Ivoryline - There Came a Lion Review

Ivoryline - There Came a Lion

Rating

RIYL

Story of the Year
Dead Poetic
Anberlin

Tracklist

1. Days End
2. We Both Know
3. Parade
4. All You Ever Hear
5. Be Still And Breathe
6. Remind Me I’m Alive
7. Left Us Falling
8. And The Truth Will End This
9. Bravery
10. Hearts and Minds
11. The Last Words

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Recent Ratings
Rick Gebhardt

Often, when bands are gifted a bigger production budget with a rise in popularity or move to a bigger label, the raw spark that ignited your interest in them can be blown out by the big ol’ can of Radio Gloss the dollars seem to bring in these days. However, there are some bands whose music simply needs that bigger budget for their sonic intentions to be realized.

Ivoryline’s debut release, The Life You Have EP, put them starkly in the latter camp. Whilst it displayed boundless promise and talent, it always played as a band hinting at what they could achieve, given the backing. Well, let me extend my gratitude to the chaps at Tooth and Nail for doing just that, as There Came A Lion sees Ivoryline realizing their potential in a hugely enjoyable manner.

There are a number of re-recorded songs from the EP that make up There Came A Lion’s tracklist, which would normally be a little irksome, but with the life breathed into songs like opener “Days End” and “Parade”, it is quite clear that this is how these songs were meant to sound when dreamt up. And that is -- big. Ivoryline find no need for subtlety, opting for a collection of songs that grab hold of the listener and captivate with a relentless urgency. Look no further than "Be Still And Breathe", a perfect introduction to the band's approach to rock. The vocals are hugely passionate and emotive, without sounding generic, and manage to convey an honesty most bands lack. The music greatly complements this, in its immediacy and intensity.

Their debut release may have hinted at their lofty intentions, but this release solidifies their deserved candidacy. Ivoryline’s brand of modern rock infused with such mammoth hooks has a hugely broad appeal. Their raw guitars and passionate delivery ensures that fans of Tooth and Nail's heavier acts won’t overlook them, but the perfect amount of Radio Gloss gives There Came A Lion a sparkle with which the band wouldn’t seem out of place next to the Foo Fighters atop rock radio charts.

--Alex Davies

Author

HEARTandSYNAPSE

Last updated: 09/29/2009 08:59PM

Comments

zrbrown

02/27/2008

07:04AM

Age: 30

Location
Cincinnasty, OH

I've listened to this a couple times through at work and enjoyed it but it never really had my full attention though. One thing that I will say is that I think the artwork on the cover is really good. I've spend quite a few hours trying to find it as a wallpaper with no avail. Sad.

Rick Gebhardt

02/27/2008

07:11AM

Age: 31

Location
Minnesota

Seems like I just don't agree with many of the recently posted reviews. This disc is decent, but no way is it 4 stars good. Seems like competently done rock, just like most of the stuff recently coming out of T&N. 3/5 for me.

Find me EVERYWHERE:

zrbrown

02/27/2008

08:43AM

Age: 30

Location
Cincinnasty, OH

rmgebhardt

Seems like I just don't agree with many of the recently posted reviews. This disc is decent, but no way is it 4 stars good. Seems like competently done rock, just like most of the stuff recently coming out of T&N. 3/5 for me.

I would agree. I definitely don't think that it is four star worthy but it is still a very solid disc. I think 3 - 3.5/5 would have been more appropriate but, then again, it's someones opinion and who are we to criticize. Not that that stops us....

ctsdrums

02/27/2008

09:31AM

we definitely need so sort of standards system. this isn't Alternative Press man. these bands aren't 4 stars good.

that being said. i REALLY like this album. i didn't want to but "Parade" just hooked me. i dig the hell of this BUT IT AIN'T FOUR STARS!!! c'mon!!!!!

benny06

02/27/2008

09:41AM

Age: 24

Location
Kansas

4/5 sounds good to me. i listened to this for a whole week and it's still not old. remind me i'm alive is one of the best songs ever created/

http://rateyourmusic.com/~benny06

JohnnyL

02/27/2008

10:00AM

Age: 30

Location
Columbus, Ohio

I give this album no more than 2.5 stars.

Recommending: Anberlin, Interpol, Chamberlain, House of Heroes

Rich

02/27/2008

10:17AM

Age: 26

Location
Leeds, England

I give this record 3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510582097494459230781640628620

This album is easily Pi.

zrbrown

02/27/2008

10:32AM

Age: 30

Location
Cincinnasty, OH

ctsdrums

we definitely need so sort of standards system.

Are you kidding me? All review are OPINIONS. There is no way to set a standard for such a thing because getting everyone, even the majority, of people to agree on one is nigh impossible.

theseed30

02/27/2008

10:36AM

Location
Cincinnati

I had high hopes and was really anticipating this release. It's a solid release with a few really catchy tracks. I was just not expecting it to sound so similar to others like Anberlin and even Saosin. Songs start to blend past track 6...

I think a solid 3 stars is deserving

ctsdrums

02/27/2008

10:59AM

zrbrown

There is no way to set a standard for such a thing

i think you are wrong but oh well. let's just give everything 5 stars cause like that's just my opinion maaaaan.

schenkers

02/27/2008

11:16AM

ctsdrums

i think you are wrong but oh well. let's just give everything 5 stars cause like that's just my opinion maaaaan.

Did you just pull a Jeff Bridges on us?

zrbrown

02/27/2008

12:24PM

Age: 30

Location
Cincinnasty, OH

ctsdrums

i think you are wrong but oh well.

Anyone care to back me up? Lol. I mean, just think about it. If you "Technical Guitar Work" as a category in your standard don't you think that different people are going to have different views on what "Technical Guitar Work" is?

ctsdrums

02/27/2008

12:42PM

i think that any magazine, newspaper, etc. is going to have standards of operation man. i've worked for newspapers in the past and i can tell you first hand that this is true. you have to maintain credibility and respect or you lose your readership because your opinion becomes invalid.

if i wrote for the New York Times and turned in a review of 'Legally Blonde' and gave it 5 stars because, hey, that's my opinion - you know what the editors would say? "sorry, you're wrong, there is no way that is a 5 star movie, revise your review or we're not running it."

Aaron Yarborough

02/27/2008

01:04PM

Age: 30

Location
Atascadero, CA

so basically everyone at decoy should get together before a review is run to go over what each person would rate the given album so that we dont lose our credibility because someone likes it and someone hates it? Thats makes zero sense, i can't believe we're arguing over a 4 star review either, 5 maybe, but i cant condone someone for giving out a rating they feel it deserves.

Decoymusic.com (CEO/Founder)
Blue Reef Design Studios (Web Development)
http://aarontroy.tumblr.com

schenkers

02/27/2008

01:10PM

Decoy Music =/= New York Times

Spartan E7

02/27/2008

01:36PM

Age: 25

Location
Infinitely Inwards

Who gives a damn either way. Alex likes pop music, I like metal...who's right? Existence is composed of individual perceptions and our perceptions discern our personal reality. Concerning that statement, Nobody is right. Anyway, I am not intending to sound condescending because arguing is irrelevant.I think the review was well informed and the RIYL was close. The band plays their style well and it sounds pretty cool.

Ever Forthright - Ever Forthright
Fallujah - The Harvest Wombs
The New Law - The Fifty Year Storm
The Mars Volta - Noqtourniqet
Aborted - Global Flatline
Spawn of Possession - Incurso
Crippled Black Phoenix - (Mankind)The Crafty Ape

HEARTandSYNAPSE

02/27/2008

01:54PM

Location
Manchester, England

well, i never thought the day would come when people were hating on the fact i gave an album four stars.

Rick Gebhardt

02/27/2008

02:13PM

Age: 31

Location
Minnesota

Ok everyone, let's stop arguing and admire the sheer awesomeness of Jesus after hanging out with Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens for a month...

Find me EVERYWHERE:

Spartan E7

02/27/2008

02:26PM

Age: 25

Location
Infinitely Inwards

The guy that is supposed to stab him with a spear might want to reconsider.

scott.m

02/27/2008

02:54PM

Dammit Rick, I found this version like two weeks ago

But hadn't found an opportunity to use it. Now you go ahead and use it without any contextual relevance. Oh well, shit or get off the pot, I guess.

Beer Blog

monkeybars

02/27/2008

03:24PM

Age: 25

Location
Markham, ON

HEARTandSYNAPSE

well, i never thought the day would come when people were hating on the fact i gave an album four stars.

Maybe he's confused, and thinks it's like a movie rating.

P.S. This is what the alphabet would look like if you removed Q and R.

theseed30

02/27/2008

05:25PM

Location
Cincinnati

Damn...Jesus is jacked!!

CarryUsAway

02/27/2008

08:13PM

Age: 23

Location
Milpitas, CA

this cd was disappointing.

Gella

02/28/2008

05:11AM

Location
Des Moines, IA

Sounds like a reprise of Further Seems Forever - with a little more production. But I'd still give it a 3/5.

Brodude

02/29/2008

05:52AM

Age: 31

Location
Toronto, Ontario

I could not get into this, just boring.

DecoyMusic.com