The Helsinki Vampires are back with Back in Blood, their ninth studio release. Losing their synthesizer backing, the Eyes return to their hard rock and heavy metal roots with this album.
Gone are the days of their melancholic, gothic sound. Instead, it has been replaced by riffs reminiscent of late Guns 'n' Roses.
The 69 Eyes formed in 1989 in Helsinki, Finland and have managed to retain their original lineup despite the 20 years and nine records under their belt.
They started out playing glam rock but in the late 90s, they turned to a darker, more gothic sound. It was this sound that began to bring them fame across Europe and then later in the United States.
Back in Blood sees the band take the same step toward hard rock that HIM tried with their latest release, Venus Doom.
The album opens with the title track, a fast-paced romp showcasing the band's new sound. Fans of the band will almost find it strange to hear Jyrki 69's voice here as it seems wildly out of place when compared to the more Elvis-like quality of his earlier songs. It's strained at times, but the song is still a catchy enough tune that it does a good job of opening up the album.
The first single off the album, "Dead Girls Are Easy," plays nicely and includes several gang-shouts, a feature not heard all too often in 69 Eyes' songs.
It's catchy, shallow and even comic at times, but it just doesn't seem like the 69 Eyes. The music video, directed by skateboarder and MTV star Bam Margera, retains the feel of earlier Eyes videos due to its focus on vampires and pale girls clad in tight, black leather.
The album takes a deeper focus on the vampire theme than earlier albums. But do not be fooled: These are not the dreamy, neurotic vampires that seem to be plaguing pop-culture these days.
Oh no, these are the vampires of the past, of "The Lost Boys," back when it was still cool to be a vampire. Sunglasses, black leather, old cars, blood-sucking and sex - these are the things the 69 Eyes have tried to infuse into their music in Back in Blood.
Nevertheless, it is doubtful whether many of the 69 Eyes fans will be drawn to this release. The band has somehow gotten lost in the Los Angeles metal scene and left behind most of the aspects of their music that were once appealing in the goth scene.
Of course, new fans will surely flock to them, but for some of us the glory years of the 69 Eyes are long past.
Treasures like "Brandon Lee" and "Crashing High" may not be replaced by the band's new direction just yet, but only time will tell what is in store for the 69 Eyes.
They could find much wider fame or simply just wither into the background like many other bands who have tried the same approach.
