There are, broadly speaking, two types of boys in the world. You got the shy, geeky, sweet ones who take six years to finally get up the nerve to talk to you. And you got the alpha males who just roll up to the hottest thing and take it home. These two types also work for bands. We all know who the shy ones are, just as we know that nu-metalists are the alpha males. UK's alpha males are fronting as six bored Welsh lads calling themselves Lostprophets.
Riding on the wave of jack-hammer guitars and emotive lyrics crashing in from across the pond, Lostprophets re-released their debut album, 'The Fake Sounds of Progress', to a groundswell word of mouth success - hitching their rawk party train to opening slots for their US cohorts. Clearly this strategy has paid off in spades because the support has become the headliners.
This band were born to be up on the big stage - how on earth did teeny pub stages hold their crazy metal-tastic light show, that includes a rather scary unfurling of their banners nazi-rally style (still - glad to see branding is important among the kids). They dominate the stage - filling it in ways seasoned pros can't begin to touch. Lead Prophet Ian Watkins - rumored to be a reluctant frontman - is the most natural reluctant in history, sidestepping the rock'n'roll cliches because of his sheer honesty. In fact, Lostprophets as a band possess that rare basic desire to either perform or die, normally restricted to jazz musicians.
Sounding far more metal live than on album, the set is most of 'The Fake Sound of Progress'. This type of music demands a visceral reaction - be it snogging a stranger or putting bare knuckles through plate glass. It's the sound of rage, frustration and the inability to communicate your most desperate (and secret) feelings.
Gob-smackers include the introspective, melody-strewn '...And She Told Me To Leave', and the gestalt-therapy of 'Still Laughing'. Their most comparable competitor is Linkin Park, and despite both band's use of break-beat DJs (how modern!), Lostprophets still lack Linkin's dynamic creativity. But, this album is their first offering and after touring with the same material for the past couple of years, they're bound to start pushing their comfort zone boundaries.
The Prophets end with a raucous version of next single 'Shinobi vs. Dragon Ninja', with Watkins threatening this will be the last time they perform it live. See - they're off to hole up and create a brand new album chocka with guttural, spluttering siren songs for the kids to worship. Make no mistake - this is the sound of the kids today. Embrace or reject it, but don't try denying it - because it ain't going away.
