Description

2007 re-issue on Sony Music Records

Awakening The World is not for the faint-hearted, and most definitely not for the cynical. Based in Gothenburg, Sweden, Lost Horizon dream the metal dream with absolute abandon, each of the four members taking a moniker as grand as their musical ambition. Thus we have vocalist Ethereal Magnanimus, drummer Preternatural Transmogrifyer, bassist Cosmic Antagonist, and guitarist Transcendental Protagonist (known to their families as Daniel, Christian, Martin, and Wojtek, respectively), garbed and painted as if they are countrymen of Conan the Barbarian. Opening in classic style with the sound of crashing thunder, the album quickly becomes a rush of thudding drums and melodic, chiming guitars, often overlaid with soaring, vaguely Oriental solos. In this, Lost Horizon recall Rainbow at their fastest, and midperiod Iron Maiden, with Magnanimus matching Bruce Dickinson’s crazy vocal range, particularly with his pyrotechnic shrieking during “Sworn in the Metal Wind.” Lyrically, the band stands for honor, truth, and personal freedom, and will brook no nonsense from faithless women (“Take some under your wings, but she must kiss the ring!”), much like their Cimmerian hero. Though they lack the menace and bloody grandeur of Bathory–and Robert E. Howard, for that matter–Lost Horizon are gratifyingly convinced in their immortal quest, as a band formerly known as Highlander should be.

Track list:
1. The Quickening
2. Heart Of Storm
3. Sworn In The Metal Wind
4. The Song Of Air
5. World Through My Fateless Eyes
6. Perfect Warrior
7. Denial Of Fate
8. Welcome Back
9. The Kingdom Of My Will
10. The Redintegration