LORDI An Evening with Aliens and Monsters in Wolverhampton
- Aleksandra Hogg
- Apr 3
- 4 min read
The Halls Wolverhampton UK 2nd March 2025
WORDS AND IMAGES ALEKSANDRA HELENA HOGG
A sunny Wednesday evening is perfect for a solid dose of rock, delivered by two extraordinary artists: Sick'n'Beautiful and Lordi. Despite the traffic jams on the motorway, I managed to get to Wulfrun Hall on time.
I had mixed feelings about this concert, as I had never seen either of the artists live before. Of course, I knew Lordi—especially from their participation in Eurovision. I remember it like it was yesterday when my mother called me over to watch their performance on TV, saying, "Here's something for you." I also recall when Blood Red Sandman hit the rock charts, a song that truly resonated with me as a teenager.
Tonight, I expected nothing less than a spectacular show. After all, the Finns are famous for their monstrous stage costumes, which have always sparked my curiosity and fueled my imagination.
Sick’N’Beautiful
The band Sick’N’Beautiful, active for over a decade and based in Rome, perfectly embodies their unique style and the electrifying atmosphere they create on stage. Here, we’re dealing with real aliens who fell in love with the Cyber Goth aesthetic and descended upon the city to spread rock ’n’ roll chaos!
Personally, I’m not usually a fan of female vocals, but watch out—tonight was one of those rare occasions where I was completely sold! At the forefront of this extraordinary group stood the energetic and incredibly talented vocalist, Herma. Her powerful voice had a magnetic impact—it was pure rock ’n’ roll fun! The band felt like a true family on stage, and it was obvious that they took immense joy in performing live.
Herma mentioned that their shows are usually filled with fire and smoke, but due to UK safety regulations, they had to forgo these effects. Honestly, I don’t think they needed them—the band ignited their own fire on stage, setting Wulfrun Hall ablaze with their performance. Their connection with the audience was undeniable, which is always a crucial element of a great live show. They stepped onto the stage with effortless confidence and immediately took command of the room.
Sick’N’Beautiful isn’t just about the music—it’s a seamless blend of rock, industrial, and punk, infused with inspirations from artists like KISS, Rob Zombie, Rammstein, and Alice Cooper. Their sound is a mesmerizing mix of musical prowess and theatrical artistry. Any fan of old-school horror movies, aliens, and occult aesthetics would feel right at home in their world. The band’s dedication to their stage presence was evident, with their elaborate costumes making a big impact—especially Herma’s striking ensemble.
One of the things that truly won me over was the band’s down-to-earth attitude. After the show, the entire group headed straight to the merch stand to meet fans. That kind of connection and respect for their audience speaks volumes. Personally, I was especially captivated by Hate Manifesto from their EP of the same name, released this year. With three albums already under their belt, their next release, Horror Vacui, is set to drop on April 18th—and after this exhilarating dose of raw, predatory rock ’n’ roll, I think I’ll be joining the crowd eagerly awaiting its arrival.
Lordi
Before the legendary Lordi took the stage, we were treated to the KISS song "God of Thunder" for the second time that evening (the first being during the support set). A moment of calm before the storm, and then the band appeared in all its monstrous glory. I never thought I’d get to see them live, and I can honestly say I absolutely loved it! Given the amount of stage decorations, I expected nothing less than a hell of a show. The gentlemen, dressed in their iconic outfits designed by the vocalist Mr. Lordi himself (Tomi Petteri Putaansuu), took the stage by storm! The madness kicked off with "Legends Are Made of Clichés", and with each song, the energy just kept building. That night, everyone was in a great mood, and Lordi rocked the club to the rhythm of psycho rock ’n’ roll!
During "Who's Your Daddy?", the audience sang along in unison, proving we were surrounded by true fans! I really love it when the audience spans multiple generations, and that was definitely the case here. Lordi is a fantastic band that helps introduce younger listeners to the world of hard rock and metal, which is why it’s no surprise that many parents bring their kids to their concerts, hoping they’ll grow up to be metal fans.
This was my first time seeing the Finns live, and I didn’t expect their concerts to be full of surprises. It’s not just a musical journey through hard rock, but also a kind of “horror show,” with the band’s technicians getting involved (one even lost his head—oops!).
During "Call Off the Wedding", lighters and phone flashlights lit up the venue, as they usually do during tender ballads. The song was dedicated to KISS fans because it was created in collaboration with former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick. I was impressed by Mr. Lordi’s ability to laugh at himself. He joked about needing to learn the lyrics, but maybe he’d get it right tomorrow. He was very talkative and engaged the audience with jokes and stories from his personal life. Sometimes, I felt like he was talking a bit too much, but I realized he probably needed a rest after wearing heavy armor and mega platforms, which he moved in quite gracefully.
I also really appreciated that each musician had their own time to shine on stage. Each member presented a solo performance, and I was thrilled to hear the bass solo by Hiisi—it doesn’t happen often!
After the bass solo, it was time for my favorite Lordi song, "Blood Red Sandman". Of course, the audience joined in on the vocals, and there was confetti, because what’s a great show without confetti?
I don’t think there’s much point in delving into the band’s entire 30+ year history here, but it’s definitely worth highlighting the music. Despite the passing years, it continues to entertain new generations. I don’t know why I didn’t attend one of their concerts sooner, but now I know that if they come back to the UK, I’ll be in the front row!
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