LOST SOCIETY (ROU) - Lost Society

Lost Society is a band that was created early in 2010, when Matei Tibacu-Blendea (Cyborg, Illuminati) and Paul "Slayer" Grigoriu (Rising Shadow) united their forces to create something different. Something different for Romania. More precisely, a sort of experimental/punk rock seasoned with all kinds of jazz, metal, funk influences and other likeable craziness. What first drew my attention with this material? I must admit that it wasn’t the presence of Matei and Paul, but that of Keith Morris, yes, The Keith Morris who played with OFF! and wrote history with Black Flag and Circle Jerks. When I heard that other heavy names from the hardcore punk such as Jello Biafra (ex-Dead Kennedys) + Jack Grisham and Greg Kuehn from T.S.O.L. appeared on this material, I realized that things are really serious and Lost Society are making real effort about their music. Still, I was overwhelmed by curiosity and eager to throw the CD into the player and see if all this is true or just hype caused by the presence of Keith Morris and Biafra. 

I give the record a few spins, look at it from all angles, carefully inspect the artwork signed by Bony, former vocal of the now defunct thrash metal band Snapjaw (gone too soon from the metal scene!), and I say to myself that Lost Society is a breath of fresh air in concept, musical approach and generally everything they do. I don’t know how many will appreciate what Paul and Matei are doing, at least in Romania. But if names such as Dinosaur Jr., Black Flag, The Damned, Circle Jerks, T.S.O.L., Naked City and others from the American 80s hardcore punk scene are not foreign to you, you will surely appreciate Lost Society. Social themes, sarcasm, fun, irony, devotion and hope, hope that things will change for the better for music in Romania. Hope that metal and hardcore punk bands will receive more attention from conventional press.

Lost Society is courageous, and serves us with a little over 70 minutes of punk rock experimentation. What else did I like about their music? I liked themes that would sometimes remind me of Miles Davies and John Coltrane, I loved references to Leonard Cohen and Johnny Cash, all in all I liked that Lost Society is not limited in any way and they understood what experimental means. What did I feel it’s holding them back? The vocal part is too loud compared to the instruments in places, while the guitar is tucked some place far away. Overall it sounds good, but I believe that their next work will be much better. There is real effort, but I think Paul and Matei are capable of more.

H. Nota: 7.5