Time to praise the Lordi: other-world, costume-metal Eurovision winners Lordi come back to earth with their debut album.(The Plot)

LORDI THE AROCKALYPSE (SONY BMG)

Finnish metal act Lordi are fast shaping up as one of the year's surprise success stories, as Sony BMG'S commercial division looks to capitalise on the exposure gained through their Eurovision win last week.

The group's debut UK album The Aroekalypse, is released today (Monday) and will be followed next Tuesday with the release of the single Hard Rock Hallelujah, the tongue-in-cheek rock anthem which snared the group their win in the contest. Marketing manager Charlie Stanford believes the campaign will be unstoppable and has the band in the country this week to jam in as much promotional activity as possible. "We've literally been inundated with requests, it's a bit mad," he says. The single's Tuesday release date means it will be hitting stores on June 6, yup, 6/6/6. "It's a fun record, they're a fun band and the release date was an opportunity too good to refuse. Retail got it straight away and have embraced the idea," says Stan Ford.

In-store promotion, marketing and press will be targeted towards this release date, with the aim of making an event out of the single's release. "You've got to ride the wave and this just drives home the nature of the group," he says. Sony BMG is currently finalising an in-store promotion, which will see the band performing at a London location on the day of the single's ...