Over the course of The 69 Eyes’ 18-year career, the Finnish five-piece have dabbled in a host of various genres ranging from 80s LA sleaze metal to – more recently –  goth rock, with singer Jyrki69’s vocals descending from the higher-pitched hair-metal snarl heard in the band’s earlier material to a deeper, richer baritone sound reminiscent of Type O Negative’s Peter Steele. With Angels, their ninth album, The 69 Eyes seem to have found a happy medium between the two unlikely genres, which for the most part works surprisingly well. 

The title track immediately hints that there is more to this band than meets the eye; the sinister, overbearing vocals coupled with glam guitar licks set the tone for the diversity that runs through the rest of the album. Never Say Die continues to showcase this variety, fusing hints of industrial rock and Sisters of Mercy style goth with an upbeat, radio-friendly chorus. The lyrics on certain numbers, particularly the more horror-inspired ones, are often somewhat cartoonish and, although there is undoubtedly an element of tongue-in-cheek observation, it is not always obvious how seriously the band are taking themselves. The unashamed Rocker, for example, runs through every Sunset Strip cliché in the book, gleefully embracing the sleazy subculture later viewed through more jaded eyes on Perfect Skin, an eerie ode to Hollywood sex symbols. However, the former track is all good-time fun and is delivered with conviction that almost makes it credible. 

On the flip side of the coin, tracks like Ghost definitely veer towards the darker side, with production that provides a theatrical ambiance. The band take this element and run with it in Star of Fate, an unexpectedly delicate number featuring strings and harmonies that wouldn’t sound out of place in a musical, combined with grandiose Guns N’ Roses style guitar courtesy of axeman Bazie. There is a strongly visual element that runs throughout the album, whether inspired by classic horror or seedy Hollywood. Frankenhooker calls to mind the horror punk imagery of bands like The Cramps and The Misfits, combining it with the more mainstream rock sound of Billy Idol.  

Being a Finnish rock band with gothic influences, the band invite obvious comparisons to fellow countrymen HIM. However, despite HIM’s greater commercial success, The 69 Eyes seem to have a few more strings to their bow. While they undoubtedly draw heavily upon a host of other bands, the patchwork of their overall sound is sewn together in a way that makes it feel refreshingly original. Their popularity may not yet be as great worldwide as that which they have enjoyed in their native Finland, but the broad-ranging appeal of Angels means this album could well be the one that gains them a wider following.