion Drome, and draws upon imagery from the much-loved 1987 movie Raising Arizona. Soulful and expressive, something like The Smiths meets Arctic Monkeys, only with a twist of crooner, hard rock and anthemic indie, all woven into the same creative mix – the verses are a thing of their own, and the hook is something else entirely; a simpler moment, distorted and bold, less lyrically dense but snappy and conclusive for this melodic poem that’s rolled out. Great riffs and songwriting are the lifeblood of independent rock outfit Lion Drome, and this song cements that truth, gathering momentum and passion throughout a fascinating mix, which satisfies but also maintains its unpredictable elements consistently. The arrangement is dramatic but not without contrast – quieter and quirky verses, softness then weight, and a fine fusion of genres from subtle indie funk to progressive rock and metal riffs that rain down around a huge performative lead. Conceptually this one is important – the universal fear as parents, grandparents, that the world is changing in ways far beyond our control. The world is scary, cold, uncomfortable, and Goodnight Sleep Tight accesses the core feeling of that truth – the warmth of the family and the juxtaposed bitterness of what lingers outside. Well worth a listen this year. Nobody creates music quite like the mighty Lion Drome.

stereostickman.com 2-12-2026 Review

King of the Club Single

They’re back with a bang – slick grooves and funky basslines, soulful vocals. Lion Drome remain unpredictable and entertaining, as King Of The Club pours through with a totally unique creative core. From playful live-band verses to a vastly atmospheric, immersive chorus, the use of contrast in King Of The Club is intense, and wholly original. The lyrics are mysterious, then minimalist, and we get a kind of rap-melody-theatrical performance along the way. Weave in the distinct arrangement, the string-like fullness, the rock opera echo, the sudden shift from intimate vocals to something more distant and all-consuming, and we’re onto something boldly unmistakable. Structurally and performatively King Of The Club rightfully marches to the beat of its own drum, and even throws in a seductive and rather tense guitar solo during the second half. At over four minutes in full, the song takes full advantage of its own freedom, and of the band’s sheer love for jamming and crafting songs of conceptual relevance to themselves. In other words, the story, however vague and mysterious, is clearly connected to the musical vibe, and that holds your interest well. From indie funk to progressive rock, there’s something unexpected and memorable, even addictive, about King of The Club. And to mix things up further still, Lion Drome added a Kool & The Gang cover to this release, a B-side rocking their take on the mighty Misled. The guitars and voices, the ambient reverb and the groove, all feel perfectly suited to this phase of Lion Drome expression, and the song makes for a satisfying follow-up to the performative and charming King of The Club.

stereostickman.com 12-19-2025 Review

Black Light Cobra Single

In anticipation of their upcoming Spring album Hero Down, the distinctly creative rock project Lion Drome launches the intriguing and artistically enthralling Black Light Cobra – an infectious and impressive single, which emerges complete with a unique cover of U2’s I Will Follow.

Live alternative rock with a theatrical but distorted tone and pace, Black Light Cobra is explosive and quirky, but also catchy and satisfying. It’s a huge arrangement and song, beautifully written, with some unexpected changes in melody and mood that really help elevate that inherent emotional depth and character quite brilliantly.

Soaring drumlines and power chords, fast fingers and raspy but energised vocals, make up the lifeblood of Lion Drome, and this new set of tracks comes after a significant period of difficulty for the musicians in the band. Out of the ashes rises some of their best music yet though, and Black Light Cobra is supreme in its use of cinematic detail, evolution, story, and sentiment. It’s a snappy but evocative track, often atmospheric and soulful, at other times almost punk-rock-like in its outcry and anthemic resolves.

Coming in at close to seven minutes, Black Light Cobra is a mighty testament to the conviction and heart of Lion Drome. Their music is always an event, their songwriting fascinating but also edgy and smart, and the ambiance here, the riffs, melodies and quieter moments alike, all presents an intoxicating and genuinely original sound.

What’s also impressive, is that the story of this song is told using song and album titles from 28 different artists. The influences are vast, but with that, the identity of the band is undeniable.

Black Light Cobra

Esteemed Rock Journalist Martin Popoff responds to the song Black Light Cobra

12/29/2022

Martin,

Happy Thursday!

Can I broach something a bit transactional?

I've been wearing down to the nub my copy of Collectors Guide to HM.

Love listening to the History podcast and appearances on SOT for a

long time. Makes the hr commute bearable.

I bought Agents of Fortune book today! Looking forward to it.

Now for something I hope you will really dig...

It is a wild epic ride called Black Light Cobra, a stand-alone

single getting ready for January. Full of ear candy and 27

references to that many artists by using album or song titles as

lyrics. A celebration of digging deep into music, playing it over

and over... and maybe getting visited by the constellation Ophiucus

via your black light poster, to enjoy music with you. Kinda trippy

but cool I think.

Use those good headphones!

Best to you

Mike and Lion Drome

liondromemusic.com

That was friggin' awesome.

So that Bitter-Rivals order is you?

Man, this was so well written, loved the chord changes, the chemistry

in the playing, especially the drumming. - Martin

Yeah Bitter-Rivals is me.

For a short time I had a college footbal rivals t=shirt business,

hence the name.

My goodness, to get that acknowledgement from you made my day!

I will tell Jerry the drummer your compliment.

I'll take the compliment on the writing and at least some of the

playing! I did cover a lot of melodic ground.

And thanks again for indulging. Mighty fine of you!

Mike and Lion Drome

I see, nice! No, loved the chord changes, the singing, everything...

Martin

StereoStickMan.com 5-24-2023 Review

Lion Drome S/T Release

Taking inspiration from the renowned Wall Of Death features at many a motorcycle festival, Lion Drome more than live up to the ferocity, skill and grit of their name throughout this genre-fusing, anthem-loaded album.

Here and Gone kicks off the self-titled new album from the Colorado outfit with a bold fusion of raspy rock vocals, soaring live drums, guitars and electronic layers of colour.

We rise up with precision and passion, from story and detail to the simple resolve and chorus of ‘find a way to go’, and the band top this delivery and arrangement with a cascading guitar solo that naturally illuminates the nostalgic aspect off their sound.

Things mellow out briefly for a melodically enchanting SOL 2208, intrigue and ambiance setting the mood for a conceptual deep-dive that effectively shines lights on the vastness of topic exploration that is this album in full. Increasingly the soundscape gathers momentum, the performance on the drums reaching peak levels and the surrounding guitars and vibe swiftly following suit.

Fashion Blind keeps that pro-ability at the forefront, touching on a post-punk energy in both political concept and delivery, promising another heroic listen that tops off three fiercely powerful first songs.

Only nine-tracks in full but clearly aware of its own completed status as an album and art-form, Lion Drome displays audience-awareness by way of contrast both within each song and throughout the playlist. Consider the haunting intimacy and raw guitar sound of Parallel Construction, evolving into an explosively immersive, hypnotic arena-rock realm that’s damn near psychedelic as it pours through.

Humble other-worldly electro layers also introduce with mystique and atmospheric appeal That Bird Don’t Fly ‘Round Here no More (reprise) – a personal favourite, almost free-style as it blends drama and dreamy escapism.

Lips Of Faith is also a highlight, catchy riffs and rising anticipation meeting with an unsettling vocal warp and yesteryear rock production to weave a story of the spouses left to maintain home life as soldiers are deployed for war. No subject matter seems out of reach for Lion Drome – nor any creative direction or sound.

Talk of conflict continues for the almost pop-punk tempo and tone of Greatest Generation, another quirky stand-out for its scenery and short lines that grip.

To wrap things up, the retro warmth and familiar patterns of covers Eyes Without A Face and Sunglasses at Night strike with unexpected yet welcomed twists of melody and pace.

Perhaps epic is something of an understatement in terms of how vast and artistically-rooted each of these songs proves to be. For the contemporary listener looking for that timeless route back to progressive exploration and rock depth, Lion Drome is an easy must.

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Reviews

PitchPerfectSite.com 11-04-2022 Review

Lion Drome
self-released; 2022

4.0 out of 5

By Dom Eagle

Lion Drome is an alternative hard-rock outfit that hails from Northern Colorado. Led by Mike Lopez, this group offers something significantly edgier than Lopez’s solo work. Their sophomore album Lion Drome is an exciting look at what’s to come from this promising band.

“Here and Gone” instantly impressed me, as I’m a big fan of a well-crafted album opener. I like grandiose and ambitious musical statements, and Lion Drome certainly offers that on their first song. The marvelous staccato strings and electric guitar chugs definitely screamed, “Welcome to the album!” I love the way in which synths and strings mesh with sizzling, distorted guitar on this introductory track. Lopez’s vocals are also a captivating element of the piece. Nothing feels muddy or buried. Every instrument has its place and purpose.

The second track, “SOL 2208,” takes a different sonic approach, while maintaining the dark and haunting aesthetic present on the opening track. That’s how you make an album. Keep the vibe consistent, but offer something new, musically, on each track. I love what they’ve done here. I hear a real Dillinger Escape Plan influence on this song. The dissonant guitar melody and harmonized vocals are both truly hypnotic. In particular, I enjoyed the heavy switch-up in the last segment of this nearly-seven-minute masterpiece; the heavy riff, chaotic cymbal crashes and piercing lead guitar solo merged to deliver a mesmerizing finish.

The riff on “Fashion Blind” somehow manages to be incredibly upbeat without losing the dark, cutting vibe of the first two tracks. Kudos to Lion Drome for managing, as I mentioned, to maintain a consistent dark aesthetic but still attempt something new on every song. This transitions smoothly into the equally mellow, lounge-rock ballad, entitled “Parallel Construction:”another moody, atmospheric banger, driven by flanger-heavy electric guitar and tempered drumming. I was transfixed by the epic finish with frantic, distorted strumming, synth swells and a booming beat. I truly love a song that can fill me with that sense of euphoria in its final moments.

“That Bird Don’t Fly ‘Round Here No More (Reprise)” opens with a very distant, reverberating guitar riff and echoing vocals. It’s the most ethereal and electronic output from Lion Drome so far, but it clings to the dark and brooding energy that has been present on every track so far. They continually reinvent themselves without ever losing their aesthetic. Then, “Lips of Faith” smoothly follows, maintaining the serene and atmospheric vibe of the previous song, gradually reintroducing us to some of their heavier elements with a scorching guitar solo halfway through the song. The second solo in the final minute of the track amps up the distortion, and the drumming becomes more chaotic once more.

The rock energy continues on “Greatest Generation.” Though it opens with a rather restrained clean guitar melody and gentle singing, the brief strum of a heavy guitar gives the listener a heads up that something epic awaits. As promised, booming choruses and a fierce electric guitar solo follow. I particularly enjoyed the vocal hook in the choruses. Then, in a complete left-turn, “Eyes Without A Face” opens with ‘80s synths and surf-rock guitar. It is a rather sweet little ballad but also the first tune to break away from the sinister and foreboding energy of the album as a whole. Still, it was a lovely song, so it would’ve been a shame to leave it out of the album. And it did deliver huge hard-rock power chords in the second half, so it wasn’t a complete disconnect from the rest of the songs.

“Sunglasses at Night” is a heavy closing track that neatly wraps up Lion Drome. A throbbing bass drum drives the track, but the most prominent element is the heavy-metal guitar arpeggio which transforms into huge, electrifying chords in the choruses. There are some signature synth strings in the verses, too. Lion Drome offers a very catchy vocal melody in the choruses and some magnificent lead guitar throughout the song, as well. A truly powerful ending to a truly powerful album.

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stereostickman.com 6-15-2023 review

2014 debut "curve of the earth"

Circling back a little for an impressively timeless collection of tracks, Colorado rock project Lion Drome delivered an unexpectedly epic and raw debut album, in 2014 – the mighty and mesmeric Curve Of The Earth.

Conceptual depth and vulnerability seem to meet with a bold rock integrity and a consistently evocative voice, first ignited by the vastness and weight of The Nite Is On (Feat. Chris Heckman) – taken further still by the suddenly electronic-rock warmth and equal poetic contemplation of Winter.

Performance and writing are key, the soundscapes supporting and enhancing these qualities but still keeping them at the forefront. The voice is theatrical yet honest, the lyrics clever, thoughtful and revealing; often piercingly relatable.

These two opening tracks alone depict such qualities in strong supply, both intensely gripping anthems of fearless passion and longing, almost progressive structurally, but each offering a completely different musicality along the way.

Twelve tracks in full, Curve Of The Earth proves to be one of those gritty indie rock projects balancing warmth of design with authenticity of soul and uncertainty – making it an easy one to let play, at volume.

Great songwriting, interesting and a little in tune with the likes of Ash or Smashing Pumpkins from back in the day, with an emotional and expressive top-line that leans more notably towards rock and roll’s greatest stage acts.

The title-track Curve Of The Earth is a fine example of that balance, before the briefly Stone Sour-like soul of Shake It Off redirects things towards the intimate and alluring. Arrangement matters, and this stripped-back, artistically poignant moment is perfectly placed for impact.

Highlights include the distortion and clarity dynamic of Angel (Nobody Told You), anthemic with its short lines and strong hits of rhythm and power, and the subsequently enchanting guitar-work and poetic imagery of a sensational Then It All Went White.

We also get to hear the original work of That Bird Don’t Fly Round Here No More, from which the Reprise emerged via 2022’s album Lion Drome, highlighting the versatility of Mike’s voice from quiet to impassioned. Then there’s a brilliantly infectious Shred Mix of Winter, as well as some other extended and bonus moments.

Wolf River is an added gem, blending Santana tones with that hint of Jeff Buckley meets Ricky Martin vocal style, before The Hard (Damn) Truth more than delivers upon the raw ache implied by its title, wrapping things up with a solo guitar and voice that softly pour through for a heartbroken curtain call.

Admittedly one to be revisited, Curve Of The Earth offers a handful of brilliant instances of both writing and performance, and delves into some profoundly human topics. The vibes remain relevant, perhaps more so in reflecting the past and connecting it to now.

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