Pride Of Lions
Black Ribbons (Voices Of The World)

September 2004
Released: 2004, Frontiers Records/Atenzia Records
Rating: 4.0/5
Reviewer: Anders Sandvall

Pride Of Lions is a fairly new duo consisting of veteran performer/songwriter Jim Peterik (Survivor, Ides of March, 38 Special, Sammy Hagar) and 26-year-old wonder kid and lead vocalist Toby Hitchcock. The band’s self-titled debut came out in 2002 and the critics welcomed it with open arms. As a preface to the next album, THE DESTINY STONE (scheduled for release in November), they’ve released this single.



“Black Ribbons (Voices Of The World)” was written by Peterik as a tribute to the 190 people who were killed in the terrorist attack that took place in Madrid back in March of 2004. Peterik says “the song poured out of me when I saw the news on CNN, the senseless loss of lives, the mourning families and a country in shock”. The black ribbon is the symbol that people put in their windows and on their clothes to remember the tragic attack. Pride Of Lions plays melodic rock and this song is a typical mourning song. It sounds powerful, epic and beautiful. The song is very close to an up-tempo ballad and both Hitchcock and Peterik share lead vocals. The single is produced and arranged by Peterik and was co-produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by Larry Millas at World Stage Studio in Chicago. There are also two live songs on the single, one is an original song and the other a cover of a Survivor song. Both songs were recorded at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, IL on the 25th of January. Both are previously unreleased live tracks that will not appear on the upcoming album.



A portion of the proceeds from this release will be donated to a Spanish charity that offers assistance to the victims of terrorism, which is a good cause. As a European citizen I think that we should all buy the single to support the fight against terrorism. Not just terrorism in Europe, but worldwide. Pride Of Lions reminds us of the pride we should all take in our freedoms and to realize that the world isn’t as safe a place anymore. The people who die by different terror attacks should not be forgotten. I haven’t got much more to say about this single except that I think it’s a bit too melodic for my taste, but it’s for a good cause and I support it.