Hailing from New York, the splendidly-named Sir Lord Baltimore are one of those legendary proto-metal bands; a band that are much more listened to and significant decades after the fact. Do they live up to their own legend, I would say so. Their 1970 debut album Kingdom Come, is extremely heavy, and will appeal to people who like Blue Cheer, MC5, or Black Sabbath. Although, It’s way more out there than any of those bands. Tracks like
Master Heartache and Hell Hound are excellent, as are the albums more trippy moments. The sound is superb, I don’t think a modern band could replicate it.
The following year they released their self-titled follow-up, which is more proggy, especially on Man From Manhattan; which is really ambitious. Then that was it, the band spilt up, until a new version of the band appeared in 2006 with an album entitled Raw. While it is competent enough, it doesn’t actually do what it says on the tin, it isn’t raw in the sense of the first two albums – how could it be? But, it is a nice extra to the two outstanding first albums.
A valuable historical collection, but one that crackles with life, originality and energy.
