German genre-fusing visionaries LORD OF THE LOST ended 2022 with a big bang, releasing their eighth studio album, Blood & Glitter, virtually overnight on December 30. Following extensive touring throughout the year, including as special guest of IRON MAIDEN, and the great success of their last album, JUDAS (#2 Official German Album Charts), the band now turns 180 degrees both visually and thematically.
Following their mythologically and theologically influenced previous albums, on Blood & Glitter, the band fully embraces their deeply-rooted love for 70s glam rock visuals and the sound of the 80s and its electronic, goth and new wave musical offshoots, without abandoning relevant metal elements. The album gets straight to the point and goes all the way from start to finish - thus completely bypassing ballads. Blood & Glitter embodies the energy of a LORD OF THE LOST live show and can be brought to the stage as a complete work.
The lyrics of the consistently up- and midtempo songs are direct, honest, topical, political and critical - and often surprisingly angry or very personal. Contrasts run like a thread throughout the album, once again proving different in comparison to their previous work. In addition to Chameleon Studios in Hamburg,Blood & Glitter was produced and recorded at the Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki. Blood & Glitter is 100% LORD OF THE LOST – different as usual while encompassing all that they are!
When conjuring the concept of Blood & Glitter, the band was inspired by the eponymous work of legendary music photographer Mick Rock, known for taking a large majority of the most famous photos of musicians in the 70s glam rock era. LORD OF THE LOST visually immerse themselves in the lifestyle of that era and combine it with the new wave and pop sound of the 80s, building on their own familiar dark metal foundation. The result: a glamorous party with critical and direct messages.
Chris Harms on the album release: "In a time when the marketing madness for each album seems to last longer and longer, when half the album – or even more – is already known six months in advance through pre-released singles, so that the high pre-release sales generate the highest possible chart result, what it should actually be about - the pure magic of hearing a new album of your favourite band for the first time - is becoming more and more lost. We want to transport this "like the old days" feeling through this surprise release! Fuck the charts, playlist pitches and 1,000 pointless reviews in advance. What matters is what an album means in the long run, not how high its "value" is on release day."
Title track "Blood & Glitter" opens the album in an immediately catchy manner, before "Leave Your Hate In The Comments" makes a strong statement by addressing the increasing hate culture in social media. Blood & Glitter features a variety of very special guests such as Heaven Shall Burn singer Marcus Bischoff on "The Future Of A Past Life", Andy La Plegua of Combichrist on "Reset The Preset" and Subway To Sally's Ally Storch on violin for "Save Our Souls”. The album ends with "One Last Song”, about which Chris Harms says, "I was wondering what song I would want to sing last before I die and realized that song didn't exist yet. So here it is. Probably the most important song I've ever written." The bonus track, a remarkable cover of Roxette’s “The Look”, features none other than German 90s popstar Blümchen as a duet partner.
Blood & Glitter is 100% LORD OF THE LOST. The band once again goes its own way and releases, without much advance, an album that defies all clichés, prejudices, genre norms and conventions, and makes strong statements in terms of content!
Blood & Glitter starts slowly and suddenly changes into a cold stone rocker filled with pathos and gothic influences. I even hear some 80’s influences (also listen to the electronic drums) and clearly a theatrical approach. The synthesizer plays clearly an important role! The chorus is catchy as hell. The backings really sounds like coming from a death metal band and add an extra dimension.
Leave Your Hate In The Comments is something we all read on social media. The song on itself mixes industrial with metal with a slice of the 80’s. Mister M. Manson could have written this one too or maybe it’s a little wink towards that horrible artist (unconvicted yet).
Absolute Attitude keeps going on the 80’s synth rock flow. The bombastic sound gets hooked with the more rock minded touch, just as the poppy side of this song. It’s clearly a song with a lot of variation within the sound.
The Future Of A Past Life (feat. Marcus Bischoff) gets thanks to the duet for a hard and a softer side. I can feel the rage and the pathos all over the song!
No Respect For Disrespect is a great title: just the way I love it. The song is ok but nothing extraordinary.
Reset The Preset (feat. Andy LaPlegua) is not only a great duet but also a strong song with a good message! Can’t wait to hear and see what it does on stage!
Destruction Manual sounds like an old school Nine Inch Nails song mixed with an 80’s pop sound! The chorus is catchy as hell This song is clearly single material and has to be played on stage!
Dead End sounds despite the title catchy and sweet. The robotic voice is a nice extra. Towards the end the song gets a powered up injection.
Leaving The Planet Earth has an almost 80’s kind of A-Ha touch next to the pathos and theatrical feel. I somehow feel it will be hard to perform on stage.
Forever Lost sounds softer but keeps a bombastic touch.
Save Our Souls (feat. Ally Storch) mixes again a softer voice with a harder one and lets in a violin too. I feel this one will be great on stage too as it has a very bombastic touch that works well on stage.
One Last Song isa cool and catchy rocker. The chorus is really strong and feels like the perfect closing track for a gig. It’s also the last regular track on this album
The Look (feat. Blümchen) comes a s a bonus track and sounds like a great remake. Both voices work out just great and are like in symbiose. I hope they get a chance to perform it on stage and why not make a single out of it? I know that my family members liked it when I played it and they are known for their good taste!
Well I like the global sound, some songs are clearly single material and will really be great once performed on stage! It’s a nice new step! Hope to see them on stage one day in Belgium!
Club & Glitter Tour 2023:
01.02.23 DE – Hamburg / Knust – SOLD OUT!
02.02.23 DE – Dresden / Beatpol – SOLD OUT!
03.02.23 DE – Cologne / Club Volta – SOLD OUT!
04.02.23 DE – Munich / Backstage – SOLD OUT!
05.02.23 DE – Berlin / Lido – SOLD OUT!
The Future Past Tour 2023 with IRON MAIDEN:
03.06.23 FI – Tampere / Nokia Arena
24.06.23 IE – Dublin / 3Arena
26.06.23 UK – Glasgow / Ovo Hydro
28.06.23 UK – Leeds / First Direct Arena
30.06.23 UK – Manchester / AO Arena
03.07.23 UK – Nottingham / Motorpoint Arena
04.07.23 UK – Birmingham / Utilita Arena
07.07.23 UK – London / The O2
26.07.23 DE – Dortmund / Westfalenhalle
01.08.23 DE – Munich / Olympiahalle
Festivals 2023:
29.-30.04.23 BR – Sao Paulo / Summer Breeze Brazil
07.-10.06.23 PL – Gdansk / Mystic Festival
07.-10.06.23 AT – Nickelsdorf / Nova Rock
15.-18.06.23 FR – Clisson / Hellfest
05.-08.07.23 DE – Ballenstedt / Rockharz
13.-16.07.23 CZ – Zlin / Masters Of Rock
20.-22.07.23 FI – Laukaa / John Smith Rock Festival
29.-30.07.23 DE – Cologne / Amphi Festival
02.-05.08.23 DE – Wacken / Wacken Open Air
29.-30.09.23 UK – Sheffield / HRH Goth 2
14.10.23 DE – Cologne / Unter Schwarzer Flagge
17.-18.11.23 DE – Leipzig / Gothic Meets Classic
LORDFEST 2023:
09.12.23 DE – Hamburg
LORD OF THE LOST are:
Chris Harms – Vocals, Guitar
Pi Stoffers – Guitar
Class Grenayde – Bass
Gared Dirge – Piano, Synths, Percussion, Guitar
Niklas Kahl – Drums
