In anticipation of Lordi's fourth album, Deadache, The End Records recently reissued Get Heavy, the 2002 debut from Finland's monster-masked marauders. Listening to this album begs the question: Was Lordi originally a Christian band? Um, no, despite rousing rockers with titles like "Devil Is a Loser" and "Rock the Hell Outta You." Read the lyrics, and you'll realize that those religious references are disingenuous, at best. It still makes for a weird listening experience, though, juxtaposed with songs such as "Not the Nicest Guy" and "Would You Love A Monsterman?" (a Number One single in Finland, wouldn't ya know?)
Through it all, the band that originally featured former Children of Bodom keyboardist Erna Siikavirta ("Enary") plays monstrous, catchy-as-hell, but all-too-similar-sounding big metal with gruff lead vocals and clean, almost choir-like choruses. Then Lordi nabbed the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest with another song laced with faux religion, "Hard Rock Hallelujah," and the rest is heavy metal history. (This edition also includes a bonus track, "Don't Let My Mother Know," which sounds like just about everything else on Get Heavy.)
Track Listing:
1) Scarctic Circle Gathering
2) Get Heavy
3) Devil Is A Loser
4) Rock the Hell Outta You
5) Would You Love A Monsterman?
6) Icon of Dominance
7) Not the Nicest Guy
8) Hellbender Turbulence
9) Biomechanic Man
10) Last Kiss Goodbye
11) Dynamite Tonite
12) Monster Monster
13) 13
14) Don't Let My Mother Know (Bonus Track)