Search - House of Lords :: Come to My Kingdom

A great melodic rock record.....but not as good as their las

R Suchde | London, United Kingdom | 04/19/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I suspect most people reading this review are already familiar with `House of Lords' and have purchased their amazing last studio effort `World Upside Down', and therefore I will target this review towards those people.



I guess there are two main questions fans want answered. Firstly, is this record as good as or better than `World Upside Down' - the answer is unfortunately `NO'. Secondly, is this record still worth purchasing - the answer is definitely `YES'.



I read reports of this bettering the last album. This is not the case in my opinion, but then again this would have been too much to ask. The last album was simply phenomenal and so topping that was always going to be tough.



The problem with this album is that it is musically all a bit `samey' and sounds very formulaic. Gone is the edginess and variety of the last album and sometimes it can feel like you are listening to the same song again and again. It therefore takes a few listens to start identifying with individual songs. Another slight compliant is that lyrically the songs are also very similar to each other and you are sometimes left thinking `ok, we heard this on the last song'. All the songs are quality material, but there are no killer stand-out tracks like on the last album. One thing I really appreciated however was that the album ends well and the last 2 tracks (excluding the bonus track - acoustic version of a song that appears earlier in the album) are 2 of the best tracks on the album.



This is all sounding very critical, but I am comparing it to the last album to help readers know what to expect. If I am to review the album in isolation, there are many positives and `Come to my Kingdom' is still a great melodic rock record with stellar musicianship, big choruses, and of course great vocals, as always, from James Christian. It is still going to be one of the better rock records to be released this year.



So in summary, this album is definitely worth adding to your `House of Lords' collection. Just don't keep your expectations too high."

A notch below WUD,but very good

Scott A. Pickett | Camden,Arkansas | 03/24/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"How do you top a release that was as good as World Upside Down? Well,you don't.The follow up Welcome to my Kingdom is a very competent release with good songs throughout,but lacks the overall punch of World Upside Down,in my opinion.But,if you want a cd that is listenable throughout,you could do a lot worse.This is still better than the majority of music coming out of the states today."

NOW PLEASE PICK ME UP OFF THE FLOOR

Kevin Dobbs "dragonboots" | Perth Western Australia | 05/21/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well they have done it again, I thought "World Upside Down" would never be topped, but I was very wrong. I honestly think this is the best release by HOL and already I am thinking a top ten disc in my collection. Everything on offer here has been switched up a notch to reach melodic nirvana. The songs are all extremely well crafted and the lyrics I think are sublime. There seems to be a spiritual feel to the songs this time round, references to higher bliss and passion and ectasy abound.



The title track "Come to My Kingdom" is a stomper, a big heavy blast of rock but containing ample light and shade. James Christian asks "where is your faith now I've tested it" trust me I believe in this band's talent big time. The chorus is a triumph and the bridge brings it home in breathtaking fashion. Love it.



Follower "I Need To Fly" has a very eighties feel and one of the discs many fine vocal performances. Again a chorus that reminds you why you love this genre of rock. This song smolders raher than punches and is a great compliment to the opener. Not sure who is adding the extra layers to the vocals here but it works very well. "I Don't Want To Wait All Night" is another instant hummer and builds and builds between the chorus. Still no let down at song three. Perhaps the most sexually overt offering on this CD it has a low down bass line and a sexy swagger to it.



"Another Day" borrows quite obviously from the debut HOL album song "Love Don't Lie" and an element of "Field of Shattered Dreams" from the last release but that doesn't make it anything less that awesome. You get a stripped back version of this song at the end of the disc too. A great song exploring those who wait for the touch of God's grace. Sirens wail to introduce "In A Perfect World" a great rocker, indeed I almost can hear a nod to 'Were Not Gonna Take It' in the drum work. Don't worry its the only similarity. The chorus takes second fiddle to the brilliant verses which really carry the song. Is that Robyn Beck on backings? Great song.



"The Dream" is as smooth as silk, definately my favourite, just try not to get lost in the pomp and granduer. "One Foot" is another rocker and owns a great vocal and bridge/chorus combo. "Your Every Move" is an anthem built on a Boston like guitar flurry. "I Believe" sounds like a flash back to Giuffria daze.



Just when you think it can't get any better along comes "One Touch" built on soaring vocals and dirty guitar its a really fantastic combo. Nicely rounded out with keyboards. Winner of the silver medal. "Even Love" I think is the weakest song but amongst such great company that seems mean-spirited to even suggest it.



Closer proper "In the Light" closes things as strongly as they began. A true rock masterpiece, big and epic. Great song craftmanship again. Indeed this band has written some of the best rock these ears have heard on this one release. Tragic that this has no US release but trust me with a product this great no price is too high. Don't delay in investing in such a fabulous opus-grandious. Phew!!







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