Album Review: LORDI – To Beast Or Not To Beast

AFM Records [Release date 04.03.13]

 

 

 

 

Lordi came to many people’s attention after winning the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest with ‘Hard Rock Hallelujah’ and of course their eye catching onstage costumes.  This is their sixth studio album and the band have two new members, drummer Mana (replacing Tonmi ‘Otus’ Lillman who passed away last year) and keyboards player Hella but fear not the unmistakable vocals of Mr Lordi still front the band!  The striking cover artwork and the album’s title have a Shakespearean flavour, although don’t go expecting a concept album based on the Bard and his play ‘Hamlet’.

‘The Riff’ is the lead single and it recalls the instantly catchy ‘Blood Red Sandman’. Great lyric as well with the devil listening to too much  of that ‘hip hop s***’ and the Grim Reaper hands over to Mr Lordi to keep the riffs going. Lordi are very good at penning catchy hard rock tunes that recall bands like Kiss and Twisted Sister. ‘Happy New Fear’ is just so damn catchy as the band utilise heavy riffs and keyboard runs to good effect.’I Luv Ugly’ could vie with ‘Happy New Fear’ as the next possible single release, although any song of here could make rock radio airplay, well rock radio that veers of the staple classic rock playlists.

They also raise a smile with the lyrics to ‘Schizo Doll’ – like the lyrics of Alice Cooper meets a Kiss riff and ‘Candy For The Cannibal’ keeps the riffs coming along nicely.

Not so sure on the slightly dodgy lyrics of ‘We’re Not Bad For The Kids (We’re Worse)’ and ‘Sincerely With Love’ is not as the song title might suggest a gushing ballad, but rather a f-word strewn tune. They also pay tribute to their late drummer Otus on ‘SCG06 Otus Butcher  Clinic’, a recording of his  live drum solos.

Lordi are still pumping out hard rock anthems and with their new label’s backing they are bound to have another hit on their hands.

****

Jason Ritchie

 


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 7 April 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 2 April 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024

ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply