Lost of the Lost's latest offering "Dead End" comes hot on the heels of their performance on Wacken's main stage. This band never seems to hop off the conveyer belt of content at the moment, no matter what they're doing in their tour life they are always creating something. Over the past year, Lord of the Lost has been relentlessly feeding their rapacious fan base with a continuous stream of back-to-back videos, merchandise, live streams and extras.
In the wake of their mesmerising kaleidoscopic journey that was "Reset the Preset," "Dead End," goes off on another stylistic tangent. The video itself weaves together a tapestry of intriguing themes, resulting in a hedonistic crescendo of pink, black, and an undeniable sense of eccentricity. This video can be described as the lovechild of Barbie and Oppenheimer, for the fusion of these seemingly contrasting elements.
So first up on the dissection of this video is the costuming and makeup artistry. Ginger Snaps and Kuro are the pair behind these striking looks. Kuro, who is an alternative Scottish model/multi-instrumentalist/singer/latex designer, makeup artist, and self-proclaimed "weirdo" - see his FaceBoo k - is behind the latex in this video, from gauntlets to face masks his colourful creations add a nice layer of kink.
The makeup, courtesy of Ginger Snaps and Kuro, is truly stunning and is serving serious Hatsumomo Dark Memoirs of a Goth Geisha vibes. There is a definite nod to the legendary drag queen Divine in the cheekbones and eyebrows. I cannot fault the aesthetics of the makeup at all and quite frankly it had me inspired and at Kryolan the next day purchasing some Barbie pink gel makeup. The incorporation of Barbie pink latex costumes and stark makeup piques curiosity, leaving one to ponder whether the omnipresent Barbie phenomenon had a hand in inspiring this bold stylistic choice. It jumps out against the dark setting of the rest of the video.
On the matter of pink, Lord of the Lost has showcased a knack for embracing the latest memes, trends, and themes, deftly manoeuvring the realm of social media and thereby staying closely attuned to the preferences of their fanbase. Front-man Chris Harms has for a long-time made the "real men wear pink" slogan a part of his online persona, something his LGBTQ supporters love him for. So, in a way, I feel the pink theme throughout this video is a nod to the idea of nobody should be boxed, nobody should be told what to wear and who to love - just be yourself and love the best *uck the rest (a Lord of the Lost lyric).
Delving into the video itself, one is confronted with a delightful juxtaposition of spontaneity and a raw, "rough and ready" quality that distinguishes it from the meticulously crafted visuals previously conjured by collaborations with the likes of VD Pictures. This video feels more like a mischievous escapade - like an intoxicating sleepover that took an unexpected turn. With whips, chainsaws, breathing masks, and angels ...you could feel like you've traveled into the further - that's an Insidious quote for you kids. Drawing on an eclectic array of influences, it fuses together the essences of serial killer Dexter, David Bowie, ghouls, classic goth troupes, and an intriguing hint of unconventional charm.
While the video might not entirely match the technical brilliance of the videos we saw during the Thornstar and Judas era, it possesses a magnetic pull that straddles the line between underwhelming but quirky enough to make it work. While Lord of the Lost repeatedly tell journalists and any news outlet of their mission to push boundaries and surprise their audience, this endeavour comes across as "meh" seen that done that. There's no "oh WTF" moment and not enough craft in the video direction or narrative to make you go "wow".
Personal musical inclinations inevitably shape one's perception of the video's narrative and as someone whose fondness doesn't particularly lean towards this specific track, the love for the video becomes a subjective experience, so I can understand there are plenty who will disagree with me. To me, this video is a bit of a Schrödinger's cat in that it both is and isn't awesome at the same time. It's the dichotomy of the brilliance in costuming, makeup, and overall aesthetic with somewhat mundane shots, unremarkable locations, boring song, and unexciting props.
However, a truly commendable aspect of "Dead End" and something that gives me pause to appreciate it more, is that it puts a spotlight on emerging talent and provides a platform for fresh creativity to flourish. I like this "nurture the next generation" core value that Lord of the Lost shows an unwavering commitment to. Whether it's plucking new singers from among its fan base, showcasing the artwork of their followers, giving budding photographers a chance, or enabling new directors to take on big challenges like this, this band really does offer a foot in the door to other creatives and champions them to the hilt.
Reflecting on Lord of the Lost's recent video releases, there's a discernible ebb and flow in creativity and quality. While "Blood and Glitter" set a high standard upon its initial release, subsequent releases like "Destruction Manual" and "Leave Your Hate in the Comments" and the one I don't remember (seriously I switched it off after the first minute or so) are a bit of a dip. If I am being blunt, they've been unmemorable and lacking in imagination. However, the quality and warmth of their recent "When the Curtain Falls" offers a glimmer of hope that we might get some better videos out of this album and I look forward to seeing what this band does next.
Comments