Album Review: Lionheart – Welcome To The West Coast III (Arising Empire)

Heavy hardcore legends Lionheart are back in full force with new album Welcome to The West Coast III, set for release on 9th December via Arising Empire.

The guests are out in force on this one and for good reason. It’s the hardcore metal legends that is Lionheart and when they come calling, most will answer. Hatebreed’s Jamey Jasta, Bodycount’s Ice-T, E-Town Concrete’s Antmoney, Desmadre’s Los and Malevolence’s Alex Taylor all lend their talents and help make their tracks extra beastly.

Though that’s not to suggest the handful of tracks that don’t feature guests should be overlooked. After all, this is freaking Lionheart and they do hardcore heaviness better than most. Kicking off the album with a crowd-killing anthem (The Trilogy Intro) and breaking bones with the chunky carnage-inducing brilliance of Hell on Earth.

In between those comes the first of two tracks that feature Jasta, the stompy groove monster that is Death Comes In 3’s. A frenzied mugging dished out by Lionheart while Jasta screams encouragement. The Hatebreed frontman also appears on the later track, Deathbed Confession, where the pace is downright treacherous and the aggression is palatable.

One of the highlights sees Ice-T spit some colossal barbs as Lionheart get nasty and groovy with Live by the Gun. Although Exit Wounds might be the album’s most intense offering because Alex Taylor of Malevolence is so furious. The team up is immense.

Elsewhere, Lionheart create complete and utter carnage with the savage breakdown of Cold Water Farewell. Showcasing a frenzy of blood and sweat on the heavy intensity of New Money / Old Pain and murdering a live crowd with Bonnie & Clyde ’05. This band only deals in thumping heaviness and these tracks are unfiltered and unapologetic examples of this.

Want more? How about the rawness of Stories From the Gutter Pt. II that features the savagery of Antmoney of E-Town Concrete? Or the smash-mouth and gut-punching meatiness of At War with The Gods which features Los of Desmadre? Welcome to The West Coast III has it all… and then some.

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