As a spin off from Giuffria, Gregg managed to secure a deal with Simmons Records for a hard edged melodic rock band project, House of Lords. This is the first fruits of their labours, a self titled offering from ’88 and it was produced by super producer Andy Johns. The band is still going today, thanks to that home of lost souls Frontiers Records, but the only original member is singer James Christian.
Opening track, Pleasure Palace, has the big pomp keyboard intro and sort of gives a false impression of what’s to follow, as the track is good up-tempo rocker. I Wanna Be Loved would have made a great single – a very catchy tune. Edge of Your Life starts out as a big power ballad, but redeems itself as the groove changes into a more up beat tune. Shout out to Lanny Cordola whose guitar exploits add that little extra to every song – a great player! Lookin’ For Strange is the first speedy track on the album in Hot For Teacher style and is a great tune, it has plenty of guitars with a killer groove. Side 1 closes out with Love Don’t Lie and it’s big ballad time.
Side 2 kicks off with Slip Of The Tongue – probably the best track on the album. It’s a great up-tempo rocker with over the top everything. Funnily enough, it does remind me of Whitesnake in places. Hearts Of The World is the big production number on the album, big everything on this track. Under Blue Skies is a big sing-a-long anthem tune – albeit a bit lightweight in the groove department – and reminds me of St Elmos Fire. Call My Name is the penultimate track and it pounds in with big drums, and again the hook and melody are huge. The album closes out with Jealous Heart – a power balladarama. A really good album and quite reminiscent of the period.
9/10 from The Grooveman.
