No-one could Betray the lostprophets.

Lostprophets are back with their latest album entitled The Betrayed. After their last album which had succesful singles such as Rooftops (A Liberation Transmission), A Town Called Hypocrisy and Can’t Catch Tomorrow, lostprophets decided to take their new album in a new direction. Well, by new direction it means bringing back the sounds of their first album The Fake Sound of Progress.Up for the challenge, it was time for them to create something totally new but still hold on to the sound that made them. This album is like a collection of “what they were before” and now “what they’ve become”. They have re-invented themselves and listeners may be surprised with what sounds that have made on this album.

Right off the bat, the sound is very similar to their debut album, but somewhat re-invented. The Betrayed has a heavier sound compared to their last album and is more aggressive. There’s a lot more screaming and outrageous solos to please fans. Their second single Where We Belong has more of a melodic tune and has an anthem feel about it. It screams out to the fans and listeners to listen to. Hard drum beats accompanied by  mixed with melodic vocals. Tunes such as For He’s A Jolly Felon, may remind fans and listeners to the style lostprophets captured in their last album where it’s more of a motown, rock tune to it. A Better Nothing has a beautiful piano and orchestrated parts with a solo guitar that just attracts people’s attention. It’s one of the softer and reflective songs on the album. Streets of Nowhere is completely different to the other tracks, it has more of a pop rock style to go with it. An entertaining song that is worth listening to. It sounds like it should be sung in a bar with your best mates and rocking out through the night. It has a real garage-rock feel to it. Towards the end of the album, the songs become more melodic and reflect a more meaningful sound. Their second song Darkest Blue is mixed with a piano rock sound and hard rock. It’s a beautiful way to help end the album with something that shows that they are still the same band, but have developed new sounds along the way.

Lostprophets formula is simple. The first few songs, blast the listeners away by saying “This is who we are, now listen!” and by the end of the album it reaches a state where it seems like it encourages the listeners to reflect on the album and see how great the sound was. The album is a mix of their old style and what they have picked up along the way. A real hard rock/scream rock but then it is balanced about by a softer sound and an anthem feel to their last few songs. They have come a long way from their very first album, and along the way they picked up some magnificent techniques to attract new listeners and entertain the fans that have been there with them from the very start. Orchestrated work mixed with pianos always add a nice touch. Great vocal works by Ian and very positive sounds radiating from this album.

Key Songs to Listen To: Where We Belong, A Better Nothing, For He’s a Jolly Good Felon, Streets of Nowhere, Dirty Little Heart, Darkest Blue

8/10

Rusty