Artist: HIGHLORD
Album: THE DEATH OF THE ARTIST (CD)

Year: 2009
Media type: CD

Highlord, formed back in 1996 with the monicker Avatar, is one of Italy’s finest and most respected melodic metal bands. Their first full-length effort, ‘Heir Of Power’, was released in 1998, but it’s with their second album, ‘When Aurora Falls…’, recorded at renowned New Sin studios (Rhapsody, Labyrinth, Dark Moor, Vision Divine), that they gained national and international recognition, coming from the press and from a large portion of the heavy metal audience.

In 2001 the band took part to ‘Revenge – The Triumph Of… Tribute To Manowar’, with the song ‘Thor’ and in 2002 released ‘Breath Of Eternity’, inking a deal with Japanese label Soundholic straight after. The Japanese version of that album included the cover version ‘Pegasus Fantasy’, well-known as the soundtrack of the ‘Saint Seya’ animated series. Later that year Highlord also recorded a catchy version of Helloween’s ‘Power’ for the ‘Keepers Of Jericho’ tribute album.

In the meantime, the band’s reputation was growing all over the world and when ‘ Medusa’s Coil’, their fourth album, was released, licensing deals came from Russia and Taiwan.

‘Instant Madness’ followed in 2006. The Japanese version contained another animated movie soundtrack cover, this time ‘Cha-L Head Cha La’, another great metal version of the ‘Dragon Ball Z’ opening theme.

But it’s now time to talk about ‘The Death Of The Artists’, Higlord’s sixth brand-new album, a stunning mix of powerful guitars, fast drum beats and great melodies in the vein of Labyrynth, Vision Divine, Eldritch and DGM. 9 new tracks ready to blow your mind! The Japanese version of the album will also include 2 bonus tracks, a cover version of Billy Idol’s ‘rebel Yell’ and, as it is now usual for a band which has always attracted large followings in the Far East, a new version of ‘Zankokuna Tenshi No Teeze’, song originally included in the anime-movie ‘Evangelion. Stay tuned!

TRACKLIST:

1. Simple Man
2. Every Thrash Of Me
3. Canticle Of The Flash
4. It Takes Some Passion
5. The Death Of The Artists
6. Dance In A Flame
7. The Scream
8. Slave To Darkness
9. A Queen In My Pocket

LINE-UP:

Andy – vocals
Sted – guitar
Diego – bass
Luca – drums