The Power and the Myth

The Power and the Myth, released in 2004, serves as the fourth studio album by House of Lords and marks a significant turning point in their history. Coming twelve years after Demons Down, it reunited original members Chuck Wright, Lanny Cordola, and Ken Mary, but notably lacked the involvement of founder Gregg Giuffria. This absence fundamentally altered the band's sonic DNA, shifting the focus from Giuffria's cinematic synth arrangements to Cordola's gritty, versatile guitar work. The album was largely influenced by the members' work in the project 'Magdalen,' resulting in a more contemporary, alternative-leaning hard rock sound. Pat Torpey of Mr. Big contributed significantly to the songwriting, adding a rhythmic complexity seen on tracks like 'All Is Gone.' While it alienated some purists expecting a return to AOR glory, it was praised by others for its maturity and willingness to experiment with textures, as heard on the world-music-influenced 'Havana.' It remains a unique, guitar-centric anomaly in their otherwise synth-heavy discography.