Swedish power metal band. Started up in 1998, and have adapted a style of their own. They sound like a mix of Manowar and Crimson Glory! Lost Horizon have quickly become one of the most acclaimed newcomers in metal.
AWAKENING
THE WORLD (2001) MUSIC FOR NATIONS
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Line-up: Transcendental Protagonist (aka) Wojtek Lisicki - Guitars, Synthesizers Cosmic Antagonist (aka) Martin Furängen - Bass Guitar Preternatural Transmogrifyer (aka) Christian Nyquist - Drums Ethereal Magnanimus (aka) Daniel Heiman - Vocals & Screams |
This Swedish band were given tremendous reviews, and my search for their debut-CD began instantly. But the album proved to be a little harder to obtain than expected. The local CD-store that carries any metal had sold it out every time I went to pick it up. But after a while I bought it through www.ginza.se, and even got a cheaper deal on it! I even saw the band live at Sweden Rock Festival 2002, before I got to hear the album. But finally getting 'Awakening The World', I was not disappointed. This is truly one of the most exciting new power metal bands out there! But in addition to the power, they also include lots of melody. The strong voice of Daniel Heiman and the use of powerful background vocals is right up my alley! If the song "Perfect Warrior" doesn't become a heavy metal classic, I don't know fiddly squad! The only think I dislike about the album, are the intro and outro. They are just some floating keyboard noises, and strike me as totally uninteresting and unnecessary. Their image is true to their style, as they sort off come across as a mix of the true metal bands, like Manowar and Virgin Steele, and the more melodic bands, like Crimson Glory (a band they did an awesome cover of at Sweden Rock!) and Iron Maiden. The use of full body paint, and the story about the quest to resurrect metal, might look a little bit silly. But I say it works! Check this band out, as I think this album is A MUST!
Killer tracks: Heart Of Storm, Perfect Warrior, Denial Of Fate, Welcome Back
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FLAME TO THE GROUND BENEATH (2003) MUSIC FOR NATIONS
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Line-up: Transcendental Protagonist (aka) Wojtek Lisicki - Guitars Cosmic Antagonist (aka) Martin Furängen - Bass Guitar Preternatural Transmogrifyer (aka) Christian Nyquist - Drums Ethereal Magnanimus (aka) Daniel Heiman - Vocals & Screams Perspicacious Protector (aka) Attila Publik - Synthesizers Equilibrian
Epicurius (aka) Fredrik Olsson - Guitars
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These Swedes delivered one of the strongest debut albums of all time. So everyone had expectations towards this sophomore release. And I guess it was inevitable, but they fail to meet at least my high hopes. That is not to say that this is a bad album. If this had been the bands debut, I'd been raving. I just seem to loose my focus on most of the songs on this CD. There are of course parts that are excellent. And Daniels vocals still sends chills down my spine. Let's just hope that Lost Horizon manage to focus more on the structure of the songs on their next effort.
Killer tracks: Pure, Cry Of A Restless Soul
Daniel Heiman & Fredrik Olsson guest appearances:
Highland Glory - 'From The Cradle To The Brave'
