Album review: LORDI – Killection
AFM Records [Release date 31.01.20]
Finnish monsters Lordi have been rampaging through the planet since the first emerged from the deepest darkness in 1992. Over the years their own brand of twisted melodic and theatrical hard rock has won them legions of fans across the globe and, influenced by KISS, Alice Cooper and Twisted Sister, they themselves have arguably inspired gothic titans Ghost amongst others. Whilst certainly not a ‘greatest hits’ compilation, ‘The Killection’ certainly captures the many facets of the band in all their deranged glory and if you caught their triumphant Eurovision winning entry in 2006, you’ll know the sort of thing to expect.
For those with very long memories, the album hangs together like one of the Amicus ‘portmanteau’ horror films that were so popular in the late 60’s and early 70’s, with a linking narrative thread each section tells its own short story of dread. Four spoken word tracks bring atmosphere and the release can be enjoyed as a whole but also dipped into like some fiendish buffet as you submerge yourself in the macabre delights. As with Ghost, there is so much intelligence, craft and humour here that you can’t but be entertained and impressed in equal measure.
Always ones with an ear for a great melody, ‘Horror for Hire’ is hugely catchy, filled with harmonies and comes on like Alice Cooper in his prime but much rougher and dirtier. The mash up of Industrial Metal and Euro Disco of the psychotically entertaining ‘Shake the Baby Silent’ follows straight after and this change of direction is followed by yet another switch in the shape of ‘Like a Bee to the Honey’ which, complete with sax solo, is the nearest the band come to a love song. Things revert to a slightly more even keel as ‘Apollyon’ throws in elements of big 70’s bands with elements of pop rock but then head off again with the excellent heavy funk blues of ‘Blow My Fuse’.
The brilliantly titled and hilarious ‘I Dug a Hole in the Yard for You’ is a huge hard glam rock maelstrom, perfectly engineered to make you sing, dance and shake and the band’s love of Messrs. Stanley, Simmons and Co comes to the fore in the 70’s disco of ‘Zombimbo’ that could be ‘I was Made for Loving You (Part 2)’, especially given that the song pays real homage to the guitarwork in that odd KISS classic. ‘Up to No Good’ is another sinister Alice-alike stomper and ‘Cutterfly’ is a truly mad serial killer poppy metal song before launching into the crunching ‘Evil’, without doubt the heaviest song on the album as guitars tear you apart whilst drums and bass pulverize what’s left. The final course of this meal is the commercial cracker ‘Scream Demon’, melody front and centre, lush backing vocals swelling and soothing.
Possibly getting their inspiration from Mary Shelley, this musical Frankenstein’s Monster uses many different parts but, stitched together, the whole really does work incredibly well as one body. The perfect twisted party record and superbly conceived, ‘The Killection’ is another highpoint in the Lordi’s career. One thing though: don’t listen to this in the dark, keeping all the houselights firmly on instead and finally, please, don’t answer that strange knock at the door. ****
Review by Paul Monkhouse
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.
Next session: Sunday 1 December
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 3 November 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 29 October 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 11 November 2024
ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)
Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections