Back in Blood: 69 Eyes Take Goth 'n' Roll to Next Level

Last week Finnish rockers 69 Eyes released their ninth studio album Back In Blood, another goth 'n' roll tribute to the horror genre.

The Helsinki-based 69 Eyes' music is often described as a heavy mix of gothic rock, glam and hardcore rock and roll.

The band formed back in 1989 as a glam metal outfit inspired by the vampire realm and the undead.

Although their albums are not concept albums, they do all rely on ideas taken from goth culture movies and literature.

Back In Blood moves away from the lighter, glam feel of their last album Angels by bringing a heavier feel to the songs. In order to make the transition, the band brought producer Matt Hyde (Slayer/Monster Magnet) on board.

Lead singer Jyrki 69 based the album around the world's new obsession with vampires and Twilight mania. He focused on his own movie collection with Jean Rollin's erotic French flick Lips Of Blood, The Hunger and the modern-day opus Night Watch all taking center stage in the songs on the album.

The album opens with the title track Back In Blood, which is designed as a wake-up call to the vampire king who has been asleep for centuries and is, naturally, now ready to rock. The song has a 80's rock feel to it and features some heavy guitar work, "You kept me waiting, waiting here for you. Two thousand years baby what you gonna do." The track is a play on the AC/DC classic Back In Black.

We Own the Night is a catchy Cure-inspired track that it is a bit more uplifting than the rest of the cd, "We own the night you and I. We're gonna live forever."

Dead n Gone starts out with a traditional pop/rock feel to it but then moves into a killer chorus and builds to a stunning climax, "She's done with playing Jesus. She knows just what to do. I don't want to stay here. I will be bleeding after you."

This is the point of the album where things really pick up and the fun begins with the stadium anthem The Good, The Bad and the Undead. The vampire call to arms is the first true sign of the different direction that the band has taken, "They won't let us into Heaven and Hell's closed tonight."

Kiss Me Undead continues the fun feel to the album as the king begs his lover to bring him back to life, "Wake me from the darkness. Kiss me undead. Break the chains of my heart so bloodless."

Lips of Blood is Jyrki 69 at his best: singing in his deepest, lowest goth whisper, "In this dream we can't be found. In this dream blood bound." The song does a great job of balancing the metal ballad feel with it's haunting melodic riffs. The song is inspired by the aforementioned French vampire movie.

Dead Girls Are Easy is 69 Eyes at their most humorous. The tongue-in-cheek power anthem for sleazy pin-ups is the first single released off of the album and features a video directed by band friend and MTV star Bam Margera. The sing-a-long chorus is a highlight and the songs hilarious lyrics make the song fun to listen to, "All I wanted to do is rock!"

Night Watch is inspired by the modern Russian vampire opus of the same name, "When the lights go down low...that's no way to say hello!" The song is easily one of the best tracks on the cd with it's gloomy feel and it's story of the downside of the vampire lifestyle.

Some Kind of Magic is another showcase for Jyrki 69's deep voice, "Some kind of magic. Do you feel it? Ooh some kind of magic."

Hunger is the darkest and best moment of the entire cd. The track features a haunting chorus complete with some great keyboard work and a amazing high pitched guitar riff and solo. Jyrki 69 uses his vocal range to full effect moving from deep to high in a matter of seconds, "Dancing on and on in the night and the tears keep falling...Through the hunger and the pain lies a gentle rain."

Suspiria Snow White takes thing back to a heavy rock and roll feel, "And your dreaming someone elses dreams and there's noone to hear you scream." The song allows the band to really let go.

The album ends with the track Eternal, which would be at home on any vampire movie soundtrack. The song starts out gently and slowly builds up until it explodes into a hard finish, "Out of the rains only love will survive. Thicker than wine, deeper than time. We dance to the darkly light."

Starting October 5, the 69 Eyes will be embarking on a national headlining tour which includes their third trip to the U.S. They will be performing in Detroit on Friday, October 23 at Harpos.