House of Lords' eponymous debut was released in 1988, featuring a heavier sound than Giuffria with slightly less emphasis on keyboards, the debut received critical acclaim and the band toured with Cheap Trick and opened for Scorpions in 1989. The album featured one major hit, "I Wanna Be Loved" (Hot 100 #58). The Stan Bush penned "Love Don't Lie" was the second single but aside from some airplay on MTV it failed to ignite. Despite a successful tour, original guitarist Lanny Cordola left in 1990, replaced by Michael Guy.
Their next effort, 1990's Sahara, features Michael Guy and an impressive list of guest musicians. Other notable contributions to the album came from Doug Aldrich, Rick Nielsen, Chris Impellitteri, Mandy Meyer, David Glen Eisley, Robin Zander, Mike Tramp, Steve Plunkett and Ron Keel. The first single & video was the Blind Faith cover "Can't Find My Way Home" which did well on Album Rock radio peaking at #10.. The second single "Remember My Name" was a bigger hit at Top 40 radio hitting #72 on the Hot 100 and a Top 5 regular on DIAL MTV. Soon after the single peaked, Chuck Wright and Ken Mary (drummer) would leave.
1992's release Demons Down, described by Christian as his favorite release, features Dennis Chick (guitars), Sean McNabb (bass) and Tommy Aldridge (drums) as well as, sole original members, James Christian and Gregg Giuffria. The album spawned two singles for the title track and the ballad "What's forever for" which would have been massive in a pre-grunge climate. After recording demos to shop for a new label, the band parted ways.
From a business point of view, House of Lords never reached the same level of popularity that Giuffria did in the mid-eighties until Jeff Kent was called to pull the band out of its black hole at the Frontier Records, ready to drop the House of Lords after the bands disastrous ratings of "The Power And The Myth" CD. The sacking of original Giuffria vocalist David Glen Eisley by Gene Simmons was not the most clever decision, but accepted by Gregg Giuffria.
A new album was rumored to be released in 2002, with original members Lanny Cordola, Chuck Wright and Ken Mary. Two years later The Power And The Myth was released by Frontiers Records with lack luster ratings and songs, however Greg Giuffria had pulled out and keyboard work was done by guests Derek Sherinian, Allan Okuye, Sven Martin and Ricky Phillips.
In 2006 House of Lords released a truly new album with most all the melodies and lyrics written by Jeff Kent (formerly of Pierce Arrow, Dreams, CBS songwriter, MTM Songwriter, and Producer of countless songs and projects, including songs on Robin Beck's "Trouble or Nothin" CD, including the 20th Anniversary newly released version, her "Living on a Dream" CD lyrics written almost exclusively with Jeff Kent) and World Upside Down with a new lineup including Jeff Kent as a “full band member” pictured in his barrette on the CD cover as well as all over the inside jacket of credits. Jeff Kent also played all the Keyboard parts in spite of what their fans were told about Gregg Giuffria, who backed out at the last minute, but was paid for the use of his name and credits to keep the band’s continuity with their fans.
Soon to follow was a live album HOL released Live in the UK which was released in January 2007. To the band’s great pleasure, Melodicrock.com also included two of Jeff Kent's co-compositions on the double 20th Anniversary CD, regularly released by MELODICROCK.COM, the greatest authority on Heavy Melodic Rock music in the world today.
2008 was marked with the release of the long awaited next new studio album, where Jeff Kent was again solicited to write “all the lyrics and melodies” with the exception of one song on this new amazing CD. Even the title came from Jeff Kent's Lyric on the song “Come to My Kingdom”, used as the title of the entire CD Come to My Kingdom, which was again followed by a limited European, US tour. However, unfortunately, due to poor business decisions, this barely supported and promoted new album rated at 97% on Melodicrock.com's website. Jeff Kent's work on the World Upside Down CD raised the bar on Melodicrock.com to being rated at 96% after the bands poor effort on "The Power And The Myth." Recently, the band was asked to play for the first time in Brazil, together with White Lion and Tyketto (both for the first time in Brazil as well), in the Hard in Rio II Hard Rock Festival.
In 2009, the band plans to resume limited touring and continue the infamous Come to My Kingdom tour of Europe, starting in September 2009.
Come to my Kingdom
House of Lords Lyrics
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I'll take you round and round and round and round, that's right
I don't think you know who you been messing with
I think you forget I even exist
So tell me, where's your faith now that I've tested it
You oughta know
'Cause you're finding out that the rules have been fixed
Come to my kingdom, your time has ended
There's no redemption, only sin
I love your sin
There are no angels that can rescue you
You're out of touch and you're out of time, baby
All your lies destroyed the best of you
And the rest of you is here, signed on the line
I'm your soul deceiver, and I've come to take you home
Come to my kingdom, your time has ended
There's no redemption, only sin, baby
There's no place to hide you, you know that I'll find you
The fires of hell will steal the light
And you'll be mine
Close your eyes now, you're going down
Come to my kingdom, your time has ended
There's no redemption, only sin, baby
There's no place to hide you, you know that I'll find you
The fires of hell will steal the light
Come to my kingdom, your time has ended
There's no redemption, only sin, baby
There's no place to hide you, you know that I'll find you
The fires of hell will steal the light
And you'll be mine, yes, you'll be mine tonight
The lyrics of House of Lords's song "Come to my Kingdom" depict a sinister narrative of a character who is in control of someone else's fate. The opening lines suggest a sense of familiarity between two parties, but the singer seems to have an ulterior motive for being there. As the song progresses, it seems like the singer is taking the other person on a ride, and it becomes clear that the other person has messed with the wrong individual. The power dynamic between both individuals is shifting, and the singer is now in control. The chorus of the song contains references to the afterlife, and it becomes apparent that the singer is some sort of supernatural entity, possibly the devil himself. The line "You're out of touch and you're out of time" implies that there is no means of escape for the other character, and he/she is doomed to face the consequences of their actions. The song's tone is eerie, and listeners are convinced of the potential consequences of sinning.
The song's title and lyrics all hint towards themes of loneliness, deception, and temptation, as well as the inevitable consequences of sinning. The chorus is especially impactful as it reveals the extent of the singer's control and influence on the other individual. The song also features a guitar solo, which adds to the sense of angst and despair. The lyrics are poetic and contain vivid imagery of a dark underworld where there is no escape. The message of the song seems to be cautionary - indulging in sin can have serious consequences, and the devil is always on the lookout for people who fall prey to temptation.
Line by Line Meaning
I think you know who I am and why I'm here tonight
I believe you have some understanding of my identity and the purpose of my presence here this evening.
I'll take you round and round and round and round, that's right
I will lead you on a circular path repeatedly, and that is a fact.
I don't think you know who you been messing with
I suspect that you have no idea who you have been dealing with.
I think you forget I even exist
I believe you have conveniently disregarded my existence.
So tell me, where's your faith now that I've tested it
Now that I have evaluated your confidence, where is it situated?
You oughta know
You should be aware by now.
'Cause you're finding out that the rules have been fixed
Because you are discovering that the regulations have already been established.
Baby, close your eyes now, you're going down
My dear, shut your eyes for a moment, you are doomed to fail.
Come to my kingdom, your time has ended
Join me in my domain, your time in this world is over.
There's no redemption, only sin
In this place, there is no way to be saved from wrongdoing, only to commit it.
I love your sin
I find pleasure in your immoral actions.
There are no angels that can rescue you
No celestial beings can come to your aid.
You're out of touch and you're out of time, baby
You have lost connection with reality, and there is no longer enough time to change your ways.
All your lies destroyed the best of you
All of the falsehoods you have spoken caused the demise of the most excellent version of yourself.
And the rest of you is here, signed on the line
The remainder of you is present, committed to the agreement.
I'm your soul deceiver, and I've come to take you home
I am the deceiver of your spirit, and I have arrived to bring you to my lair.
There's no place to hide you, you know that I'll find you
There is nowhere to conceal your efforts, you realize I will track you down.
The fires of hell will steal the light
The flames of damnation will rob you of your illumination.
And you'll be mine
And you will belong to me.
Yes, you'll be mine tonight
Indeed, this evening, you will be mine.
Contributed by James A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.