Highlord

Heavy-Power Metal band with Progressive and Symphonic influences.
HIGHLORD was founded in Turin, Italy, with the former moniker Avatar in 1997, and the first line up was
composed by Stefano Droetto on guitars, Alessandro Muscio on keyboards, Fabio Savella on drums, Enrico
Grande on bass guitar and vocalist Roberto Messina, the latter also doubling front man duties with Secret
Sphere. Within a few months Grande quit the band and Diego De Vita joined in to record the first, self-
titled demo.
The demo-tape led the band to a deal with the label Underground Symphony that signed them to record a
debut album in 1998. Changes were afoot, though, and not only would the band change its moniker from
Avatar to Highlord, but it also substituted Messina with the new front man Lorenzo “Vascé” Millano. In the
midst of these tribulations the label and group also severed ties.
The label Northwind Records took the band in its roster, and the debut album 'Heir Of Power' was
eventually recorded in Torino's Musical Box recording studio. This initial Symphonic Speed Metal outing
fared well and provided the catalyst for a string of gigs across Italy with such acts as Domine, Skylark and
Secret Sphere. After this round of live activity Savella left in May 2000, and Luca “T-1000” Pellegrino joined
in.
Highlord's July 2001 opus 'When The Aurora Falls...' was recorded at the renowned New Sin Studios, and
the Japanese version would feature two bonus tracks, namely 'The Eclipse' and 'Will Of A King'. Extra
exposure to the album was given by the inclusion of some songs on the soundtrack of two horror movies:
'The Werewolf Chronicles' and 'Blood Of The Werewolf'.
Vascé quit the band in 2001, and the power act’s Desdemona vocalist Andrea Marchisio entered the band
for the recording of the third album for Northwind Records, 'Breath Of Eternity', which was released in
May 2001. The Japanese version, once again licensed by Soundholic Records, featured the metal version of
the anime song 'Pegasus Fantasy'.
In 2002 Highlord contributed to Steelborn Records’ 'Revenge - The Triumph of… Tribute to Manowar',
with the song 'Thor', from the album 'Sign of the Hammer', featuring Sister Witch on vocals.
In July 2002 Highlord took part in the second issue of 'Keepers of Jericho', a tribute to Helloween released
by the Spanish label Arise Records, performing the song 'Power', from the album 'The time of the Oath'.
The fourth album 'Medusa's Coil', also recorded at New Sin Studios, was released in May 2004 by Arise
Records. Japanese variants added the customary extra track, 'Tough Boy', cover of the famous anime
'Hokuto No Ken', along with a karaoke version of the same. The band recorded their version of
Stratovarius’ 'Against The Wind' for Steelborn Records, for a 2004 tribute album, entitled 'Within Infinity -
Tribute to Stratovarius'.
Highlord's self-produced fifth album, entitled 'Instant Madness', was recorded at Labyrinth's drummer Mat
Stancioiu Elnor Studios, and it was released in April 2006 in Japan via Soundholic Records, these version
including the bonus track 'Cha La Head Cha La' from the anime 'Dragon Ball Z'. Mythic Silence Records
released the album in the USA in June.
In 2007, the keyboard player and founding member Alessandro Muscio decided to quit the band for
personal reasons, and the band found a temporary substitute in Giacomo Roggia, who played live
throughout 2007-2008, but was eventually substituted by Emanuele “Mr. Triton” Salsa in the late 2009.
The group re-entered New Sin Studios in May 2009 to record the tracks for the sixth album 'The Death Of
The Artists'. Bonus tracks included the cover versions of Billy Idol's 'Rebel Yell' and 'Zankokuna Tenshi No
Teeze' from the anime 'Neon Genesis Evangelion'.
Throughout 2009 and 2010 Highlord played many live shows, such as Steel Roses MC bikers’ fest in
Sardinia and Rock Inn Somma 2010 open air with Thunderstorm and Necrodeath.
After the release of this album, bass player Diego De Vita left, and his place was taken by Dying Awkward
Angel‘s bassist Daniele Veronese.
In May 2012, the band recorded their seventh album, 'The Warning After' at New Sin Studios; the album
was released in 2013 by Punishment 18 Records, and licensed in North America through End of the Light
Records. This album displays a beautiful cover by the famous artist Felipe Machado, and it also features
Primal Fear’s singer Ralf Scheepers as a guest on the vocals of the song 'Arcade Warriors'. The bonus
tracks for the American market are the main theme of 'Power Rangers' 'Go Go! Power Rangers' and
'Bloody Tears Castlevania', instrumental theme from the popular arcade game 'Castlevania'.

Soon after the record was released, bass player Daniele Veronese had to left the band for health reasons;
his place was taken by Sound Storm’s bassist Massimiliano Flak.
During 2012-2014 Highlord played gigs and open air festivals like Rock Inn Somma 2013, and it also shared
the stage with important Italian and international bands, such as Zak Steven’s Circle II Circle, Dark Moor,
Freedom Call, Pino Scotto, Vision Divine, Elvenking, Sacred Steel, Seventh Wonder and more.
In June 2014, founding member Stefano Droetto quit the band for personal reasons; Highlord found his
replacement in Francesco Lombardo, young axeman of Myriad Lights.
In the beginning of 2016, though, after taking active part in the recording of the new album, Francesco
Lombardo decided to quit the band, and was replaced by Marco Malacarne, former guitarist and founder
of the Power Metal band Soul Mask. Marco Malacarne contributed to the new cd as well, with the
recording of all the lead guitar solos.
In April 2016 the band recorded their eighth album Hic Sunt Leones, which has been released via Massacre
Records during the summer of 2016. Important lineup changes with the new entry of Keyboardist Davide
Cristofoli have lead to an innovation of the sound, which always be Heavy-Power Metal, but with heavier
and more Symphonic influences that added many interesting facets to the classic Highlord sound. The
album has been recorded, mixed and produced by bass player Massimiliano Flak at MF Music Art Studio
(Italy), and mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios (Sweden). Hic Sunt Leones features
two special guests on vocals, such as former Firewind’s Apollo Papathanasio and Therion’s Linnea
Vikström, contributing to two different songs with their performances.
Between May 2020 and December 2021 the band recorded their 9 th album titled Freakin’ Out Of Hell wich
will be probably released in late 2022. The album includes 11 tracks of pure power-metal in perfect
Highlord’s style this time with a much more aggressive sound and a touch of prog-metal. Again the album
has been recorded, mixed, mastered and produced by bass player Massimiliano Flak at Evolution
Recording Studio (Italy). The album’s artwork was created by Harley Velasquez on a concept by Highlord.