After the most successful year of the band’s history, Chris Harms kicks off 2025 by making a long-cherished dream come true, releasing his first solo album “1980”, set for release on January 31 via Napalm Records. Today, Harms reveals “She Called Me Diaval”, a brand-new song cut from his upcoming debut. In this genre-fluid offering, the Lord Of The Lost vocalist and German ESC finalist emphasizes his boundary-defying artistic vision. The track delivers an 80s synth-pop revival enriched with electronic influences, new wave, and goth elements—all elevated by Harms’ unmistakable signature vocals.
Featuring eleven tracks in total, “1980” offers a distinctive sound that remains unexplored in Harms’ main band. Once again, it highlights his versatility as a musical chameleon and free spirit—qualities that both fans and critics respect and admire.
Probably, the most frequently asked question about the song will be ‘Who or what is Diaval?’ – Well, either the song is about a dream I can’t describe in detail, me musically processing a part of my life – because it’s my only way of dealing with things, or I just like to tell mysterious, darkly colorful stories. At some point, I’ll give it away…
With Lord Of The Lost, Chris Harms has recently achieved defining milestones in the band’s history, including participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, touring with Iron Maiden, and securing a #1 and two #2 spots on the Official German Album Charts. But for Harms, taking a break is out of the question. The concept of a solo album has been brewing in his mind for years, and it has now come to fruition with “1980”, set for release this January.
If I were forced to categorize this album and label it, it would probably say ‘a strange but successful mix of Depeche Mode, Modern Talking and Sandra with Chris Harms’ voice, but with less perm and mullet’
Make sure to get your copy of 1980 NOW | First Formats Sold Out Already
Songs such as the first single “I Love You” and “Lunamor” exude a pleasant lightness, while “Past Pain” and “May This Be Your Last Battlefield” strike a reflective note. Two selected duets round off the album: Harms welcomes guest singer Sven Friedrich (Solar Fake) on “Madonna Of The Night”, while Ronan Harris (VNV Nation) can be heard on “The Grey Machines”.
“1980” deliberately avoids attempting to reinvent the wheel, but is to be understood as a musical journey through time. There is no deliberate calculation or riding the wave of any trends on the album, but simply a passion, desire and love for music, with which Chris Harms Has marked a remarkable new pinnacle in his discography as a musician.
“1980” tracklist:
1. I Love You
2. She Called Me Diaval
3. Somewhere Between Heaven And Armageddon
4. Missed Call
5. Madonna Of The Night (feat. Sven Friedrich)
6. Lunamor
7. Parallax
8. Past Pain
9. The Grey Machines (feat. Ronan Harris)
10. Vagueness Of Faith
11. May This Be Your Last Battlefield
“1980” will be available in the following formats: