LostAlone
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2005 in Derby, England |
| Headquarters | Derby , England |
| Products | Studio albums: Say No to the World (2007), I'm a UFO in This City (2012), Shapes of Screams (2014), The Warring Twenties (2022) |
LostAlone is a rock ensemble originating from Derby, England, established in 2005. The group consists of Steven Battelle (lead vocals, guitar), Alan Williamson (bass, backing vocals), and Mark Gibson (drums, percussion, backing vocals).
Their discography includes four studio albums: Say No to the World (2007), I'm a UFO in This City (2012), Shapes of Screams (2014), and their most recent release, The Warring Twenties (2022).
LostAlone has led headline tours throughout the UK and Europe and supported prominent bands such as My Chemical Romance, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Enter Shikari, and Paramore. Their festival performances span events like Taste of Chaos, Give it a Name, Download Festival, Reading and Leeds Festivals, T in the Park, Oxegen, and Rock am Ring. In 2007, they received a nomination for "Best British Newcomer" at the Kerrang! Awards.
In late 2021, LostAlone was invited by My Chemical Romance to participate in stadium concerts at Stadium MK (Milton Keynes), Sophia Gardens Cricket Ground (Cardiff), and the Eden Project (Cornwall) scheduled for May 2022, following postponements caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The band announced plans for a UK mini-tour set for December 2022.
2005–2008: Formation and Say No to the World
Following the dissolution of their former band, Intentions of an Asteroid, singer-guitarist Steven Battelle and drummer Mark Gibson formed LostAlone in 2005 alongside bassist Tom Kitchen. To oversee production and distribution independently, Battelle and Gibson established their own label, Scorpia. Their debut album, Say No to the World, was released on 11 March 2007 to favorable critical reception and featured three singles: "Blood is Sharp," "Unleash the Sands of All Time," and "Elysium."
2009–2013: I'm a UFO in This City
After composing their sophomore album, LostAlone signed with American label Sire Records in December 2009. Recording sessions took place in Los Angeles during May 2010 with producers Jacknife Lee and Greg Wells, executive producer Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance, along with engineers Alan Moulder and Mark Needham. Prior to the album’s release, "Paradox on Earth" was made available as a free download on 13 February 2011. Following lineup changes, the band parted ways with their label but maintained both commercial and creative control over I'm a UFO in This City, which was ultimately issued on 5 March 2012 through Graphite Records to widespread acclaim:
- "… it can only be a matter of time before this unabashed explosion of deadly hooks, dirty riffs and lighter aloft ballads regularly sell out stadiums." 8/10 NME
- "LostAlone understand that it's about bombast, being ridiculous and pushing your act, attitude and amps up to 11." KKKK Kerrang!
- "Breathtaking Queen style harmonies and classic metal bite." Classic Rock
- "Big, bombastic and littered with choruses the size of Jupiter." Rock Sound
- "Complex, ambitious, brave, inspiring, exciting, interesting, boundary breaking…LostAlone are one of the most exciting bands the UK has to offer." 10/10 Ourzone
Throughout 2012, five singles were extracted from this album: "Do You Get What You Pray For?", "Love Will Eat You Alive," "Paradox on Earth," "Vesuvius," and "Creatures." The second single secured support from BBC Radio 1's playlist alongside commendation from presenters such as Fearne Cotton. Meanwhile, "Paradox on Earth" received airplay on BBC Radio One, Kerrang! Radio, MTV Rocks, Scuzz, and XFM. In July that year, the band released a complimentary demo track titled "Everybody Dies But the World's Still Turning." On 16 December 2012, they issued a Christmas single named "I Want Christmas Always," which garnered a 4K rating from Kerrang! magazine.
By the end of 2012, I'm a UFO in This City was ranked as the 29th best album by Kerrang!. It also appeared on The Digital Fix's albums of the year list, while Matt Stocks from Kerrang! Radio selected "Creatures" as his track of the year.
In 2013, LostAlone’s international recognition expanded when Alternative Press included them among its list of 101 bands to watch. The album saw its North American release on 2 April 2013 via The End Records. The year concluded with the launch of "The Bells! The Bells!!" on 11 November 2013—the lead single from their forthcoming studio album.
2014: Shapes of Screams
On 13 February 2014, LostAlone revealed their third studio effort, Shapes of Screams. The album was released on 7 April 2014 through Graphite Records and garnered widespread critical praise, notably receiving a perfect 5/5 rating from Kerrang! magazine.
Kerrang! described the album as "bursting with first-kiss excitement, euphoric joy, life-affirming air-guitar moments, and a touch of brilliant madness that will leave listeners thrilled."
NME expressed surprise that LostAlone had not yet achieved Bon Jovi-level fame, calling it "a source of frustration."
The Digital Fix hailed it as "a bold and captivating creation, arguably the best rock album you’ll encounter this year."
Indulge Sound noted that Shapes of Screams "continues to break any existing sonic boundaries."
Total Guitar commented that LostAlone "persist in their mission to revive grandiose, almost theatrical rock on their third album."
Alternative Press boldly stated: "If I were to make one definitive statement about music this year, it would be this: LostAlone are the most underrated band worldwide. Of all time."
On 15 October 2014, the band announced their disbandment following the conclusion of their European tour and two final UK performances in London and Derby on 19 December. They cited circumstances that made continuing impossible while expressing gratitude to their fans for ongoing support.
2022: The Warring Twenties
LostAlone returned with their fourth studio album, The Warring Twenties, released on 30 September 2022 via Dharma Records. This 10-track record was crafted and recorded across multiple cities including London, Derby, Nottingham, and New York, marking the band’s comeback after a six-year break. Kerrang! awarded the album a strong 4/5 rating, emphasizing its impact: "LostAlone arrive with blazing guitars, oversized sunglasses, and a handful of tickets to Paradise. Welcome back—just in time."
In an in-depth profile, Kerrang! writer Nick Ruskell praised frontman Steven Battelle as a "songwriting mastermind." To support the release, LostAlone scheduled a UK tour for December 2022.
Musical style and influences
Steven Battelle identifies LostAlone’s inspirations as varied but frequently points to Queen, Guns N' Roses, Iron Maiden, Mansun, Pink Floyd, Weezer, and Beach Boys as key influences. These inspirations subtly inform rather than dominate the band’s sound, shaping their musical direction, lyrical content, and dynamic range.
Battelle’s songwriting serves as the core engine behind the band’s vigor and creative path. As a multi-talented vocalist and guitarist, he has cultivated a unique stage persona featuring unconventional slide guitar techniques, mid-performance push-ups, distributing custard creams to the audience, and his trademark 'flip-catch-guitar-solo-with-shoe' stunt. LostAlone’s sound merges rapid heavy riffs with melodic passages and rich vocal harmonies, positioning them distinctively within the rock and alternative genres.
Touring
LostAlone have maintained an extensive touring history throughout the UK and Europe, supporting prominent acts such as Thirty Seconds to Mars, Enter Shikari, Paramore, and My Chemical Romance. Alongside these support roles, they have consistently headlined tours across both regions. Their debut live show took place in Derby on 30 January 2005. The band has appeared at major European festivals including Taste of Chaos, Give it a Name, Download Festival, Rock am Ring, Rock im Park, T in the Park, Oxegen, and the Carling Weekend.
Their initial headline tour promoted their debut album Say No To The World. In 2008, they led a five-date tour in Finland alongside Wiidakko before supporting Thirty Seconds to Mars across UK venues. Later tours included supporting Paramore followed by a hiatus dedicated to writing their second album. In 2010 they joined Thirty Seconds to Mars’ European tour as an opening act. The following year saw them support My Chemical Romance on their UK arena tour alongside The Blackout. April 2011 featured a UK tour with My Passion.
Starting February 2012, LostAlone embarked on a 35-date tour supporting InMe and Mojo Fury before selling out a hometown headline show in Derby. They then launched a European headline tour with InMe opening and added five more UK headline dates in May. Later that year included touring mainland Europe with Australian group Tonight Alive prior to returning home.
In November 2012 LostAlone supported Evanescence and The Used on a four-arena tour covering Nottingham, Manchester, Birmingham, and London. December brought their largest hometown performance at Derby’s Assembly Rooms which earned an acclaimed double-page feature in Kerrang!.
February 2013 involved an eight-date UK headline tour culminating in London. Shortly after this they announced participation in South By Southwest Festival held in Austin, Texas. Toward the end of 2013 they toured for five weeks with The Darkness before concluding with a hometown headline show.
January 2014 saw LostAlone supporting The Blackout on rescheduled UK dates prior to announcing an April headline tour coinciding with their new album launch. They headlined the Big Deal stage at Takedown festival and appeared at Radstock festival that March. On 12 April they performed live at Derby’s That's Entertainment store celebrating Shapes of Screams release. Their April UK tour received critical acclaim including a perfect KKKKK (5/5) review for their Manchester show from Kerrang!.
During summer 2014 they participated in numerous festivals such as Sonisphere and Merthyr Rocks before embarking on a European tour spanning from Madrid to Berlin.
In December 2022 LostAlone toured across the UK promoting The Warring Twenties, followed roughly one year later by supporting McFly on the Power to Play tour.
Exposure and Press
After releasing the singles "Blood Is Sharp," "Unleash The Sands Of All Time," and "Elysium," the band garnered considerable attention from both national and international media. Notably, Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden championed their music on his BBC Radio 6music rock program. Following an interview, Bruce included the band among his top five singles of 2006 and frequently aired their songs. Similarly, Zane Lowe regularly showcased the band on his evening slot at BBC Radio 1.
The videos for "Blood Is Sharp" and "Unleash The Sands Of All Time" were broadcast on leading European music networks such as MTV, VH1, and Scuzz. Esteemed artists including members of My Chemical Romance, Gerard Way, Hayley Williams, Jared Leto, alongside Bruce Dickinson, publicly endorsed the group. They received a nomination for Best British Newcomer at the 2007 Kerrang! Awards.
Their track "Do You Get What You Pray For?" from the latest album was honored as 'Single of the Week' on both Kerrang Radio and XFM, with Zane Lowe featuring it weekly. The accompanying video earned 'Video of the Week' status on Kerrang TV and maintained a position in the Hot Rock top 20 for several weeks, also gaining playlist inclusion on Scuzz TV.
"Love Will Eat You Alive" was selected for Radio One's "In New Music We Trust" playlist, enjoying frequent spins by DJs such as Fearne Cotton and Scott Mills. Vocalist Steven Battelle expressed astonishment at achieving daytime Radio 1 exposure, highlighting its importance in reaching a wider audience.
Anticipation surrounding Shapes of Screams was heightened through endorsements by contemporary bands on Twitter, praising the album’s artistic merit.
Since 2012, Steven Battelle has maintained a steady presence in Kerrang!, appearing in nearly every issue. He achieved a score of 92% on their Ultimate Rockstar Test and was ranked as the 26th Greatest living rockstar, even gracing the magazine’s cover.
In 2024, Battelle participated in an exclusive interview on the People Behind The Pedals podcast, where he discussed his guitars, gear, and recent songwriting work with McFly.
Band members
- Current lineup
- Steven Battelle – lead vocals, guitar (2005–present)
- Mark Gibson – drums, backing vocals (2005–present)
- Alan Williamson – bass, backing vocals (2009–present)
- Past members
- Tom Kitchen – bass (2005–2009)
Discography
| Studio albums | Label | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| Say No to the World | Marx Capital | 2007 |
| I'm a UFO in This City | Graphite | 2012 |
| Shapes of Screams | Graphite | 2014 |
| The Warring Twenties | Dharma | 2022 |
| Singles and EPs | Album | Label | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light The Waves - The First Tour Ep | Extended Play | Gibson-Battelle | 2005 |
| Blood Is Sharp | Say No to the World | Marx Capital / Modern English | 2006 |
| Unleash The Sands Of All Time | Say No to the World | Scorpia | 2006 |
| Elysium / Say No To The World | Say No to the World | Scorpia / Marx Capital | 2007 |
| Do You Get What You Pray For? / Love Will Eat You Alive / I Want Christmas Always / Paradox On Earth / Vesuvius | I'm a UFO in This City | Graphite | 2012 |
| Creatures / The Bells! The Bells!! / Scarlet Letter Rhymes / Crusaders | Shapes of Screams | Graphite | 2013–2014 |
| The Last Drop of Forever / Punchline Punched Back / Enduring the Dream | The Warring Twenties | Dharma | 2022 |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Artist | Category | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | LostAlone | Best British Newcomer | Nominated |