MINDKILLER FANZINE from Argentina
Questions: Mario Villar
Answers: Wojtek Lisicki
Date: November 11, 2007


Hi metal warrior! First, you can tell me about the beginning of the band?

Hi! How are You. No, I can't. It should be perfectly known by now. Hmm, it was quite some time ago now I did the last interview, thanx for making me take the first step in that direction again. Soon it is going to be a frequent occupation for us I guess.

And now... you can find any vocalist for Lost Horizon? Or you continue searching for it?

We have not found any suitable singer. All contributions we have gotten are too mediocre or simply not fitting Lost Horizon. We had two known singers in sight, who are definitely really good, but they literary gayed out after a short while in the pre-run. Generally, we are not actively searching for a singer, as none of us has either energy or time for it. I/we am writing new material in an un-stressing tempo. When it’s finished and recorded then we will care about the singer. We are very close to the initial stage now. Of course, we are open for all contributions and try outs all the time.

Lost Horizon is an amazing band. When I first heard your CD debut, this was a big surprise to me; the high quality of your sound is difficult to find in a CD debut. How much preparation went into these songs? Before this album, you edit any independent production, like a demo or something that?

We have indeed recorded a demo, but it was intended to be a presentation for the companies only and not for sale, or even spreading around. “Preparations” is maybe not a proper word in our debut album’s case, as this album had a real history behind. From when we started in 93, there were three steps in our development as a band until 2000. That made the songs mature and evolve. The great production we have achieved on Awakening The World is a result of general knowledge within studio work and handling the instruments, as well as the fantasy in using the equipment.

Your second album \"A Flame To The Ground Beneath\" is like the first one, very powerful. Which is for you, the best difference between these two albums?

This is a bit hard to tell. When we create songs they are always being based on the very bare and natural feelings inside. We never compromise, which makes that the albums are always a good reflection of how we feel presently. As for the new material to come, we are not trying to make it different or better. Not at all. It’ll simple become just what it’ll become. A natural result, nothing forced upon. And we never adapt to the market, others’ wishes, fashion or time.

And about a new album? You can tell me something about this? (Sound, new songs, lyrics, recording studios...)

Well, what I definitely can say is that the third album is going to be very heavy metal classical sounding and raw in sound, with lot of edgy and at times thrashy riffs. We will try to make the instruments relatively simple, not too awkwardly complicated like the most of the power metal masturbations around. We also really want to use as many of the remaining parts as possible, the parts and riffs that have followed us since many years, but never got their chance and place in any song. We will also use at least one of full songs we have on stock since years. The oldest one is most probably going to be the first song to record and to expose for the people. As for the lyrics, album title and song titles, there are no yet. I can’t specify the content either, as it will come to life during the writing period. The album will include eights songs. The recording session is going to be more like in Awakening The World’s case, which means that we will use different places to record. All members will record their instruments in solitary, controlling their part of the process by themselves at the locations of their choice. Of course, that doesn’t concern the vocals, as I will produce them like usually, as well as the final phase of keyboards, as those usually contain a lot of parameters and aspects a producer has to take care of. Attila will naturally help with all the sound parameters.

I wanted to ask about your image. You use a war paint, like \"Braveheart\" film, for example. What do you express through your image to your listeners?

The paintings are to create an illustrative and epic feeling and to create a clear difference between the artist and the audience, which makes it all more special. But most probably we will not use the paintings in the future. We are too serious people to be interpreted like clowns because of poorly made make-ups at the stage. We will not either play with bear chests anymore, as we are not bodybuilding nowadays hehehe. But of course we will compensate all that with cool, adequate cloths and other things.

You are influenced by epic music soundtracks and some fantastic films, like the music from \"Conan\", or the movie \"Highlander\". In the future, you can speak in your lyrics about epic real battles, like the campaign of Alexander The Great, or the history of Rome, for example?

No no no, we will never do that. We are not interested in that at all. Almost all wars through the history have been arranged and planned through intentionally and that is not anything worth wasting artistry on. Also, we are not interested at all in the war theme. We are an intellectual band, touching upon much deep subjects – inner, esthetical, spiritual, social etc. Of course, Lost Horizon is also about exposing and resisting, so well, that could be called war then.

You are a true metal band. To me, you can raise the burning torch lightened by Manowar. What is your opinion about the sentence from Manowar, \"Death To False Metal\"? Manowar is a big Influence to Lost Horizon?

It definitely was (and is) on some areas, but I am talking only about old albums, which are of course fantastic. Everything until The Triumph Of Steel (not including) is/was of great influence in one or other way. To answer on the sentence "Death To False Metal" I would say "death to false art" and “death to false appearance“.

What do you feel when you know that your music is being listed to in places very distant to Sweden, like the Patagonian lands, in Argentina? Is a dream come true?

It’s definitely fulfilling and touching to realize that one’s music has gotten such wide and reached hearts of people around the world, so far away. When it comes to Your part of the world it shouldn’t be forgotten that there is a lot of common mentality and culture between it and the Christian eastern European culture I am from. It’s obvious to me that people coming from similar cultures, political systems, religious believes, are more amenable for the codes, patterns and tones hidden in the music and lyrics, than others, who come from places with different outlook on life. I always feel that similarity. Although, I absolutely don’t want to depreciate by any means other peoples’ perception or emotional apprehension. After all, there are “universal” laws around. By the way, did You know that my warrior soul pal Valgorth, who also takes care of our web site, is from Argentina? :) We talk to each other on a daily base, which gives me all proofs for what I just mentioned in the middle part of this answer.

Finally, thanks for your time. Some words to all your fans in the extreme south of the world, in the Patagonia.

Prepare for the third coming very soon! The work will be started in the beginning of 2008. The magic is being created in this very moment. Thanx Mario for this spontaneous interview out of nowhere :)