Album Review

LostAlone – Shapes Of Screams

• 7th Apr 2014

Lost Alone are a British trio who have built up a pretty loyal following over their fairly lengthy career that’s encapsulated their fair share of highs and lows. Their third studio album ‘Shapes of Screams’ is out on Graphite Records, with production from the legendary Dan Weller. Despite this huge platform for the record, Shapes of Screams really is a Marmite album: some people literally won’t be able to handle it’s salty weirdness.

Opener ‘Crusaders’ sets up the album’s sound. A huge choral number, apparently inspired by Les Miserables, you really can feel the musical theme throughout the rest of the record. The songs are uplifting and dramatic, and at points relentlessly anthemic. Reminiscent of My Chemical Romance circa The Black Parade, the lyrics are empowering: audiences will love singing along live. However, the chanting choral vocals, the harmonies and near cliche silver lining lyrics seem to saturate the record, and it gets repetitive.

The real strengths of Shapes of Screams are it’s smatterings of heavy guitars like on popular single ‘The Bells! The Bells!!’, and the wonderfully fun, riffy, Queen-like moments on songs like ‘Guilty’. It’s also unquestionable catchy – you’ll be singing ‘Hostages’ and ‘I Was Born To End This Way’ in the shower for days. ‘Requiem’ has a bizarre Disney stadium rock feel that, against pretty much all odds, really works. Sure, it’s not for everyone, but Lost Alone are doing something brave and different in the British rock landscape.

– Zoë Edwards

Venue: Shapes Of Screams
Support Band: Graphite Records