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From the Lions Mouth

by The Sound

Released: November 26, 1981

Post-punk, gothic rock

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Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Breakthrough.

The Album

It followed their debut album Jeopardy, and saw a lineup change with keyboardist Belinda "Bi" Marshall leaving the group and being replaced by Colvin "Max" Mayers. "From the Lions Mouth" is the second studio album by English post-punk band The Sound, released in November 1981 on Korova Records. Compared to their earlier work, the album has a more polished sound.

Inside the Recording

The band worked with producer Hugh Jones and co-produced the album themselves.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

From the Lions Mouth was remastered and re-released…

From the Lions Mouth was remastered and re-released in 2002 by Renascent, a label formed specifically to reissue The Sound's back catalog.

The album featured the single "Sense of Purpose…

The album featured the single "Sense of Purpose (What Are We Going to Do)".

The album's artwork was inspired by the 1872…

The album's artwork was inspired by the 1872 painting Daniel in the Lion's Den by Briton Rivière.

The sound and themes of the album were…

The sound and themes of the album were often compared to the darker, melancholic tones of Joy Division's Closer.

However, despite being labeled as a gloomy band…

However, despite being labeled as a gloomy band, AllMusic noted that The Sound's music was not about wallowing in despair; instead, they confronted life's difficulties with directness and introspection.

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Essential Tracks

New Dark Age

This version included the 1982 single "Hothouse," though this was added as a continuation of "New Dark Age," rather than as a separate track, which had been a point of contention for frontman Adrian Borland.

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Explore the Album

The Sound - From the Lions Mouth

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Then

Reception

Despite receiving critical acclaim, much like Jeopardy, From the Lions Mouth did not achieve significant commercial success and the band's following remained largely a cult one.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"From the Lions Mouth" is the second studio album by English post-punk band The Sound, released in November 1981 on Korova Records. It followed their debut album Jeopardy, and saw a lineup change with keyboardist Belinda "Bi" Marshall leaving the group and being replaced by Colvin "Max" Mayers. The band worked with producer Hugh Jones and co-produced the album themselves. Compared to their earlier work, the album has a more polished sound.

Despite receiving critical acclaim, much like Jeopardy, From the Lions Mouth did not achieve significant commercial success and the band's following remained largely a cult one. The album featured the single "Sense of Purpose (What Are We Going to Do)".

The album's artwork was inspired by the 1872 painting Daniel in the Lion's Den by Briton Rivière. The sound and themes of the album were often compared to the darker, melancholic tones of Joy Division's Closer. However, despite being labeled as a gloomy band, AllMusic noted that The Sound's music was not about wallowing in despair; instead, they confronted life's difficulties with directness and introspection.

From the Lions Mouth was remastered and re-released in 2002 by Renascent, a label formed specifically to reissue The Sound's back catalog. This version included the 1982 single "Hothouse," though this was added as a continuation of "New Dark Age," rather than as a separate track, which had been a point of contention for frontman Adrian Borland.