The most disappointing song on here, not to mention the most disappointing song of Thin Lizzy's whole catalogue has got to be 'Dear Lord.' The intro- Holy fuck that's got to be one of the best pieces of music the band has ever written. If the entire thing was like this, it would be the best album Thin Lizzy had made up to this point. These two songs peak out the album a little too early. I usually don't like to put internet memes in reviews, but WHY U DO DIS has never applied so well. Right after that comes the fantastic Opium Trail, with an intro riff so good I was personally offended when it was downtuned on Live & Dangerous. The title track is easily a highlight of the album and the bands career, with some fine instrumental work from all members (yes all, note the bass licks underneath the verses when the guitar drops out) but of course its drummer Brian Downey who takes the shine with his killer fills. The decision to place the guitar solo over marching drum break as opposed to the main tempo was also an inspired choice, both musically and lyrically. Nothing too crazy in terms of riff quantity, but they do well serving as the glue of the song. Maybe its the fact that my 'Fight or Fall' syndrome reaches an obnoxious peak here, or it could be the fact that the album is depressingly top heavy.Įverything does start out promisingly enough, with Soldier of Fortune being a minimalist epic of sorts. Perhaps it's the fact that the title track is one of the best Thin Lizzy songs ever and the rest doesn't quite reach that level. This is consistently called the second best album (strike one) after Jailbreak (strike two), especially after the disappointing Johnny The Fox (strike three, fuck you).

Maybe my lower ranking of this can be the result of salt and schadenfreude.

Thin lizzy fight or fall