OPUS ARISE

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Though there is certainly no shortage of traditional prog metal bands out there, one could argue that there is a shortage of truly excellent prog metal bands on the modern scene. Lost in Thought, a young band from Wales formed in 2007, offers a major exception to that rule with their stellar debut album, Opus Arise. If traditional prog metal with a modern edge is your preferred genre, I'd recommend this one in a heartbeat. This isn't an album to blow you away with its originality, but the top-notch production, melodic hooks, and technical mastery should be enough to satisfy any progressive metal fan. This should be one of the finest albums that 2011 has to offer.

Lost in Thought plays a style of traditional progressive metal in the vein of Dream Theater, Pagan's Mind, and Vanden Plas. Opus Arise may not be the most groundbreaking album you'll ever come across, but it certainly is a fine example of modern prog metal done right. Every song here is extremely memorable and well-composed. This is an album that grabs you with its melodic hooks the first time around, and reveals its complexity and depth over repeated spins. Just listen to those fantastic vocals from Nate Loosemore in 'Beyond the Flames' - or even the entire album, for that matter. The man is simply a fantastic vocalist who frequently reminds me of a younger James LaBrie or Andy Kuntz. Musicianship-wise, Opus Arise is a winner across the board. These guys are clearly very talented virtuosos; there's no weak link here. Just listen to that fantastic keyboard work from Greg Baker, the near-impossible drum patterns from Chris Billingham, the technically outstanding solos from David Grey, and the rock-solid bass work from Rhys Anslow. Lost in Thought is simply a joy to listen to, and the fantastic songwriting surely gives these virtuosos plenty of time to shine.

As odd as this may sound, one of my favorite things about Opus Arise is the production. This comment isn't at all downplaying the other elements of the album, but more-so accentuating how terrific this album sounds. The clean, modern sound still manages to inject plenty of emotion and power that's expressed through Lost in Thought's music. Kudos to Jacob Hansen for giving this album such an outstanding production!

Opus Arise is a terrific debut from Lost in Thought - it's hard to imagine that such great heights were reached this early in the band's career. I absolutely adore this album and will be keeping a close eye on them in the coming years. A very enthusiastic 4 - 4.5 stars are deserved for Opus Arise. This is among the best prog metal albums that the United Kingdom has to offer.