Reviewed! Lordi - To Beast Or Not To Beast
Lordi
To Beast Or Not To
Beast
SONY Music/The End Records
Though Finland’s Lordi owe a great deal to GWAR when they
look in the mirror, the product they put to wax is more a mixed bag in terms of
sonic output. The band’s latest, To Beast
Or Not To Beast, finds the band tipping their surely outrageous hats to the
past, kicking things into a high gear early on with the 80’s hard rock inspired
opener “We Not Bad For the Kids (We’re Worse),” though, for the most part, To Beast Or Not To Beast spends it time
treading the murky waters of goth-horror rock (“Something wicked This Way
Comes,” “Horrification,” “Schizo Doll”). Lead single “The Riff” is a pure
standout due to its thunderous riffs (you’d assume a song named “The Riff”
would have to have tremendous guitars) and vocally driven hooks, a beastly
description that could also be used to describe another one of the albums
heaviest moments, “Happy New Fear.” The album is closed by the instrumental
track (an interesting decision for sure) “SCG6: Otus’ Butcher Clinic,” the
sixth such installment of the bands “SCG” (Scarctic Circle Gathering) series,
though it’s the penultimate “Sincerely With Love” that might just be one of the
most memorable cuts off To Beast Or Not
To Beast, due to its insistent, pounding chorus that is probably best heard
by your own ears in order to believe. If you like your hard rock/metal mixed
with substantial horror overtones and just the right amount of idiosyncrasies,
then not only is Lordi right up your alley, To
Beast Or Not To Beast is a record for you to hear.
Grade: B-
Go Download: “Happy New Fear”
Comments