Recordead Live – Sextourcism in Z7

Now that our favourite masked hard rock band KISS is finally calling it quits for good, we should wipe away our tears and give Finnish quintet Lordi a chance again. The group offers more than its internationally known timeless genre anthem ''Hard Rock Hallelujah'' and this excellent live record can be seen as a greatest hits release for faithful fans and newcomers alike. The band varies from cool and tight up-tempo rock 'n roll tunes such as ''Rock Police'' over melodic hard rock anthems like the catchy ''Would You Love a Monsterman?'' to more atmospheric, slow and smooth tunes like the sinister ballad ''Evilyn''. The band's new material like the vivid anthem ''Naked in My Cellar'' sounds as great as old hits like the vibrant encore ''Devil Is a Loser''. The band even offers some obscure tracks like the vivid ''Mr. Killjoy'' that was only a b-side on a single but the song is as great as the other tracks played in concert. Consistency is the key element that distinguishes Lordi from many other hard rock bands and KISS copycats and the Finnish quintet certainly deserves more attention than it gets.

Lordi is a particularly great live band. They sound tight with raw lead vocals, powerful gang shouts, vibrant guitar riffs, ecstatic guitar solos, pumping bass guitar, tight drums and occasional samples that add some atmosphere reminding of old horror movies. The creepy outfits also need to be pointed out as they have become trademarks of the band. The communication between the charismatic lead singer and the crowd is also great. The atmosphere is outstanding as if everybody had come to a party rather than a simple concert. The production is raw and energetic which suits the genre. The generous set list features twenty songs and features everything fans could crave for from recent material over old classics to a few obscure cuts.

In addition to the concert, this release also includes all the atmospheric, colourful and creative music videos the band has created since its obscure beginnings in the early nineties. A very unusual cut is the song ''Inferno'' for which a music video was made as early as in 1995. Lead singer Mr. Lordi didn't even wear a mask back then but if you were hoping to see him without his make-up and costume, you will be disappointed because his face has been edited out of the video clip with the sticker of a monstrous face. That unnecessary editing job is the only slightly disappointing element of this excellent release. In order to end things on a high note, this release also includes a short and sympathetic documentary.

In the end, you should purchase Lordi's Recordead Live – Sextourcism in Z7 if you like timeless hard rock music with a vibrant stage show in the key of KISS. Lordi might not be the most innovative band but it's one of the most consistent hard rock bands to be around these days. This release offers multiple hours of excellent entertainment to be enjoyed over and over again.