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

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