Lost In Atlantis

Lost in Atlantis has had a bit of an eventful history, oscillating from two members to five to three, before finally (hopefully) settling on the current four-person arrangement. The present set-up, which includes vocals, guitar, bass, and drums, seems to fit the band really nicely. Their music is balanced and doesn’t lean too heavily on the talents of a single member. In contrast to the multitude of bands that seem to consist of one talented musician and a few coattail-riders, Lost In Atlantis is comprised of four talented musicians. The band’s debut album, Silent World, is a well-crafted record, both in its approach and instrumentation. The sonic landscape recalls Muse and Metric, while it’s clear that some New Found Glory and No Doubt lies in the group’s history. Lost In Atlantis kick out large and expansive songs, like the aptly named “Epicity,” and more focused, song-centric tunes like “All Your Lies.”

On “All Your Lies,” lead singer Liz Rosnowski’s voice breaks forth from the rest of the pack, sounding like a Leslie Feist unleashed. Her voice seems like it has the potential to command attention like Gwen Stefani or Victoria LeGrand (of Beach House), although it’s not often released at full force. Although the musicians are all very talented, they would do well to take turns highlighting their strengths. At times it seems all four are aiming at the middle to avoid showing up their counterparts. One of the albums’ strongest tracks is “Tek No,” a tune in which Lost In Atlantis takes on a bit more urgency. The drums are faster, the guitars more harried, and the band breaks free from the pop punk tendencies that can occasionally plague their tracks.

There are lots of bands out there that seem like they’re faking it. Lost In Atlantis is not one of those bands. Their earnest feel is what keeps the mix of synth punk found on Silent World from smacking of pandering. Yes, this band wants to achieve success in the mainstream. They are not, however, simply trying to make songs that will appeal to the masses. Lost In Atlantis does not censor their music toward the mainstream; rather they choose to pick a path and stick with it, whether you’re coming along for the rider or not. Most of the time, you should be up for the trip. Particularly for fans of bands like Paramore and Evanescence, Lost In Atlantis offer a modern brand of 2010 pop punk that is neither heavy handed nor overbearing. Album closer “Alien” captures the soaring female vocals of those aforementioned groups without treading close to the melodrama they can often contain. Instead, Rosnowski and Lost in Atlantis sound complete (and thankfully) sincere.

Lost In Atlantis is a band that is close to finding the recipe for success. The ingredients are there: talented members, good ear for melodies and catchy riffs, a talented lead singer, and more. On “Disaster,” those elements are on display, demonstrating the ability of the band to put together an addictive song seemingly without effort. The guitar riffs and vocals on that track are worthy of a mainstream release. Where they falter slightly is in their inability to break out of the box. More and more, music listeners are looking for a band that pushes the edge of a genre, innovating on the artists and ideas that have come before them. Lost In Atlantis doesn’t quite do that; they retread and synthesize the themes and styles of many bands that have come before, but still need an extra push toward the unwritten before they will be seen as a truly unique band.

For now, the quartet is off to a good start. Rather than starting from nothing, Lost In Atlantis has a solid base upon which to grow, build, and innovate. They certainly have the chops, and Silent World indicates that they’ll be able to keep growing until they’re a true force to be reckoned with.


Review by Chris Barth
Rating: 3 stars (out of 5)

- Chris Barth