Wollongong melodic punks Lost In Line pump out 12 songs that will have you bouncing off the walls like it’s 1995 all over again! Melodic skate punk for fans of that Fat Wreck sound.
Pressing:
500 x CDs
REVIEWS:
Bombshellzine.com
LOST IN LINE – Smiles That Scream
Ahhh how I long for solid 90’s pop punk, it feels like it has been a while… The bands that I grew up on are mostly still out there releasing, but it just doesn’t feel the same in most cases. Here we have a sound that takes my ears back to the glory days, while still maintaining a modern vibe as well. If you grew up on bands like Lagwagon, No Use For A Name and pretty much the Fat Wreck catalogue, then this album will tickle your fancy to no end. At the same time if you didn’t grow up on that style and are looking for something fresh and easy to get into then take the time and check this album out. Solid as a nut throughout, fast pace, tidy guitar work and melodic as fuck vocals. It’s great to hear, and I certainly hope more bands give it a crack. Puts a lot of the US acts to shame as well, hopefully this album does good things, and opens up some eyes, as it simply is the best pop-punk to come out of this country in a number of years for sure.
Rating: 5/5
Coffeemug Zine #8 [Philippines]
LOST IN LINE – Smiles That Scream
Every track on the CD is catchy and very enjoyable. Among my favorites are “The Balance”, “Restored”, “Smiles That Scream” and “The Brightness”. Actually their music is being compared to No Use For A Name and Bodyjar. Yeah! Lost In Line sounds like those bands and I love it! These Australian based lads will give you a solid melodic So-Cal style skate-punk music. Another enthusiastic punk rock outfit from Pee Records. I recommend this record for punk rock lovers.
Lots Wife – Monash University Magazine
LOST IN LINE – Smiles That Scream
Straight out of Wollongong, “Lost In Line” are a relic from a time gone by. While sounding like something that would have been found blazing in skateparks 10 years ago, their debut album “Smiles That Scream” should appeal to a bigger audience than just the nostalgic; its succinct instrumentation, coupled with well thought out lyrics and vocal arrangements, should be able to win over many who were never around to hear this genre the first time around. While Lost In Line take cues from bands like No Use For A Name, Millencolin and Lagwagon, they are by no means simply recycling riffs. “Smiles That Scream” manages to take a familiar sounding style and make it sound completely current and undated. In that regard it gets a big thumbs up from me, as there is only so many times that someone can listen to “Leche Con Carne” and still find something new about it (while a classic, it has been 14 years since its release). Something that is immediately noticeable about “Lost In Line” is their extensive usage of the three part punk harmony, a technique which newer bands appear to have forgotten and relegated to antiquity. It is quite impressive for a band which plays a style with a reputation for turning out technically pathetic singers to manage not just one, but three highly competent vocalists. Instrumentally “Lost In Line” are also quite capable, with extremely tight 4/4 drums and hammering power chord riffs leading the charge. This is then complemented quite nicely with a number of songs featuring pseudo-metal harmonic lead guitar lines and solos, beefing up their sound considerably. This is particularly apparent on the tracks “Restored” and “Break The Cycle”, coincidently also the best on the CD. The lyrics on “Smiles That Scream” are well thought out, with topics ranging from relationships and girls to social critique. “Break The Cycle” in particular stands out to me, a rallying call against the suspect intentions of governments who do not listen to their citizens. As far as I am concerned, comparing the current state of national affairs to “a swastika revival” is as poetic as anybody ever truly needs to be; the images that such lyrics conjure are extremely powerful without delving into “artistic wanker” territory. “Lost In Line” will be touring soon as a support act for American band “Mest”, and from the strength of “Smiles That Scream”, I might just be tempted to buy a ticket. As long as I can leave before “Mest” play.
Review by: Matthew Woodward
RELEASE DATE:
17 May 2008
Also Available From:
CREDITS:
CAT #: PCD023
Recorded & Mixed by: Murray Adamson @ Main Street Studios
Mastered by: Alessandro Vanara
Artwork by: Pete Pee
