Lord of the Lost has journeyed through the highs of Eurovision to the thunderous stages alongside Iron Maiden, carving a unique path in the musical landscape. In our exclusive interview, Pi shares the band’s exhilarating experiences, from the camaraderie of Eurovision to the creative depths of their latest cover album, “Weapons Of Mass Seduction.” As they gear up for their 15-year anniversary tour, discover how Lord of the Lost continues to redefine boundaries, blend genres, and captivate audiences worldwide.

–The band’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest garnered significant attention. How did the experience of representing Germany impact the band, and what memories stand out from that event?

Pi: -You could fill pages with the memories that we’ve made over there. What stood out most to me, was the companionship and great vibe between all the contestants. There was no bad blood ever, only love and respect.

Eurovision impacted us heavily, but then again, we are still the same. We proved to ourselves that we can pull off really the most contrasting things if we just get to be us. We had done Eurovision and a week later, we were on tour with Iron Maiden. Name me another band that can do that. I’m not bragging here, I’m just asking. I guess, Eurovision just added to the confidence that we have in ourselves as a band.

-“Weapons Of Mass Seduction” is your new cover album. Can you share the inspiration behind the album title, and how did you go about selecting the diverse range of songs for this covers project?

Pi: -The title is something that was floating around for years, our Keyboarder Gared came up with it a long time ago. But calling your own album like that sounds like wanking off yourself. For a cover album though, full of songs we like, it’s the perfect fit, as it’s meant to pay homage to these great artists.

-Cover albums often involve reinterpreting well-known songs. What challenges did you face in giving each track a distinctive Lord of the Lost touch while staying true to the original spirit of the songs?

Pi: –We know our sound and what we want to do with our sound. There aren’t really challenges when you know what you want to do and give yourself the freedom to do so.

-The cover of Bronski Beat’s “Smalltown Boy” features a dark makeover. How did you decide on the approach for this track, and what was it like incorporating a heavier sound into the 80s electro-pop hit?

Pi: -It’s just a reinterpretation of the instrumentation of that song. The approach for a cover is pretty straightforward as you can’t change the song at all in terms of melody, rhythm, or harmony, so it’s all pretty set in stone from the get-go.

-Anica Russo makes a guest appearance on “(I Just) Died In Your Arms.” How did the collaboration come about, and what unique elements did she bring to the song?

Pi: -We met her at the German finals for Eurovision and were stunned by her wonderful voice and got along great, so we decided to do something at some point in time. That point in time came rather early.

-Last year has been incredibly busy for Lord of the Lost, from the Eurovision Song Contest to supporting Iron Maiden and the success of “Blood & Glitter.” What are some of the most memorable moments or highlights for the band in 2023?

Pi: –Well, you just stated them.

-With the band’s recent successes, including Eurovision and a #1 charting album, there has been a surge in attention and fan support. How do you and the band cope with the overwhelming love and positive responses? On the flip side, how do you handle any negative criticism or trolling that may have intensified, especially after your Eurovision appearance?

Pi: -Well, negative criticism isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as long as it is constructive. But usually, that is not what you receive on the internet. You’re just facing blatant, stupid hate, that actually says a lot more about the author than about the recipient. We’ve always faced these things with a lot of humor.

In terms of new fans, success, and love – we’re immensely grateful for all of it. It’s not normal to have this kind of success and we couldn’t do what we are doing without all these great people. And we try to remember that every day.

-Can you share some insights into your upcoming, 15-years anniversary tour? What can fans expect from your live performances, especially considering the diverse range of tracks from the new cover album?

Pi:  -Well, we obviously gotta address the elephant in the room here, being our new cover album, so I guess you can expect some songs off of that. Other than that, I can assure you that this new setlist is something we’ve never done before with songs that may surprise you a lot!

-With the release of “Weapons Of Mass Seduction,” are there any plans or hints about an upcoming original studio album? Can fans anticipate new material in the near future?

Pi: -We will be taking our time in 2024 to start writing a new original album. The concept is already clear, there are a few song ideas already floating around but we’ll start to write heavily in spring.

-Looking back on your career and the evolution of Lord of the Lost, how do you think the band’s sound and approach to music have evolved, especially considering the exploration of different genres in your cover albums?

Pi: –It has grown a lot in the past almost 15 years. We’ve always been a band that did not put boundaries on our genre, our sound, or our look and I guess that led to the variety of genres and ingredients that make us, well, us. We will always do what we think is right for us and push the boundaries because that is what keeps us interested in writing new music. If we were to make the same album over and over again, we might as well call it quits, that’s not exciting to us.

Interview: Ditty
Photos: Péter Tepliczky “Pekka”

Special thanks to Napalm Records!