Recent Reviews

September 2024

August 2024

July 2024

June 2024

May 2024

[ More Music Reviews ]


Highlord: Hic Sunt Leones
Highlord Hic Sunt Leones CD Album Review

Highlord: Hic Sunt Leones

Power Metal
4.0/5.0

It's remarkable when you think about it. Italy's Highlord has been around 20 years and, for personnel, the band has been a revolving door. Not a single member of the current band is an original and founding member, and I'm quite sure every album has had a different lineup. Yet, the band continues on and they return with their eighth album, Hic Sunt Leones which is Latin for "Here there are lions."

Highlord Hic Sunt Leones Band Photo

Highlord

What remains constant is Highlord's commitment to melodic and heavy power metal embellished by keyboard provided symphonic orchestration. In other words, this is quick-paced, hard charging, and bombastic heavy metal. They are from Italy after all.

Now, I haven't listened to a Highlord album since 2009's Death Of The Artists, but I don't recall them ever using dirty or death vocals. Well, you'll find them here, at least, as I could determine, on two songs: One World At A Time and Let There Be Fire. Experimentation, I guess. They're kind of crappy. It doesn't help either that Andrea Marchisio's vocals, though melodic and clean, aren't all that articulate. You really can't understand him. Even within the quieter ballad with acoustic guitar you have to strain to understand him. Otherwise, musically speaking, if you like symphonic power metal with lots of classic, soaring guitar solos and some synth flourishes, you will enjoy another Highlord album. Top picks: Be King Or Be Killed, Wrong Side Of Sanity, and Once Were Immortal.

Highlord - One World At A Time


Share This Review with Your Friends





CraigHartranft.net - New fiction, crime fiction by Craig Hartranft

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

The Bottom Line

If you like symphonic power metal with lots of classic soaring guitar solos and some synth flourishes, you will enjoy Highlord's Hic Sunt Leones.

Find A Review

Alphabetical Index

a b c d e f g h i j
k l m n o p q r s t
u v w x y z #
New & Notable
Read the Eclipse: Megalomanium II Album Review

By far, Sweden's Eclipse is one of my favorite bands. Always consistent and always entertaining, Eclipse has been delivering their 21st century version of melodic metal rock since songwriter, producer ... [ Read More ]