Lost Society: Lives Worth Saving

Listen to the latest LOST SOCIETY album side-by-side with their earlier work and you could easily be convinced it was written by a different band. Their older material was fast, riotous thrash metal with an emphasis on fun. The lyrics revolved around beer and partying, and the artwork was cartoonishly violent. If The Sky Came Down is not like that.

For one thing, it’s darker and more introspective. In the years since their last record, frontman Samy Elbanna has suffered severe mental health issues that have heavily influenced the lyrical subject matter. If The Sky Came Down is a very personal and honest album, drawing inspiration from the fear of your entire world collapsing around you. The question of how you’d cope if your friends and family suddenly disappeared is etched into every note.

And yet curiously, it’s arguably the most accessible music LOST SOCIETY have ever written. It’s awash with catchy melodies and packing more hooks than a butcher’s shop. The lyrics might be bleak, but they stand in contrast to fast, enthusiastic and highly enjoyable music. It’s a remarkable addition to their discography, and Samy is confident that his openness will be beneficial.

“It’s a record that has a very universal theme. Everyone that reads the lyrics will understand that the whole storyline is about the last one and a half years of my life, but we’re talking about something that I think people all around the world will be able to relate to and connect with,” he tells us over Zoom. “I feel it’s something that every person has thought about at least once in their life. They feel that the worse could happen. Whether it’s a family member or a relationship or a job, everyone always feels at some point that everything you believe and trust in might just disappear. If The Sky Came Down is my personal story of that happening to me, but it’s one I wanted to share with everyone to kind of give them a glimpse of hope in dark times.”

That willingness to experiment with the thrash template isn’t new either. LOST SOCIETY have been playing with the formula for years now and this record is the next step in an evolution that began with 2016’s Braindead. That album was noticeably different to the punkish energy of their previous material, and the fact they survived a (minor) backlash to it has given him the confidence to press ahead.

“Braindead was full of slower songs, groovier songs and different themes to the first two records, I think that people kind of realised okay, this band is going to try different things throughout their career,” he says. “I think there’s a paradox in metal where you’re supposed to be against everything, but then suddenly you have so many rules that are holding you back, even if you want to do something. Obviously, there’s a lot of bands that find their thing and stick to it and they love doing that and that’s great, I love that. But for us, it’s all about trying new things. I’d be sad if we had to keep doing the same stuff we did when we were sixteen.”

It’s a fair point. Samy was fifteen years old when the band formed and he’s been through a lot since then. Hyperactive thrash is loads of fun, but it would almost be dishonest if he was still playing it now. “We’re older now. We’ve toured the world and seen things, been through relationships and heartbreak and loss and stuff like that. What you hear in 2022 with If The Sky Came Down is what LOST SOCIETY has been through in the last few years and I feel like what we release next will be a representation of where we’re at then. That way, our fans are getting the most genuine picture of what this band is all about.”

Consequently, If The Sky Came Down is full of songs that push the envelope. Hurt Me for instance sees them marrying thrash with NINE INCH NAILS at their sleaziest, while Stitches sounds like a crossover hit in waiting. It’s a full throttle metal track with a chorus from the LINKIN PARK textbook, but it also has some of the nastiest lyrics on the record.

“Stitches is pure self-reflection. It’s a moment where you can hear me realising that all these things are not okay and it’s not what a human being should have to deal with in such a short period of time. So, it’s setting the mood for the whole record but at the same time telling people you can’t just put a bandage over something that’s bleeding so hard. Eventually you’re going to have to face the music and accept that you need help.”

LOST SOCIETY may have had an awful time in the past few years, but they can still have fun. They’ve certainly not turned into KATATONIA while locked away in isolation, but the personal difficulties that Samy has endured have shaped him and he’s come out the other side as a wiser, humbler man. Writing and recording If The Sky Came Down has been cathartic and happily, he’s already receiving a positive response.

“I’m one of the lucky ones. Music has always been that outlet for us. It’s the place where we can pour all our positive and negative energy, and it’s definitely a privilege to write music that resonates with people. We’ve only had two songs out from this record so far and already, we’re getting messages from all over the world with people saying ‘I thought I was the only one feeling like this.’ I’m so proud we’re giving people hope.”

If The Sky Came Down is set for release on October 7th via Nuclear Blast Records. Pre-orders are available now and can be purchased here.

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