Rising from the ashes of one of Australia’s longest running metal bands “Dungeon”, Sydney based “Lord” on their release “Set In Stone”, have certainly stamped their claim for the title of Australia’s leading metal exports along with the likes of “Black Majesty” and “Vanishing Point”.  But I guess for the answer to that we will wait and see early next year what Black Majesty deliver with their new album!

Leaving no stone unturned, pardon the pun, “Set In Stone” is undoubtedly Lord’s most assured and musically diverse album yet.  Kicking off the album in punishing style, “Redemption”, along with “The End Of Days” later on in the album, are musically brutal songs with a thunderous wall of guitars and rhythm section, but topped off with melodic chorus’s to somewhat balance out the extreme metal! 

Bringing in more variety in terms of songwriting and delving into the AOR and traditional heavy rock side of things, tracks like “100 Reasons” and “Beyond The Light” whilst perhaps testing the bands loyal following of power metallers, will certainly help to bring a wider audience.  With the guitars taking a more traditional heavy rock approach, the glorious pre-chorus of soaring vocal melodies, leading into AOR stadium rock inspired chorus’s which are killer stuff!

The epic metal of “Eternal Storm”, the aggressive and menacing verses of “Someone Else’s Dream” and the tragic tale of “Forever” highlight why vocalist Lord Tim was recently nominated in the category of Australia’s best metal vocalist, with these tracks displaying the range of vocal prowess possessed by Lord Tim.

Instrumentally, the album cannot be faulted with everyone in the band getting ample opportunity to shine and shine they do, particularly with some face melting guitar work from Lord Tim and Mark Furtner.  But if that wasn’t enough, the band deliver the instrumental extravaganza of “Be My Guest” which does just that.  Familiar with the names of Craig Goldy legendary guitarist from Dio, Glen Drover ex-guitarist of Megadeth and King Diamond, Felipe Andreoli bassist from progressive metallers Angra and Vanishing Point's Chris Porcianko?, well all appear on this track, along with former members of Dungeon and others. 

Closing the album is my favourite track, the glorious “New Horizons” a keyboard laden, lyrically reflective dose of melodic saturated AOR, featuring a soaring guest guitar solo from the mighty Pete Lesperance of Harem Scarem fame.  “New Horizons” indeed the band do go with this song...the video for which is featured on this page!

So there you have it...“Set In Stone” a truly rewarding album for both those existing Lord fans and potential new fans alike.  Music is all about exploring “new horizons” and the variety on this album certainly allows one to do just this, as I myself have experienced. 

Oh and if you have the Australian edition of this album, the closing track will no doubt cause controversy which is a cover of Kylie Minogue’s “On A Night Like This”, but to these ears, the Lord version works and works well!!