Chase Atlantic Returns With Emotionally Striking LOST IN HEAVEN

By Staff Writer Navya Chitlur

LOST IN HEAVEN by Australian R&B band Chase Atlantic explores themes of self-destruction and emotional vulnerability through chaotic, immersive lyrics and production, creating a unique listening experience. Released on November 1, the band’s fourth studio album follows BEAUTY IN DEATH (2021), and the first album release after their break in 2023.

Opening the album with “FAVELA,” the band immediately introduces themes of violence, ambition, and escapism, backed with upbeat and dynamic production, setting a tone of desperation for the rest of the album. The lyrics delve into themes of desire, as the band viscerally sings, “It’s cold outside, I can tell she’s losing patience (patience) / Blood in my eyes, I can see the devil’s pacing,” introducing listeners a darker side of the band, compared to previous albums in which they often sang about love. As the album progresses, it explores themes of hopelessness, diving further into the bleakness of life with great emotional vulnerability and honesty, such as in “DISCONNECTED,” where the band sings, “When I speak through the music, I spill my confessions … I’ve got nothin’ left.” In songs like “NIGHT CALLS,” the band showcases a dangerous or violent mindset — a similar motif other songs follow as well, such as “RICOCHET.” Despite the catchy tune and beat, the song evokes feelings of pain and struggle, with the lyrics, “Ricochet, misfired, but the bullet hit me anyway … Yeah, I’ll do anything to kill this pain,” looking past the picture-perfect vision of the entertainment industry people often see. 

Furthermore, the production of the album works hand-in-hand with the lyrics to bring a grounding, more honest, and raw feel to the album. With solid beats and background instrumentals, paired with clear and loud vocals, the band shows their evolution from their past music styles, which often had softer vocals, hazier production, and vaguer lyrics. In comparison, LOST IN HEAVEN provides a shocking clarity to the harsh realities of everyday struggles. In specific songs however, such as “DIE FOR ME,” they revert back to their old style, including more atmospheric production and softer vocals, as the band sings about lighter themes, such as love and reckless desire, creating a nostalgic and smooth flow between their previous and new album.

The album cover features two Pokémon-esque characters, with the dark character named Void, and Aura being the lighter one, both trapped in a singular bubble. Closing the album with “DON’T LAUGH,” the band references the album cover as Void speaks to Aura of its view of the world, saying “Aura, I need you to understand / The world out there, it’s not kind / I’ve had to become someone I didn’t want to be.” Through this, the band showcases striking emotional vulnerability, singing about regret and the loss of oneself through the perspective of a character that fell into the world’s void. 

With powerful and catchy production paired with striking and emotional lyrics, LOST IN HEAVEN exhibits incredible artistic ability and allows in-depth emotional connections to form between the band and listeners, purely by expressing prominent levels of honesty and raw tones. From the start to the end of the tracklist, the band takes listeners on an incredible ride, making for an album worth listening to. 

Grade: A