Any of you who have been following the blog for the last year know two things: a) I hate nostalgia, and b) I believe the 80s are overrated in every artistic aspect. This is why Lordi’s Limited Deadition had such a hard task convincing me to even give it a chance. Besides, this is the only Metal band that won Eurovision decades ago, so with a mix of admiration and repulsion, I recalled that the point of being a reviewer is to explore horrors we never thought we’d encounter—to leave the comfort of my sauna and see what we’re up against next.
Spooky comedy is the name of the game. I’d like to think Limited wasn’t written with too much seriousness involved because the tracks here end up being a comforting bag of comedic relief in a time of absolute darkness, which is nothing if not peculiar. Synths and happy choruses are all over the place, in a way that could only be described as slower and more gothic Iron Maiden (another band I ignore, but I’m sure Lordi would appreciate the comparison). There are two main things I’d highlight about this effort, though.
First, the lyrics are totally hilarious. Just listen to “Collectible” and tell me you take this album seriously. I couldn’t stop cracking up at some of the lines, especially in the interludes, which were so over-the-top and ridiculous that I guess they do embody the 80s pretty well. Plus, the production actually doesn’t suck? I was expecting something more overproduced than a sausage but ended up with something that didn’t make my ears bleed, and that’s a comforting surprise, honestly. Now, let’s get to the part of the review you’ve all been waiting for.
Let’s face it: this is the closest MER is going to get to reviewing a Pop music album. There’s more cheese in this album than in France. If you were born after 2002, you just won’t get this thing at all, and if you were born before that, it’s still going to be a hard pill to swallow—unless you have a huge appreciation for Pop/Rock from the 80s. I don’t, so the simplicity, accessibility, and sheer positivity of this thing alienate me more than talking about politics with extended family at dinner. You’ve heard it all before, and that’s fine, but my duty is to tell you what to expect, and don’t hope for more than candy and laughs.
I think Lordi could make another run at the Eurovision Song Contest and give everyone a good fight. It’s not extreme Metal; it’s not even Metal as we understand it today, I’d dare to say. But if you long for more innocent and simpler times and don’t need fancy standards in your music lately, then Limited might have a place in your heart—at least once.
Label: Reigning Phoenix Records
Release date: March 21, 2025
Website: https://www.lordi.fi/
Country: Finland
Score: Finland’s only hope at Eurovsion again
Metal Eclipse Reviews 