Jimi Bell

Wed
29
Mar

DEMONS DOWN – I Stand (Album Review, 2023)

information persons: 
content: 
85%
Produced By: 
Alessandro Del Vecchio
Label: 
Frontiers
Artist: 
Score: 
85
Categories: 
Reviews

After the debacle of the House Of Lords’ infamous ‘Power And The Myth’ album, the last record to feature the main names from the band, it must have taken some luring to get Chuck Wright and Ken Mary back on board for this pseudo-HOL project.

As is the case with just about every project on the Frontiers label, it is another Alessandro Del Vecchio produced and co-written affair. I know there are many avoiding these projects now and some definitely need avoiding. But this is one of the better ones.

Yes, the production and large parts of the songwriting remain formulaic and very familiar, but the performances within certainly raise the bar here. Not to mention there’s some decent songs attached to this project.

A good part of what makes this album good is the work of Ken Mary. The added drum fills, the swagger around the songs and the precise percussion, especially with cymbal work is a pleasure to listen to.

The great Jimi Bell is also a major contributor. His rifftastic work doesn’t often get the credit it deserves and he’s the perfect fit here.

I wouldn’t call it a House Of Lords sounding project – despite the players and name – it remains another example of the label’s fondness for Euro-flavoured hard rock.

Vocalist James Robledo (Sinner's Blood) wouldn’t be my first choice for the kind of project. He reminds me of the ill-fitting Skills frontman Renan Zonta, except more likable. Again, it’s another Frontiers style quirk - that familiar raspy metal voice that they seem to gravitate towards. Guitarist Francesco Savino (False Memories) rounds out the band – House Of European’s is more accurate musical description. Robledo sounds best when he turns on the melody with his uncanny Jorn Lande impersonation at times.

Worth checking out of the description appeals.

And what is it with this ridiculous album credit that keeps popping up on the back covers of Frontiers releases - “A Project By Serafino Perugino”?

Talk about strocking one’s ego. Not even the legendary A&R man John Kalodner: John Kalodner inflicted that upon the artists he worked with.

“A Review By Andrew McNeice”

 
Fri
13
Jan

HOUSE OF LORDS Deliver 'Saint Of The Lost Souls' March 24

Friday, March 24, 2017
Categories: 
News Feed
 
Frontiers Music Srl is pleased to announce the release of “Saint Of The Lost Souls”, the tenth studio album from House of Lords. The album, which is the follow up to their highly successful “Indestructible”, will be released March 24th.
 
Beginning today, the first audio offering from “Saint Of The Lost Souls” entitled “Oceans Divide” can be heard HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cirgDpXk_K0
 
You can pre-order the album and/or stream first single, "Oceans Divide" here: http://radi.al/SaintoftheLostSouls
 
Recorded and produced by the band’s singer and mastermind James Christian, this collection of songs has an incredible flow of up-tempo and mid-tempo rockers mixed with power ballads, which lean a bit more toward keyboards this time around, but without compromising the band's trademark sound which is based around Jimi Bell’s guitar.
 
“Saint Of The Lost Souls” is already one of the years most anticipated melodic rock releases and will not disappoint fans of the band or genre. James Christian's well crafted and smooth vocals bring the band's craft to new heights. Guitarist Jimi Bell is on fire and the melodic riffs throughout the album will leave you breathless. A new addition on bass is Chris Tristram, who is no stranger to the rock community. His solid performance adds another dimension to the sound and BJ Zampa brings a solid and powerful rhythm foundation to House of Lords.
 
House of Lords debuted in 1989 with the release of their self-titled album, a record which is still regarded as one of the best arena rock releases of the 80’s. The colossal sound, the soaring vocals of James Christian and instrumental capabilities of the band (which featured ex-Angel and Giuffria keyboardist, Gregg Giuffria, along with luminaries Lanny Cordola, Chuck Wright and Ken Mary), were reminiscent of such frontrunners as Whitesnake/David Coverdale, Deep Purple, and Van Halen and immediately brought the band to the attention of the music media and fans.
 
With their sophomore release, “Sahara”, House of Lords had considerable radio and video chart success with their cover of Blind Faith’s “Can't Find My Way Home”. After a tour with Nelson in 1991, the group disbanded, eventually coming back together with a new lineup (featuring original members Giuffria and Christian) in 1992 with "Demon's Down". With the change in musical climate at the time, House of Lords went into hibernation until the original lineup came back together in 2000, releasing the controversial “Power and the Myth”, an album which featured a sound leaning more towards progressive hard rock with 70’s rock influences. After a short European tour, singer James Christian decided to go back to the trademark arena rock sound of House Of Lords, putting together a new line-up with the blessing of founding member Gregg Giuffria, who opted out right before the release of “Power and the Myth”. New members Jimi Bell on guitars and B.J. Zampa on drums supplied a true powerhouse sound to the fifth studio album, “World Upside Down”, a record which caused a real stir in the hard rock and melodic rock scenes. That album was followed up by the equally impressive “Come to My Kingdom” in 2008, "Cartesian Dreams" in 2009, "Big Money" in 2011, and “Precious Metal” in 2014.
 
The band has toured relentlessly in Europe and the States in support of their releases and have now become a true staple of the hard rock scene on both continents. House Of Lords stands for superb hooks and majestic atmospheres that bring back the memories of their stellar debut album, monumental guitar riffs and a production to die for. All these ingredients you will find on “Saint Of The Lost Souls” which shines from the first second to the last!
 
“Saint Of The Lost Souls” Track Listing:
1. Harlequin
2. Oceans Divide
3. Hit the Wall
4. Saint of the Lost Souls
5. The Sun Will Never Set Again
6. New Day Breakin’
7. Reign of Fire
8. Concussion
9. Art of Letting Go
10. Grains of Sand
11. The Other Option
 
 

 

 
Thu
09
Apr

HOUSE OF LORDS Are 'Indestructible' In June

Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Categories: 
News Feed
HOUSE OF LORDS are more solid than ever with the release of their tenth studio album « Indestructible »
Out on Frontiers in June
 
Frontiers Music Srl is pleased to announce the release of the HOUSE OF LORDS tenth studio album aptly entitled Indestructible on June 3 in Europe and June 7 in North America.
 
The new album shows once again what HOUSE OF LORDS stands for: powerful and heavy songs, with major hooks and melodies and grandiose arrangements. “The name Indestructible was chosen because we all felt that we have been through a lot in our long careers and what better way to say "Hey, I'm still Here" than by giving the cd a BOLD title,” says singer James Christian.
 
Indestructible features eleven brand new songs, which masterfully combine the best of Heavy and Melodic Hard Rock. “The album is heavier in the beginning, but we love songs that are both Melodic and Heavy” continues Christian, “and the idea was to fill the best of both on one cd without sounding like two different bands. I think we have accomplished that. A good example would be the song “Pillar of Salt" especially gives a good representation of how the new album sounds: a combination of heavy, melodic, and thoughtful lyrics. This song is one of my favorites!”
 
Besides being HOUSE OF LORDS tenth studio album, the new record sees the new line-up celebrating their first ten years together. “It is amazing to work with BJ, Chris and Jimi” tells James Christian, “they are all very aware of what HOUSE OF LORDS represents and they are committed to making records that complement the history of the band.  No matter which HOUSE OF LORDS album you listen to, there is a common thread, which comes from the fact that the four of us are musically in sync. This is the real reason why we have been able to produce records of this calibre”.
 
HOUSE OF LORDS will exclusively appear at the Frontiers Rock Festival in Trezzo (MI) next Sunday, April 12 and start a European tour in September, with a very special surprise show to be announced soon. More details soon!
 
Indestructible tracklisting includes: Go To Hell; Indestructible; Pillar Of Salt; 100 Mph; Call My Bluff; We Will Always Be One; Die To Tell; Another Dawn; Eye Of The Storm; Ain't Suicidal; Stand And Deliver.
 
It is possible to enjoy an EPK presentation of Indestructible following this link: https://youtu.be/EadZs_yj2xM
 
HOUSE OF LORDS:
James Christian – Lead Vocals
Jimi Bell - Guitars
Chris McCarvill – Bass
BJ Zampa - Drums
 
 
Cover art from Ioannis www.dangerousage.com
 

 

 
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