LION’S SHARE – Inferno (2026) *HQ*

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Swedish hard rock band LION’S SHARE is a cult act with a long history that goes back 40 years in time when they started as a typical melodic rock group from Scandinavia with catchy EUROPE-ish material that gave us a few demos and a single in the 80s, and an official debut CD on Long Island Records all the way back in 1995. We were completely overwhelmed by this album back then, and even more remebering it 31 years after.
Fast forward, the band around guitarist Lars Chriss went through a lot of line-up changes, musical styles and record labels, and now all those years after in 2026 LION’S SHARE releases it’s 7th studio album titled ”Inferno”, via Metalviller Records
Featuring as lead singer the impressive Nils Patrik Johansson, who sang on a lot of other records of bands / projects, of which ASTRAL DOORS is the most familiar one, this 2026 LION’S SHARE is a blast. ”Inferno” consists of 9 killer metallic tracks of the highest quality.
Imagine ACCEPT meets 220 VOLT meet DIO… oh my gosh, this album is terrific.

Lion’s Share raise their ”Inferno” through the classic metal magics of the 80s. Ruled by the riff as first envisioned by the likes of Diamond Head, Dio, Aceept, etc – ”Inferno” sneers at any notion that heavy metal doesn’t deserve consideration this side of 2000.
Inferno’s throwback nature proves engaging at every bit. “The Lion’s Trial” evokes Dio’s “Holy Diver” with its dramatic synth intro and anthemic structure, while “We Will Rock” teeters the line of homage of Dio’s “We Rock,” borrowing heavily from its chorus riff and vocals.
”Inferno” flirts with select 90s innovations, like Primal Fear-esque power metal in “Live Forever” and “Another Desire” and brooding groove in “Pentagram” and “Baptized in Blood,” which catches similar waves as Bruce Dickinson’s The Chemical Wedding. Then closer “Run for Your Life” blends doom riffs with symphonic elements, a different track for sure.

Inferno’s biggest surprise is Nils Patrik Johansson, who sounds simply robust, and his Dio-isms feel more like a feature than a caricature. Because Lion’s Share is riff-centric, the singer doesn’t have to carry the material himself and put too much pressure on his voice. When ”Inferno” does call on him to take the lead, the results range from the strained hiccup of “Live Forever” to the chest-pounding victory of “The Lion’s Trial.”
But the highlight of ”Inferno” is Chriss’ soloing, which evokes the gnarly excess of Vivian Campbell and Eddie Van Halen in their shreddy melodicism.

Lion’s Share may have been away from the studio for some time, but age doesn’t seem to have taken its toll on ”Inferno”. The trecord sees a band that doesn’t just mimic the sounds of old, but realizes them authentically.
Lion’s Share are so easy to root for, and ”Inferno” proves why. Good songs, good performances, excellent solos, and an undying allegiance to their craft make ”Inferno” a blast all around.
With how good “Run for Your Life” turned out, however, it makes us wonder if ”Inferno” could’ve ascended beyond mere enjoyability if Lion’s Share went in more adventurous directions in their songwriting. But there isn’t a whiff of pretension on this thing, and I get the sense that this is exactly the record these guys wanted to make.
Lion’s Share are probably not going to take the world with ”Inferno”, but if you like your metal loud, beefy, and dated 1980’s, it’s just the record you want to hear.
Highly Recommended

01 – Pentagram
02 – We Are What We Are
03 – We Will Rock
04 – The Lion’s Trial
05 – Baptized in Blood
06 – Live Forever
07 – Chain Child
08 – Another Desire
09 – Run For Your Life

Nils Patrik Johansson – Vocals
Lars Chriss – Guitars
Andy Loos – Bass
Magnus Ulfstedt – Drums

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