DODSFERD
Cursing Your Will to Live
(Moribund)

THE WARRIORS
Genuine Sense of Outrage
(Victory)

CRUSHING THE
GRINDCORE
TRADEMARK
3-Way Split
(BlastAsFuk)

BLUT AUS NORD
Odinist
(Candlelight)

CREATURE FEATURE
The Greatest Show Unearthed
(Sumerian)

FACE THE PANIC
The Reclamation 

(Reaper)

PHASED
Medications

(Elektrohasch)

MORE REVIEWS

A few months ago I bumped into Signal Lost’s debut album Children of the Wasteland at a record store. The price tag was under $5, so I didn’t hesitate to pull out my languid wallet. I had had Prosthetic Screams sitting on top of my stereo for a couple of weeks, a couple of spins had confirmed its quality, the cover artwork had me titillating, but for some reason I just couldn’t bring myself to write the review just yet. After revising Children of the Wasteland for two spins I couldn’t help but feel a bit of disappointment. I was expecting more. In hindsight, it lacks the immediacy, the hooks, the melodies and the pure punk friendly but not pussified attitude of Prosthetic Screams. Signal Lost’s sophomore effort has been on repeat all afternoon now, and I can’t get it out of my head.   The record is divided in two sides; as the CD is presented Side A opens with “Blurry Vision” a scorching screamer of rapid fire lines and rapider enticements. “Terminal” is hardened pop. Had Kim Wilde been born a decade later and been raised a true punk rocker, she would have penned this one.

Signal Lost is a co-ed quartet that hails from Austin, TX. They’ve been together since 2003 and with their latest recording have found a perfect mix of punk rock attitude, crunchy guitars and hooks. The band makes constant mention of a new wave influence. This is mostly obvious in some cuts like “Terminal” where the easiness and accessibility of the melodies could make good use of 80’s keyboards in exchange for the guitars of Stan, who by the way is a master of subtlety in his own right. To top off their compositions, vocalist Ashley rules the record not only with attitude but with a perfectly pitched and controlled delivery, she is like the missing link between good punk and macho-less hardcore.   Comparing Children of the Wasteland to Prosthetic Screams is like comparing apples and oranges; they are both edible, sweet and healthy fruit, but they are quite different at the same time.  Like Prank Records wisely asserts, Signal Lost is the exact band for those who miss the sounds of The Wipers and The Avengers.  Good stuff all around.

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