Awakening the World

How would one join paradigms of musical creativity with the spiritual freedom into a single universe and then turn it into the sonic, powerful transcending experience. It's exactly what has main songwriter, founder and lead guitarist, Wojtek Lisicki done with rest of the members of this (oc)cult heavy metal band from Sweden. In this almighty debut Lost Horizon made such an impact that only few bands could hit the scene in the post-grunge era and almost single-handedly revive the heavy metal genre by raising the creative bar for the levels higher. In matter of fact from the objective stance, Lost Horizon is the only modern (post-2000) metal band that has to this date, produced and contributed to the general genre as such, with original and intellectually unique approach to the style, lyrical and instrumental progressivity, atmosphere, great cooperative production and never before emphasized messages of power of individuality against collectivity, obedience and slavery in wide, unpredictable, non-cheesy sense and meaning.

The record itself was reproduced several times since 90's, some of the songs were completely rewritten from their 90's counterparts, structurally and instrumentally final LP is filled with more melodically richer effort on the keyboards, drumming precision and finally vocal harmonies and power-screams of the vocalist, Daniel Heiman that made this record complete. Daniel is still hailed from the vast number of journalists and singers as technically, the best singer and metal screamer in the world of heavy metal. He became the standard that many will strive to conquer. Recently, Stu Block of Iced Earth hailed Daniel as a best power-screamer and one of his own personal favorite vocalists (along with Jorn Lande, Russell Alen, Dickinson etc.) emphasizing his effortless singing style, as an exact reason why he would spend any amount of ca$h for his lessons.

LP itself starts with an atmospheric introduction to make the listener more accustomed to the message and the ideal of the band. We have 8 tracks between the intro and the outro, 1 epic and 1 transitional ambient song "Song of Air". You can follow the tracks through concepts of freedom of the individual (referred to you as a warrior or your own, awakened self), firstly his slavery to the fate and the outside occurrences, obedience, ignorance and then his gradual way of awakening in his own world, world where freedom and the power of his will and enlightenment, rule over all the "strings" previously imposed. Guitar work is unmatched almost virtuoso-like, melodic, proportional to the emotional set of the band. Bass guitar is handled by the virtuoso, Martin Furängen whose own playing virtuosity and speed is demonstrated in the introduction of "World Through My Fateless Eyes", "Welcome Back" etc. The guy can tap and "finger" that neck.

Drumming is handled by Christian Nyqvist whose precision and rich, groovy sound and rhythm changes are Lost Horizon worthy, no doubt about it. Finally, the highlight of the record represents the man whose singing made & still maintains the cult-like image of the band to this day, while still exponentially rising thanks to the exposure on the wide public-audience following sites, like Youtube.

It would not be fair to proclaim Daniel Heiman as the main reason for the LH' success, since without the music and structurally great songwriting his pipes would be loose and unused without the proper catalyst from the rest of LH. Almost every single (the) song on the album is destruction of another legend-like standard, from Halford to any other singer you can recall. His screaming is consistent, effortless, technical and melodically accurate. Diction and articulation are both clear and full without strains in the highest ranges. Daniel Heiman is just one unique high-definition standard of a vocalist, that anyone who can recall the guy's name associates him as such.

Finally, lyrically the band emphasizes as I've already mentioned anti-(a)theistical/nichilistic-like ideas of war against any slavery under materialism and impotence of the individual to break his own or other - external boundaries, all delusions of fallacy known as fate. This is the TRUE heavy metal band because they intellectually very well charge and spread the real life values and messages through the boundless energy of their own heavy metal music, with all the intention to transform the listener into thinking, self-aware, conscious, spiritually free mindful being, making him/her excluded from the rest of the "yeah, the music is good" crowd.

This is not the record for the simple-minded "Metallica - cool - yeaaah" cells and mindless walking dead "metalheads". This band has taken the burden of using the power of their creativity, energy and intellectual wisdom to transpire and enlighten hopefully, firstly targeted audience, those who at the end of their days would say, "I lived this life for something more" than just being an ordinary mortal - follower.

Heavy metal music should be listened by thinkers and wise ones, those who represent the uncompromisable, authentic individualistic force to righteously stand with few of them against cattle-following many, when the truth and occurrences require at least one voice standing up and shouting for the objective - the rightful. If this band represents the realm of everything said, I'm bearing that flag for eternity - fearless, limitless and unstoppable as should every other true listener and moral being.