Lord (sometimes stylised as LORD) is an Australian power metal band from Wollongong, New South Wales. The group began as a solo project for "Lord Tim" Grose of Dungeon in 2003 and expanded into a complete band when Dungeon broke up in 2005.[1] LORD has appeared with major acts that include Queensrÿche, Nightwish, Nevermore, Saxon and Gamma Ray. The band's name is usually stylised in all capital letters.

LORD
LORD live at ProgPower USA in Atlanta
LORD live at ProgPower USA in Atlanta
Background information
OriginWollongong, Australia
GenresPower metal, heavy metal
Years active2003–present
LabelsDominus, Modern Invasion, Riot!
MembersLord Tim
Andy Dowling
Mark Furtner
Darryl Murphy
Past membersMav Stevens
Tim Yatras
Damian "Damo" Costas
Websitelord.net.au[usurped]

History

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Between 1988 and 2000, Dungeon singer/guitarist and founding member "Lord Tim" Grose had collected a number of compositions he felt were either too personal to submit to the band or inappropriate for its style. In 2003, he collected these songs on an album called A Personal Journey that was issued under the name LORD.[2] At the end of 2005, Dungeon came to an end and LORD became a band featuring Grose and drummer Tim Yatras (also of Dungeon), along with guitarist Mav Stevens and bass player Andy Dowling from Brisbane metal band Sedition. Yatras has also been a member of several black metal bands including Nazxul, Austere and Battalion. A Personal Journey was re-mastered and released to mark the occasion.

LORD performed their first live show on 31 March 2006. The group launched a national tour within months and before the end of the year had opened for Queensrÿche, Nevermore, Gamma Ray, Leaves Eyes, Atrocity and Skinless, and appeared at the final Metal for the Brain festival. On 23 December 2006, it was announced[3][4] that guitarist Stevens would be leaving the band for personal reasons and would be relocating to the United Kingdom. Shane Linfoot of Sydney band Transcending Mortality filled in as a live guitarist in early 2007 but due to both bands' hectic schedules, Linfoot departed to be replaced by FromBeyond guitarist Mark Furtner, originally in a temporary capacity but his addition was made permanent in December 2007. Furtner's work had already appeared on the August 2007 album Ascendence. Chris Brooks also contributed guest guitars by way of the solos in "Rain" and "Through the Fire".

The band toured the Australian east coast with Saxon in May 2008. After this Lord began working on a third album. The EP "Hear No Evil" appeared in late 2008, featuring two new songs, live tracks and a cover of Kylie Minogue's "On a Night Like This". The Set in Stone album was released in September 2009 and included guest contributions from Craig Goldy of Dio, Glen Drover of Eidolon, Pete Lesperance of Harem Scarem, Angra's Felipe Andreoli, Vanishing Point's Chris Porcianko, Justin Sayers from Platinum Brunette, Chris Brooks, and Stu Marshall of Paindivision. Lord completed wide-scale touring of Australia, New Zealand and Japan in 2009.

In June 2009, Tim Yatras left the band and was replaced by Damian Costas from Sydney band Vanquish.[5] During January 2010, Lord Tim announced that a medical condition had severely restricted his guitar-playing and was advised to take at least six months off from playing guitar. Temporary guitarist, Matthew Bell, filled in during his recovery.[6]

In September 2010, LORD released the "Return of the Tyrant" EP which featured a ten-minute-long orchestrated title track and six unplugged versions of Dungeon and LORD songs, with a playing time of nearly an hour. This was followed by their fourth studio album Digital Lies in 2013.[7]

Fallen Idols, the band's fifth full-length album and their first in six years, was released in Australia in August 2019, by the band's own label Dominus. Drummer Tim Yatras returns as a session member for this album. The album's first single and music video "United (Welcome Back)" was released in February 2019.[8] Fallen Idols hit the Australian Artist Album Charts at #20.[9]

Following the success of Fallen Idols, bassist Andy Dowling started a 10-part podcast series titled "Nod to the Old School", "all about the old school generation mixtape and metal compilations." Guests who had participated in the podcast include Andy LaRocque (King Diamond), David Ellefson (Megadeth), Johnny Dee (Doro), and Lord Tim, among others.[10]

In 2021 the released a covers album entitles Undercovers Vol.1. It once again hit the Australian Artist Album Chart this time at #7 and the Independent Australian Album Charts at #1. The Album was released to showcase all of Lords cover songs that they have recorded over the years, and to bring them all together on one release. This was to give fans the opportunity to maybe hear a song for the first time that may have been on a particular countries exclusive release. The Album also showcased a few new cover songs including To the Moon and Back by Savage Garden and Reckless by Judas Priest.

Members

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Current
  • Lord Tim – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Andy Dowling – bass, vocals
  • Mark Furtner – guitar, vocals
Former
  • Mav Stevens (2005–2006) – guitars, vocals
  • Shane Linfoot (live only, 2007) – guitar
  • Tim Yatras (2005–2009, 2019) – drums, vocals
  • Damian Costas (2009–2014) – drums[11]
  • Matthew Bell (live only, 2010) – guitar
  • Simon Batley (live only, 2013–2014) – drums
  • Darryl Murphy (live only, 2016–2018) – drums

Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Details
A Personal Journey
  • Released: 2003
  • Label: Metal Warriors (MWGOLD-03-03-9)
Ascendence
  • Released: 4 September 2007
  • Label: Modern Invasion Music (MIM7357-2CD)
Set in Stone
  • Released: September 2009
  • Label: Dominus Records (DOM09001)
Digital Lies
  • Released: February 2013
  • Label: Dominus Records (DOM13001)
A Personal Journey: Revisited
  • Released: March 2016
  • Label: Dominus Records
Fallen Idols
  • Released: August 2019
  • Label: Dominus Records (DOM19001)

Live albums

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Title Details
Live at The Metro
  • Released: 2009
  • Label: Dominus Records (DOM07001CDAU)
Live at Prog Power USA XVII
  • Released: 2017
  • Label: Dominus Records (DOM18001)

Compilation albums

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Title Details
The Dungeon Era
  • Released: 2014
  • Label: Dominus Records (DOM14001)
  • Box set / 4 CD
  • Limited pressing – 500 copies
Undercovers Vol.1
  • Released: 2021[12]
  • Label: Dominus Records (DOM21001)
Title Details
Hear No Evil
  • Released: October 2008
  • Label: Dominus Records (DOM08002AU)
  • Limited pressing – 500 copies
Return of the Tyrant
  • Released: September 2010
  • Label: Dominus Records (DOM10001)
  • Limited pressing – 500 copies
What Tomorrow Brings
  • Released: 2015
  • Label: Dominus Records (DOM15001)
Chaos Raining
  • Released: June 2020[13]
  • Label: Dominus Records (DOM2002)
  • Limited pressing – 100 copies

Awards and nominations

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AIR Awards

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The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2022 Undercovers Vol.1 Best Independent Heavy Album or EP Nominated [14][15]

References

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  1. ^ "Lord not so sweet". Hobart Mercury. 3 May 2007.
  2. ^ Young, Kane; Brockman, Tom (14 May 2009). "Good LORD, it's a heavy dose of Kylie". Hobart Mercury.
  3. ^ LORD Press statement – Mav Departs – Ultimate Metal Forum
  4. ^ Naidoo, Meryl (6 December 2007). "Leading band set to show its metal". Hobart Mercury.
  5. ^ LORD Press statement – TY Departs – Ultimate Metal Forum
  6. ^ LORD seeks temporary guitarist – Pyromusic.net[usurped]
  7. ^ "Digital Lies" Release Date Revealed By Lord, Samples Posted
  8. ^ Rizk, Anwar (12 February 2019). "Sydney's LORD releases new song "United (Welcome Back)", plus details of their new album". Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  9. ^ Rizk, Anwar (7 August 2019). "Sydney's LORD hit the Australian ARIA charts". Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  10. ^ Rizk, Anwar (11 November 2019). "Sydney's LORD Launch "Nod to the Old School" Podcast Series". Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  11. ^ "New Video, New Tour, New Releases and Changes : LORD – Australian Heavy Melodic Music". Lord.net.au. 17 February 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  12. ^ "Lord announces new covers album Undercovers Vol. 1". The Rock Pit. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  13. ^ Brendan Crabb (8 June 2020). "Wollongong/Sydney melodic metal band LORD to release new EP 'Chaos Raining'". Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  14. ^ "Nominees Announced For AIR Independent Music Awards 2022". musicfeeds. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  15. ^ Tyler Jenke (5 August 2022). "Genesis Owusu Wins Big At The 2022 AIR Awards". MusicFeeds. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
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Official links
Other links