Monster rockers Lordi take on U.S.

By Sami Torma

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Monster rockers Lordi, who conquered their native Finland before storming Europe, now take on Asia and North America with a new tour.

The band, which performs over-the-top, horror-show theatrics and pyrotechnic-fuelled rock, was due to kick off in Japan with a concert on Monday and goes to the United States on April 20.

They return to Helsinki to perform at the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest a year after their shock victory in the annual competition set them on a path to regional stardom.

Lordi then return to complete the U.S. tour in July and August and have also begun making a horror movie.

"I counted that last year I spent more time in a mask than without it," bandleader Mr. Lordi said in a recent interview.

He told Reuters the group -- whose members dress in armour and ghoulish skeleton and zombie masks -- has seen its fan base grow worldwide, particularly through the Internet, and that it was a personal ambition to crack the key U.S. market.

But he added that Lordi would not go to America with trumpets blazing: "Easy does it. I do not think it is very different to Europe. It is about overcoming prejudices."

"We are a strange bird, as we do not play metal music per se -- although many want to label us that way. We play more like retro 1980s rock," said Mr. Lordi, whose real name is Tomi Putaansuu.