Lordi was formed in 1996 after Tomi Putaansuu (Mr. Lordi), Jussi Sydänmaa (Amen) and Sami Keinänen (G-stealer) met in Stockholm, where they had gone to see Kiss perform. Inspired by Kiss, their vision was to perform with spectacular pyrotechnics and monster masks. In 1997 Erna Siikavirta (Enary) joined the band on keyboard. In 1999, the group recorded their first album, Bend Over And Pray The Lord. The band never performed with the original line-up, though they had been promised a record release gig in 1999.

During the same year G-Stealer left the band because of work commitments and was replaced by Sami Wolking (Magnum), whom Mr. Lordi had met via Kiss Army Finland. In 2000, drummer Sampsa Astala (Kita) joined Lordi—the band had originally planned to use MIDI drum tracks in place of a real drummer. After several failed attempts at obtaining a recording contract, Lordi signed a record deal with Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) Finland in 2002. In July, the band released their first single, "Would You Love A Monsterman?", which rose to number one and spawned a music video. During the summer the band went under the auspices of producer TT Oksalas Finnvox Studios to record their first album, inspite of recording problems.

Lordis music is mainly hard rock combined with some elements of heavy metal music. The bands horror-related albums, the monster costumes worn by all band members, and the horror elements of their performances are hallmarks of shock rock. Although the band is often perceived by the media as a heavy metal band due to their monster costumes, their musical style has more characteristics of the hard rock genre. Over the years, the bands musical style has taken a very varied direction between hard rock and metal, with the pattern seeming as though it changes between the two with every album released.

Their debut album, Get Heavy, represented a large part of traditional hard rock music, but by the release of their The Monsterican Dream album in 2004, the band had shifted considerably toward heavier music and horror effects were prominently displayed. However, in their 2006 album The Arockalypse, Lordi shifted back toward hard rock, eschewing horror themes and special effects. Their 2008 studio album, Deadache, included more typical horror elements, leaning once again toward the heavier side of the spectrum. Their forthcoming album, Babez For Breakfast, is expected to once again shift back to the traditional hard rock elements, and be an even greater exposure to the 80s than the bands previous albums.

Author: SABINA TAGORE IMMANUEL