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To Beast or not to Beast is the sixth full-length studio album from the Finnish monsters, better known as Lordi. Even though some may consider them to be one of the biggest jokes in the world of Metal, nothing changes the tiny fact that To Beast or not to Beast is the best and most intense Lordi album since, well, since the band's 2006 album The Arockalyspe. On Lordi's two previous albums, Deadache and Babez for Breakfast, it felt like the Finnish monsters touched rock bottom, creativity-wise, but happily things are looking much better now. To Beast of not to Beast sounds heavier, more focused and catchier and definitely more Metal than their two previous outings. This was something the band acknowledged as well. Former drummer Otus (R.I.P.) had a huge influence on Lordi's songwriting and pushed them in a more metallic direction, which the other monsters drank up like a big bottle of the finest Scotch whisky. Otus' influence on the way Lordi sounds on this record makes them sound meaner and darker and gives new inspirations for your worst nightmares. Songs like "Something Wicked This Way Comes" and "I'm the Best" are some of the heaviest moments you will witness from these monsters and are the songs that I find appealing and entertaining. "Happy New Fear" makes me wonder if Rob Zombie or Marilyn Manson had their fingers in this song due to the chorus. And speaking of getting someone's finger mixed up with songs, Lordi decided to use some of Otus' ideas for the last song on the album, "SCG6: Otus' Butcher Clinic," which is, in fact, part of a backing track the band used in the summer of 2011. It is quite a tribute from Lordi to end the album with the work of someone that you can hear no more. To Beast or not to Beast has put Lordi back on track. Good stuff.