Album Reviews : Lord – Hear No Evil EP

‘Hear No Evil’ is blatant proof that Sydney’s Lord are only getting better. It’s as simple as that. The band’s debut release ‘Ascendence’ (yes, ‘A Personal Journey’ may have the same band title, but it was a different band as far as I am concerned) was absolutely spectacular and more consistent than anything released under the Dungeon name, which is certainly saying something! I was sceptic but hopeful that the up and coming album is to be yet another step upwards, but if this little taste is anything to go by, I can stop worrying. It’s only a small taste with two new songs, a couple of live tracks and a cover, but it’s certainly enough to keep many people sane til the album release.

The two newies follow in much the same path as the material off the last album, but perhaps with even bigger choruses. “Hear No Evil” switches between the thrashier and rockier sides of the band, at times sounding like it will explode into another “Limb From Limb” but quickly being pulled back with melodic guitars jumping in over the top and one of the bands biggest choruses yet. I can see this one having quite the crowd sing-along, although, come to think of it, that can be said about most of their recent material really.

“Set In Stone” comes off the upcoming album of the same name may be a tad slower than the previous track but it’s no less fun. The song is a tad more subdued but the occasional Middle-Eastern influence that pops in occasionally makes it quite an interesting one and something a bit different for them. Like I said previously, if the rest of the album is this good, then we’re all in for a treat.

This is where the EP gets really interesting. There were quite a few interesting cover choices throughout the Dungeon years including Blondie, John Farnham, Toto, Duran Duran and a few others, but none of them match up to this. The song is “On A Night Like This” by, you guessed it, Kylie Minogue. The band have kept the a similar feel and style to the original with the use of synths and guest female vocals, but they have pulled it off surprisingly well. It certainly doesn’t sound like a ‘joke cover’ or anything along those lines, even if the band and everyone else do get a laugh out of it. This may not be a song that Lord fans will regularly listen to, but it sure is a boatload of fun to hear.

Two live tracks finish off the EP with “Through The Fire” flowing straight into “Going Down”, both off the bands previous album. They are actually my least two favourites off that album, but when it comes to a band this solid, even their worse songs kick some serious arse. Unfortunately, I’m yet to see Lord live in their current form, but there’s no doubt they come across as extremely energetic and entertaining in these live recordings. I’m certainly hoping for more live material from the band, whether as a full release, DVD or a few bonus tracks here and there.

I’ve mentioned the band’s previous album over and over again throughout this release, and if you haven’t heard the band that is still the best one to start with. But for people who are already familiar with the band and have a hunger for more of their top notch mixture of heavy metal and AOR rock, then this EP is definitely something you will want to get your hands on. Don’t wait around contemplating it forever though; it’s limited to 500 hand-numbered copies. 8.5/10

Band: Lord
Album: Hear No Evil EP
Year: 2008
Genre: Heavy Metal
Label: Dominus Records/Independant
Origin: Sydney, Australia
www.myspace.com/lordaus

Tracklisting:
1. Hear No Evil <- Reviewers choice
2. Set In Stone
3. On A Night Like This (Kylie Minogue cover)
4. Through The Fire (Live)
5. Going Down (Live)