I always sat on the fence when it came to my opinions on Thrash Metal as a genre. Some of it is baseless speed metal that has no substance (i.e, Megadeth, Slayer, and Kreator). However, there’s the second generation of Thrash, which delved into groovier riff work. Then I came across Lost Society’s No Absolution, a perfect blend of Thrash Metal and Metalcore. After this music taste-defining moment, the love story between Finnish Thrash and me prospered. With the release of 2023’s If the Sky Came Down, I wanted to see if the honeymoon was over, or Lost Society was one of the Atlas’ holding up the sub-genre. But first, we have to study the album track by track to accept the reality of this leading question.
“112”: 4
Whew. We are starting strong with the opening track “112.” The composition of the track is basic, but effective. It has a heavier application for 00s Metalcore. As a paradigm shift, the track then turns into a Thrash-laden breakdown towards the halfway point. Sammy Elbana’s vocals are at first an earworm, but they grow on me throughout the track. Arttu Lesonen and Alebana’s guitar work has a massive range between the modern take of riffing and their normal Thrash nature later on. As reflected in the title, 112 is the emergency line for paramedics. “112” depicts isolation and the aforementioned cry for help.
“What Have I Done”: 3
You know, even though I’m not a big fan of this track, you might as well get the imperfections out of the way at the start. Plus, what’s not a good comeback? “What Have I Done” isn’t a horrible song, but following up the dynamic feeling of “112,” the song feels bland. It’s almost as if they originally had it as a B-side to the opening track. The lyrics address the path of retaliation and the destructive and isolating nature of revenge.
“(We are the) Braindead”: 4
The following track was an expected one with an element that I wasn’t quite expecting. Tapani Fagerström’s drums are well-done. The way the track presents his work really leads the song. Whereas most Thrash Metal is led by rhythm guitars, this track is drum-led, and to be perfectly honest, I would like to see more of that. Elbana’s vocals hit their pinnacle for the record on this track, with his approach feeling familiar with his voice on No Absolution. It also serves as a callback to their third album, Braindead.
“Stitches”: 5
Listeners then move into “Stitches,” an amalgamation of Thrash Metal and Nu-Metal. On top of the groovier riffs on behalf of Elbana and Arttu Lesonen, it drives the Hardcore side of Lost Society. It’s a perfect pairing, especially with the youthful energy of the band. Vocally, Elbana shines towards the end when he starts to experiment with different tones of creams. The track covers feelings of invalidation by others and the caution of apathy.
“Awake”: 5
I couldn’t really tell until now, but “Awake” is just a stellar version of “What Have I Done” that should have been. The aforementioned track fails with its brighter sound that goes nowhere. “Awake” bridges that gap of melodic and heavy perfectly. Its composition does it a lot of good, with the “heart on sleeve” feeling this track emanates. They go all in for the entirety of the song’s runtime. Even with its radio-friendly nature, it balances out the album and fits in the placement of the tracklist. Lyrically, “Awake” is about rebirth and recovering from rough patches through one’s life.
“Underneath”: 4
Next up, “Underneath” lays out a heavier application of modern Metalcore, with Hardcore aspects and the usual traditional Metalcore sound and composition. The track has a lot of attitude, but they never sacrifice the emotional depth of the aspect. Elbana and Lesonen’s guitar tones are chunkier than usual. They do keep the similar Thrash-eque riffing. But they lay out a good blueprint for Mirko Lehtinen’s bass to apply in the mix. In hindsight, I think Lehtinen’s bass really drives the attitude of the track. The lyrics are an observation of outside and, at times, inhuman forces. Those who dive into the balance of an exhilarating and numbing lifestyle.
“Creature”: 3
Originally, I acuity dug this track; I felt it had some stylistic flair, which was well-needed for the album. It also fits in with Lost Society’s youthful approach to a genre that is middle-aged to senior individuals who still dress in leather jackets. Nonetheless, the next track just hits that threshold with a higher force. The only thing to keep this song on a higher rating is its thematics. This encompasses the problem of self-identity and deception of one’s surroundings, especially the part where it molds the individual.
“Hurt Me”: 4
Like I mentioned before, this track has a stylistic approach that I can’t just not ignore. The energetic nature of this track and its lean back approach to their well-established Thrash metal breaks up a lot of the already masterful musicianship Lost Society has put on display. It’s a nice breath of fresh air and serves as the last heavy song on the album.
“If the Sky Came Down”: 5
The next track, and self-titled track, is a fleshed-out version of “Awake.” Compositionally, they are similar, but this track allows the listener to simmer in its emotion. Elabna’s vocals and lead work are the main players of this track, while also soaring to the highs of rivaling some Power Metal contemporaries. Lesonon’s rhythm playing reminds me of older Melodic Death Metal, with its lingering but emotional feeling. The song is a nihilistic anthem and possibly a metaphor for the collapse of the human mind.
“Suffocating”: 4
The finale of If the Sky Came Down, “Suffocating” is a stripped piano track that is purely vocals on behalf of Ebana. It’s a beautiful ending that sums up the purity of both the band and the overall album. Its simplicity really helps develop the emotion. It serves as an effective final track and sums up the youthful exuberance and care Lost Society has for not just Thrash, but music altogether.
Overall, the album is near-perfect. It’s a perfect follow-up and differentiation from No Absolution and sets the standard of what the future of Thrash is, while keeping their predecessor’s legacies in mind.
