Lordi / Turisas
31 October 2006
The Forum, London
With Johan in the photopit, guest reviewer Rachael Dallimore reports back from Lordi & Turisas` Halloween party in London…
Amongst the array of devil horns, fairy wings, capes, fake blood, masks, battle gore, pom poms and weaponry, there`s probably as many Turisas t-shirts as Lordi ones at the Kentish Town Forum tonight. The Monsters vs. Vikings pairing couldn`t be more fitting on this freezing Halloween evening, and as the beer starts to pour, the excitement grows. As ever, the Finnish warlords` support slot is hotly anticipated as Turisas doppelgangers bound around the room waving their plastic swords and slurping up alcohol through their make-up-caked faces.
‘As Torches Rise` sets the furious pace as the five-piece thunders onstage, a tornado of thrashing animal furs and gruesome warpaint. 'I hope you`re all drinking tonight,' roars the Warlord. 'Because this one is all about drinking!' he continues as the fiddle solo to ‘One More` begins. The crowd hollers along with the chorus as the gore-splattered frontman waves an oversized tankard in the red faces of the audience.
Accordionist Antti 'Pormestari' Laurila struts onstage in a skimpy pair of Union Jack y-fronts, knocking out cheesy porno poses before the legendary cover of Boney M`s ‘Rasputin` bursts through the amps. Fiddler Olli Vanska gets the venue chanting 'Fuck guitar solos!' whilst he speedily fiddles through an impressive solo. 'This is our last song,' the Warlord announces. 'It`s is 'Battle Metal'. What Battle Metal actually is I don`t know!' But by now, no one really cares. The Finns have, once again, conquered.
Turisas set list:
Victoriae & Triumphi Dominus / As Torches Rise / One More / Rasputin / Rex Regi Rebellis / Battle Metal
With such a tough act to follow, many ponder how Lordi will top the evening so far. Clambering onstage to Kiss` `God Of Thunder` is a great starting point though, and the intricate haunted house stage set is doubly impressive. Gargoyles either side of the stage glow in luminous purple and as ‘The Arockalypse` explodes into the venue, fireworks blast out from all over the stage and shocking bursts of fire singe eyebrows off the front row.
Dressed in a boar`s skin, vocalist Mr Lordi demonstrates his true Rock`n`Roll style, sneering at the crowd and brandishing a staff. Bassist OX squarks into the microphone making blood-curdling squeals and roars, pointing and gesticulating to a raucous cheer. ‘My Heaven Is Your Hell` sees Mr Lordi drag out a rotting corpse to serenade before twirling a circular saw between thrusts of flames.
Roadies dressed as executioners clear the stage of trashed instruments between songs. ‘Blood Red Sandman` sees a moshpit take over the floorspace as beer and waist-length hair spin out of control. Opening the encore, ‘They Only Come Out At Night` just continues the theatrical display with as much fire, props and costumes jammed in as possible. ‘Would You Love A Monsterman?` ensures the fake blood and make-up encrusted on everyone in the front ten rows is suitably melting and when glitter and confetti pour from the ceiling, it sticks firmly to the faces and raised fists below whilst set closer 'Hard Rock Hallelujah' ends the evening in a truly dramatic style.
When it comes to Halloween, the devil himself couldn`t have planned a better party.
Lordi set list:
Bring Back The Balls To Rock / Get Heavy / Who's Your Daddy? / My Heaven Is Your Hell / Not The Nicest Guy / Pet The Destroyer / Rock The Hell Outta You / Blood Red Sandman / Biomechanic Man / Supermonstars / The Kids Who Wanna Play With The Dead / It Snows In Hell / Deadite Girls Gone Wild / Dynamite Tonight / Devil Is A Loser / They Only Come Out At Night / Would You Love A Monsterman? / Hard Rock Hallelujah
LINKS:
Lordi
Turisas
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