It would be fair to say that things have not happened as quickly for Lostprophets as they might have. One of the must-see live bands of 2001, their appeal never really translated to album sales. Which in the long run might not be a bad thing, particularly given said album, their debut 'The Fake Sound Of Progress', wasn’t actually that good.
So the onus really is on them to deliver with 'Start Something'. The early indications have been good, with lead singles 'Last Train Home' and 'Burn Burn' eschewing the nu-metal trappings for a more straight-ahead metal sound with choruses that you can actually sing.
Having said that, the opening double whammy of 'We Still Kill The Old Way' and 'To Hell We Ride' - with their pummelling mix of Ian Watkins' half-sung/half-barked vocals and breakneck guitar - show that old habits die hard. But the likes of 'I Don't Know' and 'Goodbye Tonight' benefit from a lighter touch that recalls Faith No More at their most commercial.
'Last Summer' is Bryan Adams' 'Summer Of 69' metalled up and set on a surfing beach in Cornwall while the gonzo 'We Are Godzilla, You Are Japan' is the only real nod to their roots, with Watkins lacerating his vocal chords while DJ Jamie Oliver scratches for his life over the jackhammer riffs. By contrast, the closing 'Sway' dissolves into an ambient soundscape at the fadeout.
Like their debut, 'Start Something' is ultimately too long but where it occasionally flags the pace is soon picked up again. There is also enough going on for it not to feel like being submerged in an endless metal sludge. Finally, these 'Prophets are ascending the first steps to greater things.
