The Welsh rock band Lostprophets new release, “Liberation Transmission” on Columbia records is nothing short of outstanding. The disc is filled with strong hooks laden with catchy choruses and memorable melodies. “We’re lucky that we genuinely like writing pop songs,” says frontman Ian Watkins, “but we also grew up loving metal and loving rock, so we can combine those things without ‘selling out’ so to speak or losing any integrity. We didn’t write a record for anybody else. We still write songs for ourselves without trying to predict what people will like. With every album we do, we focus more on songs and hooks. I love writing the catchiest thing I can think of.”
The production of this disc is flawless with iconic producer Bob Rock (Metallica) at the helm. During the albums’ pre-production in Los Angeles, the group began kicking around ideas for a producer. “We’d met with a couple of people,” says Mike (Lewis, guitar), “but none of them blew us away. When we were writing this album, we felt like this is the time to really make our mark. We wanted somebody who was going to really be into it and have as much of a passion about it as we did. We were thinking of big albums that meant a lot to us.” The band finally decided on Bob Rock. “Working with Bob was amazing, but also a challenge at the same time,” explains Watkins. “He’s like a hard-ass sergeant. But we came out with a much stronger record for it.”
Lostprophets consists of Ian Watkins (vocals), Mike Lewis (guitar), Lee Gaze (guitar), Stuart Richardson (bass), and Jamie Oliver (keyboards, programming).
“Liberation Transmission” says Lostprophets guitarist Mike Lewis on the subject of the group’s recently completed third album, “is the soundtrack for liberating your life.”
The band is a 
compilation of pop-punk, searing guitar licks, and memorable melodies. Their enthusiasm is effervescent. According to Watkins, the music of Lostprophets carries a “running theme of fighting apathy that comes from personal experience. We don’t want any filler. We approach every song as if it was going to be a single. Every song is like a filet with no fat and no gristle.”
“Rooftops (A Liberation Broadcast) the first single from “Liberation Transmission,” hit the UK Top 10 (#8) while garnering significant Rock and Alternative Airplay in the US. Even though the band is from across the pond they are gaining attention of US audiences. The track “Rooftops” is currently Top 15 at Modern Rock and still climbing. “Rooftops” has the kind of chorus, which remains in your head for days on end. You can view their video of this song on Yahoo Music.
“Liberation doesn’t necessarily mean liberation from a repressive government,” Ian offers. “It can be liberation from a repressive mentality that’s keeping you down, liberation from the conditioning that leads you to believe you can no longer achieve your dreams. “Liberation Transmission,” is the transmission of the idea that you can be liberated from whatever’s keeping you down so you’re moving onward or moving forward to some kind of happy goal.”
Songs like, “The New Transmission,” Can’t Stop. Gotta Date With Hate,” and “Can’t Catch Tomorrow (Good Shoes Won’t Save You This Time)” deal with the disillusionment of relationships that have gone sour and the liberation it brings. These 12 new songs including “Everyday Combat,” “A Town Called Hypocrisy” and “Rooftops (A Liberation Broadcast)” draw from a wide range of influences, “New wave, Bay Area thrash metal, arena rock, hipster bands like Interpol, all the pop stuff, Black Flag,” Ian enumerates. “It comes from everywhere. We just love music.”
The band is comprised of master song crafters delivering modern rock music with pop-punk sensibilities. The disc offers something for everyone with upbeat tempos, searing guitar licks and those darn catchy choruses. This band is ever so liberating and deserves your attention. Check them out at: www.lostprophets.com or myspace.com/lostprophets.
