Search - Highlord :: When the Aurora Falls

Not amazing, but I gotta give these guys credit...

John. N | Big Run, PA USA | 11/10/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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.



"