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Artist: House Of Lords |
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There has been much publicity in the melodic rock world about this new House of Lords album, both good and bad, but what really counts is the quality of the album, and it is in abundance on 'World Upside Down'. The bands last studio album 'The Power And The Myth' blew me away for one, although many found the change in direction difficult to get to grips with. With this new album James Christian has put together another version of the band this time with Jimi Bell on guitars, B.J Zampa on drums, and Jeff Kent on bass and keyboards, with the sole intention of making this album an extension of the bands acclaimed 'Demons Down' opus. If 'The Power And The Myth' blew me away, then I’m totally stunned by 'World Upside Down'. This is an awesome album and sees House of Lords returning to the much-heralded sound of old. The album opens up with the intro 'Mask of Eternity' which lays down the bands intention from the off. The album opener proper ‘These Are The Times’ is old school HOL, from the opening few chords of the beefed up guitar it’s plain to see Christian has found the sound that fans have long been waiting for. The album continues with ‘All The Way To Heaven’ a track that starts off slowly but soon the big sound of Jimi Bell’s guitars take the track over and deliver another melodic masterpiece. The power ballad ‘Field Of Shattered Dreams’ is next and delivers a message for all those serving their countries overseas, and find's Christian delivering some very harmonic vocals. Something that was criticized on the band last album, but are here in abundance. After the soulful 'Field of Shattered Dreams' the band take a heavier approach with ‘I’m Free’, with some monstrous guitars and some gritty vocals from Christian. But things return to the more sombre mood with ‘All The Pieces Falling’ with its acoustic edge and once again some towering vocals. The band brings in the big guns for ‘Rock Bottom’ with its big guitar sound and massive amounts of attitude in Christians vocals, a great rock track. One of my favourite tracks on the album has to be the majestic ‘Million Miles’ which has to be House of Lords at their glorious best. The same can be said about ‘Your Eyes’, a ballad but with a rockier edge to the guitars than those of a traditional ballad. The high quality continues with ‘Ghost Of Time’ another very melodic track that carries on where 'Million Miles' left off. By the time you get to ‘My Generation’ you wonder what will the band bring next to the mix, and the answer is another monster rock track with some sublime drum parts from Zampa and probably the best guitar solo on the album from Bell. If there were a track that epitomises the whole album then it would be ‘SOS’, it has all the makings of a classic with some great harmonies and a huge chorus and magnificent ending. The album closer and title track ‘World Upside Down’ is a more reflective affair and is a great way to end the album. To
sum up the variety of the album never ceases to amaze me, one minute you
rocking along and the next your taking in the complex melodies of a
ballad, I love it. |
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