Ahead Of The Lions
by Living Things
  • Record Label: Jive
  • Release Date: Oct 4, 2005
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 11
  3. Negative: 2 out of 11
  1. Spin
    83
    Each track follows the Rage Against The Machine model: Make music for the masses without diluting it for the bosses. [Nov 2005, p.101]
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  2. Stylus Magazine
    83
    The substantive quality of the political commentary found on Ahead of the Lions may not measure up to Rage Against the Machine’s most agitprop knee jerking, but there’s no questioning the sentiment is clearly and loudly expressed with propulsive rhythms, radio-palatable hooks and real production values.
  3. AllMusic
    80
    They prove that rock & roll as urgent, trashy, and fiery as the Stooges' first three albums, Back in Black, and Appetite for Destruction can actually be thoughtful articles of democracy and righteous rebellion.
  5. Blender
    80
    Beneath their steel-wool guitar tone, the songs swing like a slammed door. [Nov 2005, p.137]
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  6. PopMatters
    80
    A punishing, accessible hard rock record, a marriage of the rock 'n' roll fetish of the MC5's Back in the U.S.A. with Nirvana's wicked decibel annihilation.
  7. Rolling Stone
    80
    The first thing that hits you about the songs is their intelligent design, from the metallic-Cars echo of "Bombs Below" to the son-of-Nirvana charge in "On All Fours." But without the hell-bent revolutionary zeal, Ahead of the Lions would sound like empty victory.
  8. Urb
    80
    Political agenda with raw AC/DC chords. [Dec 2005, p.105]
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  9. Entertainment Weekly
    67
    These Things sound a tad too generic for comfort. [14 Oct 2005, p.152]
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  10. Pitchfork
    58
    Fans of handclaps, who don't mind that Berlin sings as many lines about doing lines as he does protest lines, marching lines and battle lines, will have fun pretending to be epic along with these Velvet Ramones.
  11. Prefix Magazine
    30
    Ahead of the Lions is pure press-a-button-out-comes-album radio pap.
  12. Alternative Press
    20
    The contemporary-grunge and vintage New York-punk nods packaged here are unthreatening; singer Lillian Berlin's vocals are forgettable; and his lyrics remain more stupid than socially aware. [Dec 2005, p.214]
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User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. DavidA.
    Jan 9, 2006
    8
    This is a good album, that is definitely worth the money. Especially, good to listen to while throwing back a few.
  2. SeanT
    Dec 11, 2005
    0
    absolute garbage. i cant believe steve albini recorded this. oh wait i forgot that he takes shitloads of money from bands like this just like absolute garbage. i cant believe steve albini recorded this. oh wait i forgot that he takes shitloads of money from bands like this just like he did with bush. so i am actually happy for the man. he recorded some douches and got a lot of money for probably not doing a lot. but man this sucks!… Full Review »
  3. NickH
    Nov 27, 2005
    9
    4 1/2 stars of 5 stars... I've heard it all before, but it's never sounded this good. Every song on this album is great on 4 1/2 stars of 5 stars... I've heard it all before, but it's never sounded this good. Every song on this album is great on it's own - which is a rare find in this day and age, what with filler and all. Never once did I find myself skipping around to find a song I like more than another. The lyrics are unusually catchy, almost forcing you to sing-a-long with them. It's the perfect album to listen to when you need a pick me up, it's a damned good time.… Full Review »
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