Artist: The Lost Poets
Album: Insubordia
Genre: Rock, Alternative

Stockholm, Sweden’s enigmatic alt-rock duo The Lost Poets bring together influences seemingly spanning the catalogs of acts such as Nirvana, Tool, Staind and Queens of the Stone Age, with dark and somewhat eerie themes and tones stringing it all together. Their most recent EP, Insubordia, boasts 5 tracks combining for a total length of just over 17 minutes. While listening to the EP in that brief period, it will prove its ability to do two things: 1) lull you to sleep with its deep, humming tones, and 2) startle you awake from that slumber with a burst of loud energy.

The former ability is perhaps the troublesome one, as the EP lacks enough interesting moments to keep you fully immersed for even 17 minutes. It’s not that the music is bad; quite the contrary actually. It just doesn’t introduce the listener to anything new or exciting. It offers a lot that we’ve heard before, but that sense of deja entendu is possibly welcomed if you’ve ever been a fan of mostly simple, solemn rock.

Opening with the single “Ode To K,” musically, you’ll immediately understand why I’ve referenced Tool. Vocally, you’ll be transported to a time when you were listening to heavy rock radio in the early to mid 2000s. I was a huge fan of Staind’s Break The Cycle in its time, and honestly, I even enjoyed Creed’s Weathered for awhile there. Sue me. But, the sounds found on Insubordia could easily appeal to fans of Alice In Chains, Soundgarden and even Pearl Jam, too.

For the most part, the EP keeps a similar vibe throughout with the best parts being the more urgent ones with layered vocals and an almost grandiose theatrical quality (the end of the opener for example). “Die To Live” is one of the stronger of the 5, even though it almost feels like two songs put together, the two halves are both impressive, with the first serving as a somber, acoustic cut. It’s simple, yet effective. The second half, however, bursts with emotion and a heavy quality, even while still acoustic. “DIE TO LIVE! I NEED TO FIND ANOTHER WAY TO SAVE MY SOUL!” It’s powerful stuff.

Even if the time and place for this genre passed long ago for myself, I know it’s still relevant for many others. I know next to nothing about the music scene in Sweden–apart from the fact that The Knife are breaking up and I love Lykke Li, First Aid Kit, and Meshuggah–but I do know that The Lost Poets should have no trouble gaining exposure here in The States. Hell, they already have. And knowing that Rosengren and Strömberg already have “several new tracks” recorded, it’s only a matter of time before that exposure grows.

If you’re a fan of any of the bands mentioned in this review (save for The Knife, First Aid Kit, Lykke Li, and Meshuggah), I highly suggest giving this EP a spin or two. It should be right up your alley.

SCORE: 6.5/10
Review written by Brian Lion — (Follow him on Twitter)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0xiTMlyYLE

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Brian Leak

Editor-In-Chief. King of forgetting drinks in the freezer. Pop culture pack rat. X-Phile. LOST apologist.

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