Customer Reviews

Anthology

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Made in USA in 2008, Serial# CLP-3039, Playing Time 67:15

Thanks to the people at Deadline Records, who often release stuff not endorsed by the band (I'm assuming this is the case here since there's no mention of it on James Christian's website), we can have in our hands this little gem!

This is NOT a compilation of previously released tracks... but what would you call something that offers a retrospective, even if a partial one, of a group's music? "Greatest Hits"? Let's face it, HOUSE OF LORDS is not a band who sold zillions of records, so they don't have a lot of radio hits... But to call it "Anthology" is possibly even worse, because NONE of these recordings have made it to the band's discography in these versions (and many didn't make it to any album in finished form!)

Sure, a few titles are familiar, but they aren't the versions that appeared on the albums. Here's a quick breakdown of what's on this CD:
Tracks 1 and 2 are "new" versions, i.e. re-recorded tracks; tracks 3 to 11 are (incredibly well produced) demos; tracks 12 to 15 were recorded during their 1989 European tour, and finally, track 16, is an experimental version of a song that ended up, though significantly transformed for the better, on their second album: "Sahara".

So don't let the title fool you: this is NOT a "Greatest Hits/Best Of" CD: it is a "profile" showcasing the group... so for the HOL fans out there, this is a MUST-HAVE.

If you are a die hard fan of this great band, this cd is for you. The songs here are some remixes, demos that have been cleaned up, and a few live songs from their European Tour of 88-89. The live stuff is what caught my attention. These guys live are incredible. I personally would love to see an entire cd of the 88-89 tour released! It's also good to hear Gregg Guiffria on some of these tracks. He is definiately missed in this band and by the fans. Great cd for us die hards. Keep rockin guys!

You know I never had heard of House of Lords until I read all the rave reviews their 2006 World Upside Down album was receiving. That album made me a fan, of both the newer version of HOL, and the classic late 80's / early 90's era. All of their newer albums, 2006 World Upside Down, 2008 Come to my Kingdom, and their newest Cartesian Dreams are 100% melodic rock monsters. Their 21st century comeback album however, 2004 The Power and The Myth, saw much of the original, classic version of the band back, without Greg Giuffria, and that album wasn't the HOL of old or as of late, the new. I was disappointed with The Power and The Myth, so when this HOL Anthology came around in 2008, I knew it wasn't anything new, but let me tell you, this is a solid collection of classic era HOL material. There are newly discovered cover songs, demos, experimental songs, and live songs. So this is not truly an Anthology as many of the other reviewers noted, and is misleading to even make that claim as none of the songs represented on the tracklist are studio recordings from their original albums. However, this is a fun listen, and like I said, it rocks...and with one classic era HOL release of 2004 being a downer, this is a welcome addition to any era of HOL fans.

There are a few good gems on here, but not a CD that I want to listen to on a regular basis.

And on the live tracks, Lanny's guitar is a bit out of tune -- a shame really.
I guess a little too much action on the whammy bar without a guitar switch out.

I don't know much about this heavy metal group cause that's my cousin's department not mine. Sorry don't know what to say except grab this cd.

Rondall Banks