A lion always gets his share!
ROX Network Interview with rock band Lion's Share.
For the rock un- initiated, Lion's Share is a Swedish heavy metal band that has so far released six albums and one EP worldwide.
The band have toured Europe with bands like Motörhead, Manowar, DIO, Saxon, Iced Earth, Nevermore, U.D.O., Dee Snider and have played many of the major festivals.
The LION'S SHARE album catalogue features appearances by current and former members of Megadeth, KISS, King Diamond, HammerFall, Symphony X, Yngwie Malmsteen, Candlemass etc.
The albums were mixed by top engineers such as Jens Bogren (Arch Enemy, Opeth, Symphony X, Kreator, Amon Amarth). Niklas Flyckt (one-time Grammy award winner and four-time nominee), Ronny Lahti (Roxette, Europe, Glenn Hughes, Electric Boys), Robert Wellerfors (The Rolling Stones, Joey Tempest, Eagle-Eye Cherry, Ace Of Base).
LION’S SHARE is firmly committed to following their hearts and not the current musical trends when it comes to their songwriting, an attitude and approach which the group themselves find much more personally fulfilling. It is the band's hope and belief that the sincerity and the passion which they pour into their music will ultimately help them find their audience and provide the quintet with the recognition that they deserve. (bio courtesy of Lion's Share).
They've just released hot new single "Baptized in Blood" (vid on YT) and they've also re-issued their rather excellent back catalogue independently on Bandcamp. We thought it was high time we chatted to the duo...
Introduce yourself to our readers guys. Who's in the band?
LION'S SHARE is a heavy metal band from Sweden. We have released six albums, plus lately several digital singles on Spotify, YouTube etc. We are planning a new album as soon as the pandemic settles down so we can tour in support of the new release.
In the past we have done tours with DIO, MOTÖRHEAD, SAXON, ICED EARTH, NEVERMORE, MANOWAR, DEE SNIDER, U.D.O. etc.
We are two full-time members - Nils Patrik Johansson on vocals and Lars Chriss on guitar. For tours and recordings we have used different musicians to supply us with what we need.
How would you describe your music to anyone who hasn't yet heard it (those in a cave perhaps!)?
We are heavily influenced by Ronnie James Dio-era BLACK SABBATH, JUDAS PRIEST, SAXON, OZZY, MEGADETH etc. Our music is riff based with catchy, powerful vocals on top. Even though we have a powerful and intense sound we always want some great melodies as well.
You formed Lion's Share in 1987. What bands were you in before then and since?
I'm one of the founders, so this has been my baby since the start and I have not been a full time member in any other bands. I'm a producer and mixer as well, so I've been hired to write for, and play on other people's records and therefore been in the lineup credits on many albums even though I was not a member per se. We have a web page where customers can contact me for mixing jobs etc at www.noterious.eu
What are your musical influences?
We are influenced by anything we like really, but mainly the classic hard rock and heavy metal bands from the 70s and 80s. Bands like BLACK SABBATH, JUDAS PRIEST, MEGADETH, SAXON, IRON MAIDEN, WHITESNAKE, METALLICA, ACCEPT, RAINBOW, DIO, DEEP PURPLE, QUEENSRYCHE, OZZY, KISS etc etc
You're previous release was released in 2017. What have you been up to
since then?
We just released a digital single "Baptized In Blood" on September 17, and another 2-3 singles earlier this year. In 2020 there was 2-3 singles released and the same thing 2019 and 2018. Most genres already abandoned physical releases and went 100% streaming and downloading. We realize this is where things are currently going so we make sure we don't miss the train, but we will also still be releasing CDs and vinyl since our fans still requests this. As soon as the pandemic allow us to tour we will have a new physical album out. But for now both we and our fans really enjoy have something new out every three or so months. It also help building our fan base to be peresent in the press and radio with new stuff compared to have a new album out ever 2-3 years. This is simply how things are working these days even though we of course would prefer the old way where bands actually did make some good money on records.
New song "Baptized In Blood" is rockin'! Where can folks get it? Will be on a new EP or album?
Thank you! It's out on all digital media platforms by our distributor The Orchard/ SONY. It's planned to be included on our next album. I'm currently remixing the recent singles for the album so it won't be the exact same stuff people already heard. We are also changing some stuff on some of them - like replacing the drums, change some guitar or vocal fills, adding a keyboard on some part etc.
How do you think your music has evolved since you formed?
We started in the 80s, so back then we were much more a melodic hard rock band with tons of keyboards etc. Then in the 90s we were very influenced by the progressive style and bands like DREAM THEATER, QUEENSRYCHE, RUSH still with my Tony Iommi influenced riffing however. Like the Tony Martin fronted BLACK SABBATH mixed with those prog bands maybe. When our keyboard player and my then co-writer Kay Backlund left, it went 100% in my riffing and songwriting direction and much more straight ahead heavy metal like we sound today. Nils Patrik Johansson joined LION'S SHARE in 2003 and has become the perfect songwriting partner for my style. We write and work extremely well together and have that amazing chemistry that only a lucky few will experience.
Any live shows planned?
We had just done our first two headline shows in a very long time in Germany, March 2020, when the pandemic hit. More shows were booked and the band sounded great. The plan is to get back on the road in 2022, but we see no reason to make any big plans until we see where this pandemic is going. It's a lot of work putting a show together, so at this point we just wait and see what happens. We will keep on writing, recording and releasing new songs however.
What's next for Lion's Share? A new album?
I have three more songs to mix, but everything is recorded. We haven't approached any labels, but there's already interest from a handful that have contacted us, just based on the singles we've released I guess.
Any advice for any new band starting out?
Believe in yourself and keep chugging away. It's gonna be a lot of hard work for most to get anywhere. Try to own as much as possible yourself and be careful what kind of papers you sign.
Interviewed by Roxie Roxx. 30 September 2021 for ROX Network.
Follow LION’S SHARE on:
http://www.lionsshare.org
https://lionsshare.bandcamp.com
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4yIytMmJ2tx30YdMAMkDSo
http://www.facebook.com/lionsshareband
http://www.youtube.com/lionsshare
https://www.instagram.com/lions_share_band/
Complete remastered back catalog:
Baptized In Blood: https://orcd.co/kozkv0d
Youphoria: https://orcd.co/025ebpn
Under Attack: https://orcd.co/5pvm3jb
Killed By Death: https://orcd.co/l8enr9m
Aim Higher: https://orcd.co/4dorz3g
Shotgun Messiah 2020 re-recording: https://orcd.co/mzjr1ab
Pentagram: https://orcd.co/j0qa7m4
We Are What We Are: https://orcd.co/j2d4akj
Chain Child: https://orcd.co/7ybn1aa
EP: https://orcd.co/laolywm
Dark Hours: https://orcd.co/39vbzba
Emotional Coma: https://orcd.co/3jwbo8j
Entrance: https://orcd.co/pb5jx8n
Fall From Grace: https://orcd.co/57xkp5z
Two: https://orcd.co/jrmympv
Lion's Share: https://orcd.co/m5yl5ez
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Hi and thanks for your input!