This live release from House Of Lords was recorded at their headlining performance at Firefest II in Nottingham in 2005 and also represents the last recording made with the original band line-up of James Christian, Lanny Cordola, Ken Mary and Chuck Wright. 

You may recall that Christian appeared despite breaking several ribs in an accident at home the previous week, which looked to have scuppered their appearance, but to his eternal credit and despite quite visibly obvious pain, not only did they play, but they also put on one hell of a show. 

The set list covered all four of the HoL albums that had been released at that point, opening with the title track from sophomore album Sahara. After Chains Of Love comes the double-hit from the debut album of Love Don’t Lie and Pleasure Palace.  

What is evident throughout this album is the undoubted musical excellence of all four band members. Mary and Wright are a powerhouse rhythm combo, whilst Cordola replicates everything you hear on album to perfection (just check out the solos on The Edge Of Your Life and Mind Trip) and James Christian has one of the greatest rock voices around today and really nails the vocals, especially on some of the slower tracks like the aforementioned Love Don’t Lie and The Edge Of Your Life, as well as Can’t Find My Way Home later in the set. 

The live portion closes with the excellent Slip Of The Tongue before the album rounds off with a bonus studio track “Havana”, which originally appeared as the Japanese bonus track on The Power & The Myth.

This album serves as a great reminder of a fantastic performance for all those who witnessed it first hand last year and as a worthy substitute for those not lucky enough to have been there. It also serves as a fitting closing chapter between the various incarnations of the band who, since this performance, have gone their separate ways with only Christian now remaining, with a new band and album already in place. 

This is brilliant melodic rock perfectly executed and deserves a place in your collection as one of the better live albums around.

Live In The UK is released on January 26th via Frontiers Records

Related Links

Firefest II - Live Review

House Of Lords - The Power & The Myth Album Review

House Of Lords - World Upside Down Review

House Of Lords/Vixen - Bradford Live Review

Let us know your views on 'Live In The UK'

Track List

Sahara
Chains Of Love
Love Don't Lie
Pleasure Palace
Talkin' Bout Love
The Edge Of Your Life
Mind Trip
All Is Gone
The Rapture
I Wanna Be Loved
Can't Find My Way Home
Slip Of The Tongue
Havana (studio bonus track)

Line Up

James Christian - Vocals
Lanny Cordola - Guitars
Ken Mary - Drums
Chuck Wright - Bass