This follow-up to 2014's 'The Lightning Dream' catches Fury in the "if it ain't broken why fix it" mood.
Described as ten tracks which will take you on a journey "through space and time, from the farthest reaches of our galaxy and beyond to right here on Earth", with themes of piracy, war, fantasy and space (naturally) abound. It all seems to fit quite nicely with their self-proclaimed status of epic, universe spanning fantasycore. Not what you always expect to come from Worcester, England, home of the peaceful Cotswolds and (now) the growing reputation of Metal band Fury. For regulars to the Bloodstock/ Hammerfest circuit, this follow-up to 2014's 'The Lightning Dream' catches Fury in the "if it ain't broken why fix it" mood.
The title track opens proceedings with a gallop – literally; lost in space, without a trace, except for a faint glimmer of Iron Maiden styled arrangements – twin lead guitars herald a fanfare which isn't too far from 1986's 'Caught Somewhere In Time'. 'Valhalla', 'The Battle Of Shadows Vale', 'When The Hammer Falls' and 'Sons Of War' all give the suggestion that, despite the title, 'Lost ...' is a fist-pumping collection of triumphant Melodic Metal.
There's an urgency to the opening tracks, before '...Falls' takes up the "come all you Pagans, stand tall" battle cry with talk of avenging the ancestors. The battle theme continues as 'Sons Of War' opens with the march and roll of machinery, before a dense grinding riff takes over, a machine gun battery from the snare adding to the atmosphere.
The inevitable semi acoustic interlude of 'Valhalla' and the meandering outro of 'Nebula' both slacken the pace and seem to lose some of the momentum established early doors. 'A Tale Of Silver' might raise some eyebrows at the close of the album, kicking off like a Folk song, you may think Fury have not so much got lost in space but lost the plot. A mix of their traditional furious Rock and an attempt to fuse in some sort of Electric-Folk-jig-cum-faux-pirate-adventure is a puzzler. It might provide the tenuous link for the more original marketing move in hiring a boat for the launch, gliding up and down the River Severn, accompanied by some hearty "yo-ho-ho's" from the last track – it should be a sight to see.
Mike Ainscoe