When the Aurora Falls

Highlord | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 3, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Phantom Sound & Vision
• ASIN: B00005BI0P
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #881,541 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. When Thw Aurora Falls

2. Dont Kill Me Again

3. Frozen Heaven

4. We Are Gods

5. All I Want

6. Again

7. Perpetual Fury

8. Le Rouge Et Le Noir

9. Tears Of Darkness

10. Youll Never Be Lonely

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not amazing, but I gotta give these guys credit..., November 10, 2003

By 

John. N (Big Run, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When the Aurora Falls (Audio CD)

Highlord is one of those metal bands one will propably never hear of in mainstream news circles or in an everyday conversation about heavy metal, but for those who really explore the genre for new experences and smaller outfits, Highlord just might be right up their alley.

Highlord originally went by the name of Avatar. The band first release under the name Highlord in 1998, "Heir of Power" (you won't find that for sale just anywhere- it's very rare), was blasted by many, refered as the ultimate Hammerfall rip-off. While that statement does hold some truth, that album is more of a demo record than anything else and is judged for what it isn't instead of what it was.

"When the Aurora Falls..." is a great improvement over that record, and what I personally consider the band's first professional release. Highlord's music itself very melodic, driven by the use of keyboards, not unlike bands like Sonata Arctica. While Highlord isn't on the same level as Sonata (really, who is?), the band's performance is good enough and the songs are solid. This is a enjoyable record that I'm sure will find a place in the collections of metal fans that have a open mind and aren't overly critical of their music and its quality.

Unfortunately, despite the massive inprovement on this album, it would not last. After this album's release the band's singer Vasce would soon leave the band, tired of singing metal and go back to singing theater. The band would then replace him and release a somewhat decent album "Breath of Eternity" in 2002. Later the band would find themselves without a label and wouldn't release an new album until 2004, in the form of "Medusa's Coil", which was a monumental dissapointment.

If your even interested in purchasing any of Highlord's albums, do yourself a favor and buy "When the Aurora Falls..." as it is the band's single most impressive glimer of glory.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic..., July 16, 2006

By 

R. DiNicolas (Phoenix, Arizona USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When the Aurora Falls (Audio CD)

I rarely write reviews here, but this album presents the exception... "When the Auora Falls" is an absolute masterpiece. The production quality is phenominal.

The guitar tone is a little scratchy, but extremely powerful and intense. Most of the rythm tracks are double tracked so you get a nice wide soundstage feel. The guitar playing is so intense... Just listen to the rythm in "Don't Kill Me again". The leads are also well thought out and simply virtuoso playing.

The keyboards are where some people may get turned off. They can be more intense than even something you'd expect from Rhapsody. The keyboard leads are very promenant and very often duel with the guitars. This is a very keyboard orientated band, which I happen to love.

Vocals are interesting. Vasce has a heavy Italian accent, but I think it adds character to the songs. Some may not like the sound, but I wouldn't want it any other way. Vasce's range is also VERY impressive. Try and sing along with the "Perpetual Fury" chorus and you'll see what I mean.

Drums are fastastic. Very tight.

Highlights for me are: Don't kill me again, Perpetual Fury, Le Rouge et Le Noir and You'll Never be Lonely. Every song on this album is excellent, those are just legendary classics.

Vasce leaves the band after this album and apparently quits music so this is the only place you'll hear him. (please don't listen to highlord's first release with him, it's absolutely terrible)

5.0 out of 5 stars "Instrumental dream world"? I diagree - this is HEAVEN!!!, April 25, 2004

By 

Matt Stoessel (Tolland, CT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When the Aurora Falls (Audio CD)

THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE!!! Congratulations on finding this album! You¡¦ve found a real gem! Sheesh ¡V if you found this, maybe you should consider being a miner or somethingƒº Anyway, this is Dragonland + Secret Sphere. Simple as that. If you call Thunderstone a Stratovarius clone, then Highlord is actually a Secret Sphere clone. They sound that alike. The lyrics are more war-like fantasy based than in Secret Sphere, but its still a close comparison.

There are keyboard riffs all over the place, much like in Artension. They¡¦re a prog metal band. Maybe you¡¦re familiar with them. If not, try Star One.

Oh ¡V and don¡¦t let the cover art fool you. Normally when you see a warrior on the cover art, you¡¦ll think like Iron Fire, Manowar, or Dream Evil. Nope ¡V not this time. As soon as you hear the 2 minute intro, you¡¦ll realize how melodic the next hour will be for you.

There are 2, maybe 3 ballads on the album and 3 songs over 7 minutes. Production? Almost as good as Secret Sphere. Highlord does that thing Secret Sphere does with the fast bass and melodic sound to go along with it. I don¡¦t know what instrument adds the melodicness ¡V sorry, wish I knew. I don¡¦t think its symbols or keyboards.

In terms of how much this album will impress you, think Beyond Abilities by Warmen (Children of Bodom¡¦s keyboardist). Timo Kotipelto sings in it, by the way.

There are normally 10 tracks, but my version was Japanese and had 2 bonus tracks. The quality of them was noticeably worse, but ¡§You¡¦ll Never be Lonely¡¨ is one heck of a ballad in my opinion. Its not powerful like Forever Walking Alone (Dragonland), but it shouldn¡¦t disappoint you.

That¡¦s really all I have to say about the album itself. You really should consider getting this album. This isn¡¦t like Stormwind or some other unknown band ¡V this is like Skylark or Thy Majestie: unknown, but nobody knows why. Check Highlord out for yourself. Go on ebay if you have to.

By the way, I was just looking at some other versions of this album, and on them, track 10 is ¡§You¡¦ll Never be Lonely¡¨. I have no idea which songs are the bonus tracks anymore. Its 12 (and the last one) on my version.

When you get the time, please go read some of my other reviews and say if they helped you or not. Thanks for reading.