White Lion
Fight To Survive

1985. This year officially marks the beginning of the journey of another band that etched its name in the Hall of Fame of melodic hard rock from the 80s. A group that only with the subsequent full-length "Pride" actually features the lineup depicted in the photo of the "Fight to Survive" booklet. The frontman Mike Tramp is there, and so is the superb guitarist Vito Bratta, paisano. However, Greg D'Angelo (another paisano, on drums) and James Lo Menzo (again, paisano, on bass) are not there yet; they joined the band subsequently, replacing Nicki Capozzi (...) and Felix Robinson, who are the actual coordinators of the beats on this album.

The album is a great piece of work, a fantastic debut for a New York band that distances itself from the devil-infused shock rock that was booming on the Pacific Coast (referring to the still ambiguous image of the early Motley Crue, all transgression and pentagrams). Here, at least in terms of content, things are a bit more serious. The music of this band takes for example the very first releases of Bon Jovi and Europe (the very first records of both) and is based on the word of Van Halen. But it goes beyond with a well-defined personality that will be clearly manifested in their subsequent works.

"Fight to Survive" stands well on its own, powered solely by the two souls of the band. One is the showy and virtuosic soul, embodied by a magnificent voice, one of the most suited to the genre, and a very classy guitar that does overtime (lead and rhythm guitar with just one guitar, all at once!) beautifully. The other is represented by the mathematicians of the situation: a bass and drums that set the pace for the other two who would otherwise go who-knows-where. Raw genius and rationality but with many musical arguments to show.

And it is clear right from the opening track, the first historic hit of the White Lion, "Broken Heart", a melancholic introduction to the pure world of the American lion. When the drums roll and Bratta starts, it sends chills. Even from here, it is clear how much he can handle the situation even on his own. "Cherokee" changes its tone of voice. It's a joyful anthem that contains the seed from which historical pieces for the future of WL germinated, such as "Little Fighter". Following this is the title track sumptuously performed by Vito Bratta who, as it used to be done, indulges in a powerful opening solo, at the end of which a strong, strong, strong piece is grafted. "Where Do We Run" and "All The Fallen Men" are emblems of a melody that is beautiful to listen to as it is but would objectively deserve better production. Indeed, one could discuss this.

There are also "In The City" and "All Burn In Hell", melancholic and slow the first, hard as a slap in the face the second. "All The Fallen Men" and "Kid Of 1000 Faces" are still examples of excellent melody - in the first case - and genius - in the second case -, ingredients of that flair typical of candidates to become new scions of the international hard rock scene. The tracks I've talked about so far are all admirable. But the surprise is not lacking. Here it is: a track with a very delicate theme (White Lion loved to engage in texts with a social background): the civil war of "El Salvador". Spanish-like acoustic and electric guitar riffs (all made by Bratta) chase each other until the roughest outburst of rock energy. "El Salvador" is an anthem of freedom with an epically worthy chorus of heavy metal. Stunning! one would say. In closing, there is "Road To Valhalla", a solemn ballad opened by trumpets from a thousand years ago, where there is a piano first and then a grand guitar. A piece that makes me think of when it used to be said, of a car launched at full speed, "call the sixth". It's a song, in fact, that seals an excellent work and makes you want to move on to the next one.

Penalized by an imperfect production not so much for the quality, still in the good or bad typically eighties fashion, but for the excessive focus on each single element - in the end, the overall sound seems a bit too assembled -, "Fight To Survive" is an album typical of Monsters of Rock. The career that the White Lion had invites listening.