Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Highlord Medusa’s Coil 2004 Arise Records - Reviewed by: IcedMojo

Track Listing1. Medusa's Coil 2. Far From the Light of God 3. Scarlet Tears 4. Dancing with Destiny 5. Where My Hero Lies 6. Moonseas 7. Your Story Too 8. The Hand of God

Traveling down that ‘ol beaten path, Highlord led the way and I joined for the ride. Even though I thought "religious band", names can be misleading, so I didn’t give "high lord" much consideration.

Since they sent me down memory lane, I will admit to buying Stryper’s hit collection for nostalgia. Way back when, I loved their music, but today, I think I must have been on drugs back then. Anyway, the point is, Highlord’s sound is so closely resembling (or imitating if you will) that of Stryper, it's almost scary. They sound like a tribute band. The music, well, it is not 100% bad, just bad enough, which is odd since the Arise label consists of great bands.

Medusa’s Coil is the groups 4th effort and first with Arise since forming in 1996. The opener and title track left a very bad taste in my mouth, but onward and upward we go. The rest of the album is surely different. “Far from the Light of God”, I want this madness to end. It does with “Scarlet Tears”. Holy cow, this song pounds. The vocals are on queue, and everything is falling together now. The worst is over with. A lot of bands have filler songs, and “Dancing with Destiny is no different. After the ballad of almost acoustical proportions, “Where My Hero Lies”, I lost hope for the group. On a bright note, I enjoy “The Hand Of God”. The death and female additions just made the song , and the song shows that the band can be for real.

The guys can rock, but Andrea Marchisio (vocals) has a tiny box to stay within, and did he? NO! My personal vote is rework the formula. Stick with duets with Elisa (death screams and vocals on “The Hand of God”) and have a look at the songwriting. Simple is ok, but there is a fine line.

Rating: The disc bored me to tears. I would say it is just another Italian melodic metal act with a somewhat religious twist. Just place keyboards with Stryper, (or give creed a metal sound) and there you go. 8 on the old school throwback, and yes, I loved Stryper way back when, but like this, I play it and think what the hell? For that fact (among others), I will have to give it about a 4 or a 5. The cd is a good produced cd, and the artwork is spectacular. The musicians have talent but the vocals are not on. It is far too simple and nowhere near original. Overall, I am gonna say a 5. Middle of the road, not horrid but not a classic, just another cd.


--IcedMojo 06.25.04