House of Lords - Full Tilt Overdrive
(Frontiers Music SRL - 2024)
(Genre: Hard Rock)
James Christian, Jimi Bell, Mark Mangold and Johan Koleberg are the Lords of this House. This is the bands twelfth release since their self titled debut way back in 1988! Line-up changes and Hiatus’s have broken up their career over the following three and a half decades but this is the second release with this line up in place.
Vocalist and Bassist, James Christian is the only original inhabitant of this house, so this is very much his domain. That doesn’t mean his room-mates aren’t worthy contributors to the band though. Guitarist, Jimi Bell for instance has been ever present since the ‘World Upside Down’ album from 2006.
Opening the front door of this musical manor we enter a ‘Crowded Room’ full of energy and plenty of talent. There are tones of their 80’s lineage built into the foundations from the off. ‘Bad Karma’ is a catchy song thanks to its chorus and Jimi Bell offers a good solo which showcases his talent on guitar. The drumming from Koleberg is the spine of ‘Cry of the Wicked’ which also allows Bell and Mangold time to shine too. It’s good mid-tempo track.
The title track ‘Full Tilt Overdrive’ offers a bluesy style with a hard rock bite. There’s a real groove and swagger to the whole band here. Jimi Bell produces another class solo to put the icing on the cake on this song. ‘Taking The Fall’ oozes class with its Southern rock flavour. James Christian offers a great vocal while his band mates all show their prowess.
‘You’re Cursed’ has an 80’s era Rainbow vibe at times, Christian sound great again as the band produces more quality. Koleberg plays with power and dynamism, while Bell and Mangold pepper the song with some great playing too. ‘Not the Enemy’ offers the album something a little different, Mark Mangold gets to fully unleash his abilities. Christian and Koleberg deliver a powerful rhythm section on Bass and drums as well.
The ballad ‘Don’t Wanna Say Goodbye’ gives the album a moment to breathe and Christian offers a nice vocal with passion and feeling. There’s a nice groove and melody that drives ‘Still Believe’. Jimi Bell delivers another strong solo on the album. Christian is in fine form vocally on ‘State of Emergency’. There’s certainly no chance of an emergency breaking out in this house.
The album closes with the 9 plus minute ‘Castles High’ which aims for a grandiose, epic conclusion. Jimi Bell steals the show cementing what a great guitarist he is. It certainly leaves a lasting impression as my time in the House of Lords comes to an end.
This is a consistently good album throughout and there is talent in abundance in this quartet. It’s a band I will now have to further educate myself on as I knew little about them prior to this release.
This is a consistently good album throughout and there is talent in abundance in this quartet. It’s a band I will now have to further educate myself on as I knew little about them prior to this release.
I look forward to my next visit to the House of Lords!
7.5/10
By Carl Mace