| The
Review |
This record as well as their last one, 'The Power and
the Myth', proves that now is the time for this band. Faring
a much better sound at this point than in the in their overproduced
late 80's phase, House of Lords have recently pertained to
a highly technical edge to the melodic rock stance they present.
Originally arising out of the ashes of both Angel and Giuffria,
the band now stands making music on their own terms without
any major label pressure, producing a darkish record filled
with moodiness and grinding guitar riffs. ***
Featuring vocalist James Christian and guest Gregg Giuffria
producing the keyboards (although he is not a full-time member
anymore), the album captures the essence of technical melodic
metal, filled with hard edged emotion, especially with tracks
such as "All the Way to Heaven" and the churning "Rock Bottom."
But it is tracks such as the semi-acoustic "All the Pieces
Falling," the sub-balladry of "Your Eyes," and the highly
atmospheric "Ghosts of Time" that really stand out with their
hooks and melodies; in other words, in perfect world, these
would be all over the radio. ***
Needless to say that one of the bands that founded the
whole melodic metal/rock AOR genre are continuing it with
profound execution, where 'World Upside Down' has raised the
bar.
|
