The idea of a heavy metal rock band for children might be somewhat lacking in appeal for some. Images of leather and chains, frightening make-up, Anthrax-style roaring into a microphone and satanic lyrics for dear little Jonti, all a bit overwhelming. But in Finland, where hard rock is a way of life, of course there’s a heavy metal group for kids.
Obsessed as we are by the culture of Nordic cool, Imagination Festival on the Southbank has pushed the boundaries of British sensibility, and here we are. Any fears melt away as five dinosaurs bound onto the stage, like friendly-faced cartoon characters, encouraging the kids to "jump as much as you can!"; pump their fists along to the thick rhythms; rock out to the amplified guitar solos, and generally embrace the loudness.
It's light on the metal but grounded in simple rock
I can’t comment on the lyrics because I honestly couldn’t understand a word they were saying, and most of the songs (if not all) were in Finnish. Although one was about milk, Komppi Momppi the drummer’s favourite drink, and one was about waking up Muffi Puffi the bassist, who has a tendency to fall asleep onstage. The only female member of the band, Milli Pilli on keyboards is a big hit, and Riffi Raffi burns out some insane guitar riffs, tossing back his long purple mane and striking some rock-star poses. But it’s the pint-sized Herra Hevisaurus on vocals who brings everything together, bounding around and belting out some genuinely good tracks.
It's light on the metal – think more Bon Jovi than Black Sabbath – but grounded in simple rock that really appeals to children in that it's loud and tuneful. Simple. It's good music presented in a way that's not dumbed down or patronising to kids, not the kind that, as adults, we are capable of forcing upon them because we think it's what they need. When clearly, what they actually need is to flee the confines of their seats and boogie around the front of the stage, close to the music and right at the centre of a fantastic new experience.
