Metal Underground.com

It seems like only yesterday that Lordi caught millions of European television viewers when the band entered (and won) the Eurovision Song Contest, becoming the first group from Finland to do so in the process. Eight years later, Lordi is still going and staying loyal to the hard rock sound of the eighties adopted twenty two years ago (yes, Lordi has really been around for that long.) So, how does seventh studio album, "Scare Force One," compare to the back catalogue and how well does it sit with the current metal scene?

As is always the case with Lordi albums, the record opens with a short intro track, before leading into the title track, which as previously stated, practically reeks of the eighties. It's catchy, but not catchy enough to be memorable. It's anthemic, but not enough to become a staple. Following it though is "How to Slice A Whore," perhaps one of the best songs on the album, which retains Lordi's usual sound, whilst adding something of a punk influence to it. It's not the only strong track on the album, as "Nailed by the Hammer of Frankenstein," is arguably the best song on display. It follows on from the short instrumental "Amen's Lament to Ra II" and is a highly energetic tune with a chorus that burrows deep inside the listener's head.

The good thing for fans is that there aren't really any bad songs as such on the album and the whole thing is the just as people have always known Lordi, though many detractors might say that this is a bad thing. Many of the tracks, though decent, follow a familiar pattern: standard eighties heavy metal, influenced greatly by classic horror, interspersed with relatively light bridges. It's a fine recipe, but spread out over thirteen tracks, it gets a bit thin, though fortunately there's two instrumentals to break things up a little.

Fans of the group will no doubt be pleased with this offering, which delivers everything they would expect, but if the band plans to bring in new fans, or raise its profile to what it was eight years ago, Lordi will need to mix things up a little bit or at least concentrate a little more on the catchy chorus' to create a solid hit like "Hard Rock Hallelujah."