The latest Megadeth talk up about the "world needing a hero" is a certain fact. I'm not sure that when there's talk of a "hero" arising to bring the Heavy Metal movement up from the pit of oblivion, it wasn't written with this band in mind.

Unsurprisingly, Lost Horizon was spawned from Gothenburg, Sweden and their direction is focused with one goal in mind-to become that rising force that calls to arms all the faithful followers of Metal to unite for the common cause-Metal forever!

In what turned out to be a broken play of sorts, Lost Horizon came to be with the foreclosure to what had previously been Highlander, or a seeming combination of Lost Horizon and Hammerfall.

So built upon the same principles as the preceding, "Awakening the World" does just what it proclaims, and compared with Hammerfall, as if there'd be any way around it, the music is much more driven and determined-in fact turbulent comes quickly to mind with the riveting power Metal riffs and swirling percussive arrangements.

While Hammerfall maintains the more melodic stance, here the aggressive elements take the wind right out of the symphonic sanctity that's otherwise abound in such others as HF, and for a debut recording, the output is nothing short of phenomenal.

Warrior Metal for all seasons, Lost Horizon embodies the best elements of Manowar, Iron Savior, Hammerfall indeed and inevitably, but also the majestic feel that lends prominence to much of the work of Malmsteen particularly where the classical influence lay within the atonality and subject matter both thematically and lyrically.

While at first glance, the realists who walk among us may be quick to dismiss Lost Horizon as a Metal parody, a few blazing notes of "The Quickening," or "Sworn in the Metal Wind" will offer equally quick deterrents to such an erred scope of thought-and if they aren't enough, beware all ye of little mind, "Perfect Warrior" with one sharp swing of the blade will convince you and to your knees you'll gladly fall.

In Lost Horizon, you've got four fantasy-driven character actors adorned in barbaric dress amidst a cloudy backdrop who've set their sights on bringing the magic and might of the age-old Metal tradition back to the masses.

Released by Koch

Review by Vinnie Apicella [va85@columbia.edu]
______________________________
METAL STORM PRODUCTIONS
Vinnie Apicella P.O. Box 763 Brewster, NY 10509
845-669-9470

The opening track to this album can be seen as a pointless affair, an eerie instrumental that the album would not be any less without. It does however lead into fiery opening track PURE, a furious six minute song featuring powerful and neat guitar work. One of its most distinctive elements is its unwillingness to let up. At no time in the song does the momentum slow down, grabbing hold of the listener and making sure they know that Lost Horizon have arrived. PURE is simply an epic song that signals the intent of the band to create a monstrous album.

LOST IN THE DEPTHS OF ME picks up where its predecessor left off. Another epic intro leads into a very thrash like pre-verse breakdown and once again the listener is hooked, intent on finding out where the song will go next. The truth is that it never once fades away and despite its somewhat more relaxed periods it never loses the early raw power that Lost Horizon have created. Another epic song and one hell of a way to start an album.

Lost Horizon show no sign of letting up on AGAIN WILL THE FIRE BURN, a much shorter song than the previous two tracks but no less powerful. The classical sound of the guitars adds yet another element to the music and another spectacular solo will leave the listener wondering how Lost Horizon have still not let up.

THE SONG OF EARTH offers brief respite from the ferocity of the album so far, a short instrumental that shows the willingness of the band to experiment rather than create the norm.

Next up is CRY OF A RESTLESS SOUL, which begins with a spoken intro before launching into a frenzy of heavy guitars and screaming vocals. The track leads nicely into THINK NOT FOREVER, which contains a definite hint of Megadeth about it with a heavy and groove orientated intro flowing into a more melodic verse.

HIGHLANDER, an 11 minute long epic, powerful and fierce song is one of the highlights of the album, a truly awesome track that never stops hitting the listener hard. A truly heroic song in terms of stature and one not to be forgotten in a hurry.

It is difficult to pin Lost Horizon down to one definite genre, and this can only be a good thing for such a band. The songs are epic and ferocious and despite the sheer length of them, they never become boring as they are not repetitive at all. The songs are constantly moving around, ensuring the listener is captivated and focused in order to discover just what will happen next. For any fans of thrash this is a must have album because of its sheer speed and ferocity and its ability to grab the attention of the listener and make sure they keep on listening: you just can’t help it, simple as that.

Released by Music For Nations. 333 Latimer Road. London W10 6RA
Website : http://www.peaceville.com/

Lost Horizon Website: http://www.oncelosthorizon.com/

Review by Jonathan Brown