Depois de lanarem duas bombas metlicas com Awakening the World (2001) e A Flame to the Ground Beneath (2003), os LOST HORIZON entraram em estado de hibernao, motivado em grande parte pela sada do vocalista Daniel Heiman e do guitarrista Fredrik Olsson . Resultado: desde 2003 que no se ouve falar deles. O EVENT HORIZON, lembrou-se dos Lost Horizon e combinou uma conversa com o baixista Martin Furngen e o guitarrista Wojtek Lisicki, (aka Cosmic Antagonist e Transcendental Protagonist), acerca do passado, presente e futuro da banda sueca.

EH: Greetings Lost Horizon! First of all I would like to know the reasons why, in 2003, the band decided to suspend activities. I remember that at the time, the band was considered by many (including me!) to be the next Iron Maiden.
Martin: Thank you! And greetings to you too Paulo. At the time when we decided to suspend activities, there was a lot of turbulence in the band for several reasons, and probably all of us I think needed a rest from that. We had spent a lot of time together working in studios, travelling in touring buses and other environments that meant living together under very close conditions. Add to this some differences in personality and different approaches to important issues.
Your next Iron Maiden parallel is very flattering, and to be honest, we did feel that from people back then when we were touring, playing and doing interviews. And indeed in our egos as well! But when we parted I dont think anyone reflected upon this. In retrospect though, its very frustrating to have left the scene like that!

EH: Youve lost two members right after A Flame to the Ground Beneath. Its been difficult to find substitutes for Daniel and Fredrik? Have you tried anyone for the job?
Martin: The above mentioned differences and disagreements led to that Daniel and Fredrik went separate ways with Lost Horizon, this was more like a mutual separation.
We have been searching for a new singer on and off since then, but finding one that can sing our material which is quite demanding and voice intense has proven difficult. We have received a number of applications, but most of them have been mediocre, and most of the (very few) singers that were interesting turned out to not be serious about it. We have tried one singer, who actually came and auditioned, and hes got a powerful and really good voice, but he is too inexperienced for the position and need also training on some vocal areas. So the position is still vacant, and this past year we have focused on new material and not really put any effort into the singer search. Finding a replacement for Fredrik has never been of any concern, as there are so many talented guitarists out there. So far we havent laid any time on searching for the second guitarist. We are confident we will find one when time comes.

EH: Youve stated on the website that the next album will be directly available to the fans via internet and no contracts will be made with labels. Please tell us why have you decided to do things this way and what happened with Music for Nations?
Martin: This issue is still under discussion. We have considered different options, and one was/is to release our music directly from the Internet. Originally when we started writing/recording again we wanted to be able to release material as it was ready, like one, two or three songs at the time, to top the inspiration both for us and our fans. But since then we have come to realize, among other things due to the absence of a singer, that we will probably record all the material instrumentally first, then all the vocals. So we may find ourselves in a situation when an entire albums worth of material is recorded and finished. Then we will have to decide the next step label or no label, web release or not...
Music For Nations was bought up by Sony/BMG in 2004 and closed down, all artists released from their contracts. This puts us in a very favourable situation when time comes to release a new album!

EH: During these long 5 years I suppose you have already lots of material written. Can you unveil a little bit on how the new album will sound like, album title, song titles and such? (please feel free to compare with your previous albums)
Martin: Some of the material will follow the line of evolution of the previous albums, with our own particular style taken even further, but you will also find some material which has its roots in the early years, though now they are completely new compositions. There will also be some more thrashy material, and our sound will be more aggressive and edgy. So in comparison to our two previous albums, there will a little of the first and a little of the second, all held together by the Lost Horizon sound, which continuously evolves...
It is too early to name a title for the album, as this is usually something that comes very late in the process. This goes for song titles as well. This is our normal flow of work: We write the music first, record it, and then write the lyrics, decide the titles for the songs, record the vocals, and then finally, we come up with a title for the album itself. There are no titles and no lyrics. The work is being done more like a painting, piece by piece, on different areas.

EH: The previous albums featured The Song of Air and The Song of Earth. The next album will include the song of water or the song of fire?
Wojtek: Yes, absolutely. Its just a little parallel theme we have. Most probably it wouldnt be something we would decide to do today, as the elements concept is too overused by all means and also created by other people, yet things like this should be finished when started. Most probably it is going to be Song Of Fire on the next album, but its not 100% yet.

EH: You all seem very attentive about movies. Can you tell us what movies you have enjoyed lately?
Wojtek: Ow man, I have seen a lot of movies this year But of course, I will mention only those of some value. Here it comes:

Laputa Castle in The Sky (anime)
Felon
The Genius Club
Mutant Chronicles
Howl's Moving Castle (anime)
Life After People
Cloverfield
Vexille (animated)
The Golden Compass (anime)
Martian Child
Terminator The Sarah Connor Chronicles (series)
Prison Break (series)
Battlestar Galactica (series)
The Fountainhead
When Nietzsche Wept
Joshua
Heima
The Illusionist

EH: To conclude heres a few quick questions:
Awakening the World or A Flame to the Ground Beneath?
Wojtek: Lately quite equivalently, but I guess Flame to the Ground Beneath is closer to my heart, as its a later work, which makes it more mature.

Tape trading or filesharing?
Wojtek: Filesharing

Lord of the Rings or Star Wars?
Wojtek: Star Wars, the first 3 episodes of course.

Beer or Water?
Wojtek: Depending on situation and time, so quite equally. But if one choice only, then water. As for beer, preferably the lite sort, that one can buy in Swedish stores (3.5%). I dont like strong beer.

Cradle of Filth or Dimmu Borgir?
Wojtek: Dimmu Borgir, but only musically. Both are ridiculous content wise.

Beach or Countryside?
Wojtek: Depends. If one like in Cast Away or LOST, than maybe beach. If just normal, then country side. But its quite depending.

PC or Console?
Wojtek: PC

Metal Core or Emo?
Wojtek: No idea what Metal Core is. (Checking). Well, if I really have to choose, then Metal Core.

Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath?
Wojtek: Black Sabbath, but the one not with OZZY. 1. Dio, 2. Tony Martin, 3. Ian Gillan. But I like Led Zeppelin too!

McDonalds or Burger King?
Wojtek: McDonalds, if I really have to eat at any of them. Still, Wopper at Burger King rules here, with the only competitor Big Tasty from McDonalds. But its all such shitty food

Jesus or Allah?
Wojtek: Jesus of course an obvious choice being a part of the culture I am brought up in. By also as support to my own breed. Otherwise, I am an unreligious person.

30 Seconds to Mars or Lordi?
Wojtek: Wtf is that? Only heard 2 songs with Lordi + dont care.

Nietzsche or Freud?
Wojtek: Nietzsche of course.

To be or not to be?
Wojtek: Well, to be, after all, otherwise its pointless.

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