Lordi-Deadache

The End
2008

Two years since the release of their last album, "The Arockalypse", Lordi return with their fourth studio album "Deadache". What we get this time around is an album with possibly less hype surrounding it although their approach has not changed all that much. They still seem to put more effort into their image than they do into their music. That's not to say that the music is bad, but it's certainly a step down from where I wish is was. This is a drippy dose of hard rock largely influenced by mid-late 1980's acts. I hear some Alice Cooper from around the time of "Constrictor" and "Raise your fist" plus some KISS, Twisted Sister and maybe even Accept. The main riffs are simple and strong and they benefit from cranking the volume up. This definitely is a more melodic album than their previous effort. The melodies are tied in well enough and the production certainly helps. However I can't help but think that they are becoming soft to some extent. If anything worked for this band on "The Arockalypse" it was the moments when their music was as monstrous as their image. Granted those moments were few and far between, but on "Deadache" the promising moments are even more rare. They growl loud and the lead riffs often kick off with some heaviness behind them, but most of the songs soon become as appetizing as stale cereal in sour milk.They are a gimmick band, but unfortunately they are quickly becoming rather mediocre. It's fun for a little while, but there just isn't enough going on to keep this cheese machine going for the duration of the album.