Around the same time last year, Lord of the Lost released Blood & Glitter and it shot its way to the number one spot on the German album charts.
Could history repeat itself with the covers album, Weapons of Mass Seduction?
Knowing the success the band has had in 2023 and seeing their fanbase rise to the occasion on their domineering votes for the Eurovision Song Contest, I can say I would be shocked if Weapons of Mass Seduction didn’t make it to number one.
Weapons of Mass Seduction is the band’s first covers album but far from their first experience in covers. Longtime Losties will recognise their previous covers, “The Look” featuring Blümchen from the Blood & Glitter album, “Cha Cha Cha” (single), “Judas”, “Children of the Damned”, “Wig in a Box” from The Heartbeat of the Devil EP and “Bad Romance” from the Beside & Beyond album.
On the album, the band says
“During the production of our last album, Blood & Glitter, while recording our Roxette cover ‘The Look’ in Finland, it had already become clear that we had opened Pandora’s box. The energy and fun of covering the songs of beloved and respected colleagues and idols was something we were determined to continue. So even before the release of Blood & Glitter we started working on this ‘covers album’ project, which for us is the perfect dessert to Blood & Glitter, before we embark on the adventure of reinventing ourselves again for a new studio album.”
With each cover before and on Weapons of Mass Seduction, Lord of the Lost infuse their essence and sound into the songs and make them their own.
There are two versions of Weapons of Mass Seduction – a two disc that contains twenty-two tracks that can be heard on all streaming platforms and a limited edition three disc that contains an additional ten songs. I do hope they eventually release a digital deluxe edition that will include the ten songs as I am itching to hear the full versions of “Starman”, “Hey You”, “Turn! Turn! Turn!”, and “All I Have to Do is Dream”.
Nonetheless, this review will look at what I have available to me, the two disc edition.
Weapons of Mass Seduction kicks off with an absolutely electrifying cover of Billy Idol’s hit “Shock to the System”. It’s so much Lord of the Lost that I on more than one occasion checked to make sure it wasn’t an original by the genre defying band. Using the song as the first single laid the groundwork for the album and it sets the mood for the album.
With their cover of Sia’s “Unstoppable”, the band takes the pop hit, spins it on its head and kicks it to eleven. Chris’ vocals, Niklas’ drumming, and Gared’s keys make the song a fist pumping anthem.
The stand out cover amongst the twenty-two songs is Judas Priest’s “Turbo Lover”. Good god almighty this cover is FIERCE. Moving as a well oiled machine, the band is in perfect cohesion. With Chris’ baritone voice, Class and Niklas’ thundering rhythm section, Gared’s synth and Pi’s incredibly intense guitar work, the song is seductively heavy. It’s perfect, perfect, perfect.
At first, Michael Jackson’s song “GIve in to Me” might seem like an odd choice but it’s such a smart and wise choice for the band. Elements of the song allow each member’s innate talent to shine through but it’s Pi who steals the spotlight in the song. The way his guitar beautifully wails and cries showcases the desperation of a man who is in love but only to be rejected.
The cover of Keane’s “Somewhere Only We Know” retains the melancholy of the original and allows Gared’s piano work to sparkle and shine, while Niklas’ drumming in “(I Just) Died in Your Arms” featuring Anica Russo gives it a heavy and bold edge.
Nearing the halfway point of the two-disc edition, is where one will realise that songs chosen by the band allows each member to display not only their talent but their technical skills and artistry. Each member brings a wonderful element to the songs and proves how they don’t rest on their laurels nor conform to any preconceived notions one may have of them as a band.
Originally by The Pretty Reckless, Gared’s piano work replaces the guitar in “House on a Hill” and the band makes this song their own. Sorry not sorry, it no longer belongs to The Pretty Reckless anymore.
“The Look” featuring Blümchen opens the second half of the album and it’s a perfect cover of the Roxette hit.
I was unfamiliar with Germany’s Celebrate the Nun, Sweden’s The Ark, and Scotland’s Amy MacDonald and their original songs, but Lord of the Lost brilliantly elevated each song and dragged them into modern times.
By their Eurovision competitor Käärijä, Chris sings “Cha Cha Cha” in Finnish and the band upgrades the song into an infectious headbanger.
Both Lady Gaga covers, “Judas” and “Bad Romance” only make me want to hear a duet with her and Chris. I think their voices compliment each other so well and that the band would give her a wonderful rock and metal edge that she would slay.
Lord of the Lost did no wrong on “Children of the Damned”. The addition of the cello to the song absolutely raises the bar for the song. One can hear the utmost respect and love that Lord of the Lost has for Iron Maiden in the song. They pour their heart out in the song and it shows from start to finish.
From Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Chris and Gared beautifully show the vulnerability and tenderness of “Wig in a Box” while Pi, Class, and Niklas show the confidence and swagger of the song.
I was most excited to hear “Ordinary World” as a cover. Of all the songs on the two disc version of Weapons of Mass Seduction, this was perhaps the most bold choice by the band and the hardest of all the songs to nail, but the band nails it. “Ordinary World” puts a spotlight on Lord of the Lost’s ability to stretch their talent beyond expectations and to rise and succeed in any occasion given.
With Weapons of Mass Seduction, Lord of the Lost reinforce that there is no boundary or border that can stop them when it comes to not only reinventing music but themselves. They once again defy expectation and continue exploring not only music genres, they push their own artistic expression and creativity. Lord of the Lost is the essence of versatility and artistry.
Weapons of Mass Seduction playlist on Youtube
All the songs on Weapons of Mass Seduction
Weapons of Mass Seduction Disc 1
1. Shock To The System (Billy Idol Cover)
2. Unstoppable (Sia Cover)
3. Smalltown Boy (Bronski Beat Cover)
4. Turbo Lover (Judas Priest Cover)
5. Hymn (Ultravox Cover)
6. Give In To Me (Michael Jackson Cover)
7. River (Bishop Briggs Cover)
8. Somewhere Only We Know (Keane Cover)
9. (I Just) Died In Your Arms (feat. Anica Russo) (Cutting Crew Cover)
10. High (Zella Day Cover)
11. House On A Hill (The Pretty Reckless Cover)
Weapons of Mass Seduction Disc 2
1. The Look (feat. Blümchen) (Roxette Cover)
2. Ordinary Town (Celebrate The Nun Cover)
3. Cha Cha Cha (Käärijä Cover)
4. Judas (Lady Gaga Cover)
5. Children Of The Damned (Iron Maiden Cover)
6. Wig In A Box (Hedwig and the Angry Inch Cover)
7. Bad Romance (Lady Gaga Cover)
8. The Most Radical Thing To Do (The Ark Cover)
9. This Is The Life (Amy MacDonald Cover)
10. It’s A Sin (Pet Shop Boys Cover)
11. Ordinary World (Duran Duran Cover)
Weapons of Mass Seduction Disc 3. – Ltd Deluxe Edition only
1. Starman (David Bowie Cover)
2. Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon (Neil Diamond Cover)
3. The Days Of Pearly Spencer (David McWilliams Cover)
4. Hey You (Pink Floyd Cover)
5. I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night (The Electric Prunes Cover)
6. Where Do You Go To My Lovely (Peter Sarstedt Cover)
7. Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season) (The Byrds Cover)
8. In The Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus) (Zager & Evans Cover)
9. All I Have To Do Is Dream (The Everly Brothers Cover)
10. Perfect Day (Lou Reed Cover)
