FAKE SOUND OF PROGRESS, the debut album for these Welsh nu-metallists, contains a few surprises, not the least of which are the band's literate lyrical approach and the inclusion of turntable scratching. With a production that tends to highlight vocalist Ian Watkins' distinctive wail, Lostprophets are masters at pop metal, as evidenced by tracks such as "Five Is a Four Letter Word" and "And She Told Me to Leave," the latter of which features skittering, jungle-influenced drums in a freewheeling, innovative take on the genre. Lyrically they're all about alienation, angst, and, er, Japanese monster movies, ("Shinobi vs. Dragon Ninja"), which hints at the not-so-hidden fact that this smart collection of punchy rock has a sly wit, too. The Lostprophets' predilection for experimentation and airy take on metal truisms bears fruit here--this is smart, disaffected, rock that leaves the listener craving more of the same.