At the start, they just wanted to make a normal album, but that quickly turned into two, and then three. Hamburg, Germany’s Lord of the Lost is no stranger to the extraordinary, especially when it comes to creative ambition. The concept, according to vocalist Chris Harms, is a dark, somber, and pleasantly melancholic dream, but without a clear red thread; a big piece of music, not just a collection of songs.
“If you stretch your artistic framework, eventually you get pulled back to the center. That contrast is what excites us; we need that variety. If you eat only sweets for a week, at some point you desperately need something savory, and vice versa. Even if the world might expect something different from you.”
OPVS NOIR Vol. 1 is the first album in an upcoming trilogy and is set to be released August 8 via Napalm Records. It follows 2022’s Blood & Glitter, which was soaked in red and gold, and signifies the band’s return to their darker roots. The group dedicated the entire 2024 calendar to putting together this masterpiece. Creating such a piece of work sounds like a logistical nightmare, keying in on countless minute details to make sure every little nuance is dignified and fulfilled.
“It was important to us that Volume 1 reflects the essence of OPVS NOIR in a relatively cohesive way,” explains Harms. “It then gradually opens up from darkness towards a bit more light through Volumes 2 and 3, not the other way around.”
Harms wrote the vocals first, as he always does, and the rest fell into place. Taking from current inspirations, while also dipping into previous existence, these 33 songs feature 15 guest features. Throughout the trilogy, there is a mix of pop and heavy guitars, dark ballads, and good old-fashioned rock and metal. It bounces from 100% autobiographical to pure fiction and storytelling, but there’s still an air of darkness surrounding it.
“We aimed for a dark, quirky, but symphonic sound,” shares keyboardist/guitarist Benji Mundigler. “It could easily remind you of Tim Burton or Danny Elfman and is held in a classical style and, of course, combined with the LOTL core ingredients.”
“People tend to just accept the good things and experiences and quietly enjoy them or share their joy with a small circle,” adds pianist/guitarist Gared Dirge. “It’s usually the negative things and the darker sides of life that we tend to think about more intensely, which naturally leads some to have a stronger urge to share.”
At a band meeting in a hotel room in Sao Paulo, Brazil, another foundation was laid. The trilogy has been masterminded, but the future was up for grabs, too. Lord of the Lost have seen two decades of ups and downs, but one constant: change. They have been bold enough to test the absolute limits of their creativity and carved a delicious path because of it.
“It’s a completely natural part of life that not everyone can like everything,” expresses guitarist Pi Stoffers. “And that’s okay. But as a band, we have to do what makes us happy; otherwise, sooner or later, we’d only produce bland, generic stuff that doesn’t move us anymore. All the more beautiful that more and more people continue to enjoy it!”
“Everyone likes something different,” adds Harms. “Some celebrate this album, others the previous one, or both, or neither. What’s important is that we’re happy with what we do. That way, we are 100% authentic, or in metal terms, true. At least that’s our idea of trueness: always follow your own compass and don’t let yourself be controlled by others.”
OPVS NOIR Vol. 1 is out Friday, and you can preorder it from Napalm Records. Follow Lord of the Lost on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Twitch for future updates.
Photo courtesy of Lord of the Lost
