Southampton is a popular destination for rock and metal artists and the latest band to hit the city is the Finnish act,
LORDI! They played on a dreary, cold Sunday evening in the obscure, Engine Rooms. It's one of those buildings that looks tiny and insignificant on the outside-painted in all black and hidden by an industrial set up-but on the inside it seems to stretch on for miles. It's like Doctor Who's Tardis! But you wouldn't expect a band as theatrical as
LORDI to be playing there because inside it has a school hall feel to it, with bricked up walls and laminated floors.
Around seven o'clock the queue of metal heads that were waiting outside were finally let into the building and headed eagerly to the barrier awaiting the first support act to play. First on were DIRTY PASSION who had a raw live sound and their classic rock n roll energy hit a nerve with the crowd. They were so good and left an impact that the next band on, HOLLYWOOD GROUPIES were a disappointment. It seemed as though they tried to hard to act bad ass particularly with their rather eccentric lead singer who came on stage in a corset, hot pants and nothing else. Whereas DIRTY PASSION actually had something to their music. You could tell when each song changed and once more they had really good music!
When the lacklustre HOLLYWOOD GROUPIES left the stage, the anticipation for LORDI to come on was so high it was tangible. As soon as the lights went out and the last song on the surround speakers to play finished, there were raw from the crowd as things started to get dramatic. A pilot's voice beckoned through the room welcoming the audience to Scare Force airlines and then an air hostess entered the stage carrying two UV glow sticks starting to give safety instructions. Then finally, LORDI walked on! It was such a cool start to the show because it fit in really well with their record. It was like they took the concept of their latest album "Scare Force One" and put it directly on the stage! The crowd was mesmerised by the insane introduction and their beautifully made costumes that are so real you believe they're monsters.
From this show you can tell that LORDI are a band that have mastered the mix of entertainment and playing good live music. They may be seen as a cheesy metal band but actually songs like, "The Riff". "Hard Rock Hallelujah" and "Blood Red Sandman" are real fist pumping anthems. They delivered each song to perfection with the sound in the acoustics in the room seriously enhancing the heaviness of their music. What made it awesome though was that it was more than just a gig though, it's a real show with a story to it. There was a pantomime theme to it particularly when a lady in a green dress walked on stage and there was a cradle in the middle of things that said 'Death Bat' and everyone knew that there was someone creeping up on her. Then a moment of climax hit when something evil looking jumped out and grabbed her. While later on a member of the band also managed to make a skull levitate and during one of the songs, chucked faked blood across the audience.
LORDI may not be the best band around but it's definitely worth a watch live because of the fun atmosphere they create and they're a band who can actually perform their songs flawlessly. They had a similar vibe live to bands like AMON AMARTH and TURISAS where their image is important and ties in really well with the songs, thus creating a fun, rock n roll atmosphere! Such a good show!
LORDI were awesome enough to allow me onto their tour bus on behalf of Metal Temple to answer a few questions.
How do you think that the Finnish metal scene is different to main land europe and the UK? Considering it's so mainstream over there?
I actually think we're bigger here? Finnish people had a 'Lordi' hangover and they were sick of it because it was everywhere. They wanted something diffeent. It's nice to be i the UK, it's a dream for me, a real honour. The UK is a rock n roll icon.
What's your favourite place to play? And what's been the best show on this tour so far?
The Czech republic is always insane, and Glasgow was one of our favourite shows so far.
How do you think your sound has changed since you first started to now with your latest record?
It's much more metal music, it's got a much heavier sound which we wanted to have on the new record. So we managed to get the producer of Nightwish in to work with us.
What's the concept behind the new album?
It's a scary US presidential thing. Think air force one, army guys, airplanes and word games.
Where did you record the new album?
We recorded it in Helsinki studios and then the drums and bass were recorded in lap land. The recording went smoothly and took about six days in total.
Are you guys in charge or have any say in the promotional stuff?
Mr Lordi does all the promotion by himself including the merchandise, art work and so on. Even if the record company doesn't like his ideas he's like, fuck you I'm doing it anyway!
Do you like wearing the costumes? I can imagine you being quite uncomfortable when you where them?
We understand that the costumes are part of it would be nicer to be naked on stage. The costumes are really uncomfortable.
