Lostprophets are six young lads from Pontypridd, Wales. Motivated by their lack of apathy and desire to do something, they formed a band. They had no idea that the demo they would record would end up being released on both sides of the Atlantic and would garner reviews and awards in the UK that most bands would kill for. That first recording, 'thefakesoundofprogress,' went on to sell over 100,000 copies in the US and went Gold in the UK. Bolstered by a gushing UK media who hailed them as "indie wunderkinds,” the burden of being labeled "the next big thing" was the last thing this hard working group of guys expected or needed. After all, 'thefakesoundofprogress' was a "demo." Instead of getting caught up in the hype, they put all their energy into their live show and winning over fans, one fan at a time. They spent the good part of 2001 touring America. Since their inception they have shared stages with bands like Deftones, the Used, Linkin Park and Hoobastank. Despite the instant attention they got in the UK, they enjoyed their underdog status in the US. Without MTV and radio shoving their music down anyone's throats, they knew the kids coming to see their shows were genuinely interested in their music and their message. Which brings us to the new album 'Start Something,' a title that reflects the "fighting spirit" of the band. This time out, they knew there was something important on the line. "On the first record," Ian says, "we didn't know if anyone would hear it. Now, we knew there was an audience, it's a chance to make a real statement." 'Start Something' stays true to the band's mixed bag of influences, ranging from the hardest guitar rock like Faith No More and melodic progressive pop rock like Incubus, to their unapologetic love for eighties icons like Duran Duran and The Police. Just when you think you have a song figured out, it takes a hairpin turn, maybe to a bone-crushing, full-throated passage, to a weird, ambient interlude or a dramatic piano coda. For Ian Watkins, it's all about following their muse, not some sort of trend: "We're not a post-hardcore band, we're not a nu-metal band, we're not interested in proving anything to anybody. We just want to make music we like." There are no apologies involved in the next chapter of Lostprophets' success story. For Ian, 'Start Something' is "an evolution. Everything's a bit more coherent. It still has the same idea and ideals we had, playing whatever we wanted and not worrying about genre or anything. We still combine loads of different influences, but in a more coherent, considered way, not just throwing things together. This is just us and this is the definitive us. This is what I want people to hear when they think of us." 'Start Something' hits stores in Canada on Tuesday, February 17. Watch Their Video "Lost Tran": Hi | Lo VISIT: www.lostprophets.com www.sonymusic.com Opt-in for Buzzwords? **Rules of Promotion CONTEST CLOSED MARCH 17 ©Boardpass 2003. All rights reserved. Designed by Leaking Faucet Studio