The band’s musical style is heavy and definitely hybrid, or else “experimental”, in the sense that the band’s style is quite unique. A definition the band’s guys were liking was “heavy stoner tribal band”, which, however, doesn’t fully fit. Lost Moon’s music incorporates stylistic elements from heavy and prog metal, traditional doom, acid-space psychedelia and desert rock, noise-garage rock, and, last but absolutely not least, hard, jazzy tribal rhythms and percussions. All of this, combined by some magic formulas, is unfolded in the 8 tracks of album Tales From The Sun which runs for about 42 minutes. In this new album you’ll find much of the “old”, outstanding Lost Moon features. One is Sefano Paolucci’s peculiar assertive, grungy vocals, either clean or distorted by effects, which are often imparting a sense of urgency to the leading melodies and enhancing tension, or restless pathos, even in those tracks or instances when the music gets more intimate. Another feature is the tendency of the band to shift between highly tense, aggressive, muscular metal and an atmospheric and moody state, in different tracks or even within the same track. This feature was a distinctive feature for album King of Dogs. The new album Tales From The Sun is probably heavier, more metallic and so there’s probably less space for moody states. But this doesn’t mean that the band gave up with atmosphere. For example in track “ Tales From The Sun” the band is conjugating dynamic sounds of strong impact with escapes into spacey psych metal. Track “The Path I Walk” is where the band slows down and embarks in a soulful, mostly acoustic ballad drenched with emotions and atmospheres. The interplay of Stefano’s narrative guitar patterns and grungy vocals with the afro percussions, the brief insertions of electric guitars and the final escape into space psychedelia creates a seducing diversion from the more aggressive character of the other metallic tracks.
Tales From The Sun is heavy and its heaviness is knitted by Stefano’s great skills on guitars and the amazing interaction of complex, multi-layered riffs with the great jazzy bass line, the rambling drumming and the haunting afro percussions. Riffage is neat yet complex and multifaceted both in the styles and in the production. Riffs may range from classic heavy metal to intricate proggy constructions to spacey or Hendrixian convoluted solos to downtuned heavy doom, to beefy hard rock. The guitar sounds may range from crystalline clear (and sound “modern”) to rough, dull, downtuned and distorted (and sound “old”). Riff styles and sound production vary continuously and create different effects while Stefano and his eclectic guitar patterns are dynamically interacting with the other musicians. Listen to the great up-tempo, eclectic tracks like Adrenaline’s Flowing, Lay Down Your Hands on Me, Event Horizon, “Ransom” and “Burn America” are probably the tracks that may be best tagged as stoner metallic. “Ransom” is lead by mid-tempo rhythm and an enjoyable, slightly more laid back attitude. Track Burn America has a surprising start that recalls the ambience on the old songs by Santana! The afro beat percussions soon gives way to the infectious and relentless heaviness of the downtuned metallic riffs.
The closure of this powerful album is via an intense ballad, “Building A New Wall”. In this track raw metallic tension alternates with passionate intervals where Stefano’s vocals are like a chameleon, i.e. change tone, get doubled, deformed, etc. But the best way to close can’t but be by letting Stefano’s guitar howl while building up an intricate texture of heavy metal, prog and psychedelia. Album Tales From The Sun is great and results from a combination of factors including the “chemistry” between musicians playing together, and enjoying it fully, since ages. Lost Moon are a totally DIY underground band involving skilled musicians and sound engineers who rely on themselves totally. Yes, I know, it sounds like the story of many cool bands in the underground scene. Anyway, while gigging extensively, notably also across Europe, Lost Moon gathered much enthusiastic support outside the boundaries of their country. That’s probably why the quartet is now busy organizing the third Euro tour for this year during next October and November. Here are the first dates confirmed for the “Tales from Europe Tour” part III: 31st October 2013 in Wienn (A) 1st November 2013 in Norden (GER), 2nd November 2013 in Amsterdam (NL). Keep Lost Moon’s websites checked for more infos. You can listen to some tracks from the new album on Lost Moon’s Soundcloud page (see link below). Get hold of Lost Moon’s new crushing album, in CD format, by contacting the band (at least for the moment) and, if you have the chance, go and see these unusual yet “trve”, experienced metallers in their powerful live shows: great time guaranteed! And get the cd from their very hands!
Words: Marilena Moroni
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Tracklist:
1. Adrenalin's Flowin'
2. Tales From The Sun
3. Lay Your Hands Down On Me
4.The Path I Walk
5. Ransom
6. Event Horizont
7.Burn America
8. Building A New Wall