On disc: Children Of Bodom

 
 Something Wild
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Hatebreeder
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Hate Crew Deathroll
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Are You Dead Yet?
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Chaos Ridden Years - 
Stockholm Knockout Live
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Blooddrunk
 
- Philip Thelen -
 
 


 
 Hellhounds On My Trail
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Skeletons In The Closet
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
    

Skeletons In The Closet

(Nuclear Blast - 2009)



 
 

 

Children Of Bodom are known for their love to cover songs and quite a few found their way onto single B-sides and compilations. Now they decided to give their fans the full package and yo you get 17 cover versions which will rock every metal party!

The Finnish kick off with a fast hillbilly metal version of Creedence Clearwater Revival's Lookin' Out My Back Door. While Pat Benatar's Hell Is For Children a heavy tune is, first a bit dragging, then they speed up. A quite catchy track. To cover the Ramones isn't that far-fetched, coz the Ramones influenced so many metal bands. Most interesting are the cover versions of bands / artists who aren't close to metal... Hard rock tracks like the Scorpions' Don't Stop At The Top, Poison's Talk Dirty To Me or Alice Cooper's Bed Of Nails are presented in a heavy way, more metal now. Or check out the Kenny Rodgers' tune Just Dropped In! On the other hand Billy Idol's Rebel Yell is due to the keyboards loosing the heaviness... My personal highlight is Antisocial - originally by Trust, even if most will know the Anthrax cover... In the early 80's Trust were really cool and it's one of their songs I always loved.

A metal band covering Britney Spears is unusual, but Children Of Bodom never cared about taking risks. And I guess they really enjoyed to metalize this one! Anyway, this album is fun and good music to party!




Track list:



Lookin' Out My Back Door (Creedence Clearwater Revival)

Hell Is For Children (Pat Benatar)

Somebody Put Something In My Drink (Ramones)

Mass Hypnosis (Sepultura)

Don´t Stop At The Top (Scorpions)

Silent Scream (Slayer)

She Is Beautiful (Andrew W.K.)

Just Dropped In (Kenny Rogers)

Bed Of Nails (Alice Cooper)

Hellion (W.A.S.P.)

Aces High (Iron Maiden)

Rebel Yell (Billy Idol)

No Commands (Stone)

Antisocial (Trust)

Talk Dirty To Me (Poison)

War Inside My Head (Suicidal Tendencies)

Ooops!... I Did It Again (Britney Spears)
 
 






Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Hellhounds On My Trail

(Spinefarm - 2008)



 
 

 

With Hellhounds On My Trail the British fans of Children Of Bodom get a special EP only available in the UK. Especially the 3 live tracks recorded earlier this year at London's Astoria are interesting - not just for fans from the Kingdom.

Hellhounds On My Trail is a fast and quite typical Children Of Bodom tune - based on heavy riffs, catchy keyboard lines during the refrain and the harsh vocals of Alexi Laiho. This is an edited version. CoB fans will know the song from the album, so the other tracks are more interesting! A cover version of Alice Cooper's Bed Of Nails and of a Kenny Rogers' tune! Just Dropped In is very heavy as you can expect it from Children Of Bodom, but I can't really compare it, coz I'm not familiar with the original version. But what's obvious that the more mid-paced tune gives Alexi more space for his vocals - and he sounds more melodic! Reminds me a bit of Dave Mustaine here and there... Cool one! I remember when Alice Cooper's Bed Of Nails was on MTV every day... The heavier guitar sound fits well and it's fun to listen, they didn't changed the tune - only make it more heavy. Sure, Alexi's vocals are totally different and so the track is more aggressive. It tune is still catchy and its one of the rare moments where I don't know, if I prefer the original or the cover... I think it depends on my mood...

In March Children Of Bodom played a show at London's Astoria and here they recorded the 3 tracks - In Your Face, Hate Me! and Angels Don't Kill. If you have seen them live you know, that this is authentic. It's straight forward and in-your-face! The songs every fan knows, so just enjoy!

Additionally you get the uncensored video for Hellhounds On My Trail. Nice bonus!
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Blooddrunk

(Spinefarm - 2008)



 
 

 

Without compromises and hardly direct Children Of Bodom are sucking into the first song Hellhounds On My Trail. Heavy guitar riffs and angry voices are leading this fast, typical modern Bodom song. Straight after that the title track Blooddrunk is starting with typical keyboard and double bass blasting and this riff is heard all over the whole song. There also is an scream-around refrain. Lobodomy could fit to some new, but also to the old COB albums. One Day You Will Cry does start different to the rest of Bodom songs with some quiet keyboards, but instantly they are putting the tempo to an higher level. Smile Pretty For The Devil could also be an older song off Hate Crew Deathroll. It´s fast snare drum during the verse and the complex guitar riffs during the bridge are impressing. Right after that, one of the typical headbang songs Tie My Rope starts. It could be a really great live song (I gonna check'em out on November, 23rd. Check out my review then!).

Done With Everything, Die For Nothing is a really up-tempo head crushing one with few 'slow' parts. Banned From Heaven is more in a hard rockin´mid-tempo style, but also great riffs!

And at the point, when I have to say that there could be no faster tempo, they are speeding up and Roadkill Morning is more heavy then the rest! Ok, the last song of the album is an cover version of Johnny Cash´s Ghostriders In The Sky. Really cool! 'Yippy I ey'! This song rocks!!! There also exists a version from Die Apokalyptischen Reiter which is great, too. ;) 

Ok, at least I have to say that this album is worth it's money. And I don't have to mention the guitar and keyboard soli; nor the drums. These musicians are great!!! Somehow I have to say that nearly every song of this new album is great, but they all are sounding quiet the same. But anyway, the Hate Crew rocks!!!
 
 










Philip Thelen


  
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Chaos Ridden Years - Stockholm Knockout Live

(Spinedarm - 2006)



 
 

 

The Finnish band Children Of Bodom is one of the hottest live bands nowadays and they really smoke! That they show now on CD and DVD. The concert was recorded in Stockholm during the Are You Dead Yet? tour in February 2006. Alexi Laiho and his gang put together a great set list - see below - and the DVD shows the band with their typical stage appearance. The close-ups are cool, but also the shoots from the back of the stage. Sure, some images of the crowd had been added to give you a real live feel. And it's obvious that band and fans enjoyed this show very much. A good documentation of a COB live show!

Additionally the fans get a documentary about the band with interviews, but also a making-of and deleted scenes which actually shouldn't get on the DVD... But then the band decided to show their whole tour madness! That's fun!!!

That they added the video clips and a photo gallery is no surprise, but a nice addition.

With about 3 hrs. of Children Of Bodom this is value for money! Get yourself a copy and enjoy it!





Total running time: 183 min.

Audio Formats: 2.0 PCM Stereo / 5.1 Dolby Digital

Picture Format: 16:9 / 4:3

Region: 0

Disc Format: 1 X DVD-9

Menu Screens: English




Track list:



Live in Stockhom

Living Dead Beat

Sixpounder

Silent Night, Bodom Night

Hate Me!

We're Not Gonna Fall

Angels Don't Kill

Deadbeats I

Bodom After Midnight / Bodom Beach Terror

Follow The Reaper

Needled 24/7

Clash Of The Booth Brothers

In Your Face

Hate Crew Deathroll

Are You Dead Yet?

Latvala - Guitar Solo

Lake Bodom

Everytime I Die

Downfall





Chaos Ridden Years



- The Children Of Bodom Documentary



- Behind The Scenes: Making Stockhom Knockout Live



Promotional Videos:
Are You Dead Yet?

Downfall

Deadnight Warrior

Everytime I Die

In Your Face

Sixpounder

Trashed, Lost & Strungout




Deleted Scenes + Photo Gallery
 

 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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re You Dead Yet?

(Spinefarm - 2005)



 
 

 

Fans of the Finnish were waiting impatiently for the new album of Children Of Bodom, finally it's in the stores. They start with Living Dead Beat which could have been on Hate Crew Deathroll... Janne Warman's keyboards take the edge of the up-tempo melodic death metal, it's more death'n'thrash. Again the album is less then 40 minutes, something COB got criticized for in the past. Last year they released the EP Trashed, Lost & Strungout - the title track is on this release, too - to shorten the time until this album hit the streets. Well, perhaps all this can be blamed on the broken wrist of mainman Alexi 'Wildchild' Laiho, but I think they should have put more efford into this... Are You Dead Yet? can keep up with their last full-length album, even if it ain't bad... A fast one, a real neckbreaker they present with If You Want Peace... Prepare For War. Here Janne's keyboard is building a counterpart to the shredding guitars. The vocals of Alexi Laiho are darker this time, but that fits pretty well to the music. With Punch Me I Bleed they slow down to mid-tempo. More power metal, but the raspy vocals of Laiho add some heaviness and at the same times limits the band. The following In Your Face is straight forward again with a heavy groove. A thrashy one, but has some catchiness in the bridge... Next In Line is combining different elements... Powerful metal with progressive elements, the rawness of melodic death metal, twin guitar riffing and thrashing guitars. This seems to be the new COB sound... Coz these elements you find in most tracks. At Bastards Of Bodom they continue this way work with breaks, a grooving bass and some new sound elements. For fans of the early Bodom kids days this is to far from their original sound and purists will hate it, I guess.... Its kind of a trip through their musical past to their present sound. More thrashing in the beginning and at the end more divert. The last track of the album We're Not Gonna Fall is combining different elements and won't be what many fans expect, but might open up for new fans...

And album which some will love and others will hate... Listen and make up your mind. Anyway, it's too short and perhaps they should have waited a little longer and add some more songs... Not bad, but not as good as Hate Crew Deathroll.

Check out: Are You Dead Yet?, If You Want Peace... Prepare For War and We're Not Gonna Fall.
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Hate Crew Deathroll

(Spinefarm - 2003)



 
 

 

The Finnish quintet started back in 1997 to conquer the metal world by storm with Something Wild. The rest is history!

The melodic death metal five-piece present themselves even stronger on this new release. Increasing their songwriter skills as much as on their instruments Alexi Laiho & pals are top of the genre. Back working with producer Ansi Kippo the album Hate Crew Deathroll has a superb, powerful production. Songs like Six Pounder and Chokehold (Cocked'n'Loaded) presenting a tight rhythm section - Henkka T. Blacksmith on bass and Jasko W. Raatikainen on drums - who build the playground for Janne Warman's virtuoso keyboard play and the screaming guitars of Alexander Kuoppala and singer / mainman Alexi 'Wildchild' Laiho. It won't be a surprise if they make it into the Finnish charts again, coz the singles of the last releases went gold and Hate Me! Even got platinum! Not many bands of extreme metal achive what the Finnish youngsters achieved already. An outstanding tune is Angel's Don't Kill which is a heavy, mid-tempo one with Alexi's hateful vocals, but partly the band slows down a little more and that parts have a balladesque touch. For real death metal fans this one might be too mellow....

But for Children Of Bodom fans will love this one and I would bet that more metal fans will learn to love the Finnish.... A must buy!
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Hatebreeder

(Nuclear Blast - 1999)



 
 

 

This is the follow-up of Something Wild. "Now we are enemies- you and I!" That's what you here first, just to lead into some fast, heavy melodic death metal track - Warheart. Mainman Alexi Laiho's sounding mean. Again the guitar work is incredible. The guitar riffing of Silent Night, Bodom Night is influenced by 80's metal heroes, but then it becomes a death metal anthem. The cruely of the death metal smoothened by some keyboard parts and some whispered words. But soon they are back. It's like a battle between the bad and the good. And surprising twists keep you listening. The title track Hatebreeder is even faster, but has the now known trademarks of the COB sound. In comparison with Something Wild this one is more a death metal album, even if it has untypical elements. It's heavier and more aggressive, but still the guitar solos are influenced by 80's metal and power metal. Slowly starts Black Widow, a more mid-tempo one. Based on twin guitar riffing like you know it from bands like Accept and Iron Maiden, but then the vocals join in and the impression of a heavy 80's metal songs is gone. This one will be killer live! Can't wait to hear that one at a show! The following Wrath Within is faster, a neck-breaker! Okay, again the five-some throw in some keyboard parts and a melodic guitar solo - gives the headbanger a short break. Especially at this song the keyboard is the counterpart to the guitar riffing and the mean, spitted vocal attacks.

It's obvious that the Finnish improved. The album is interesting for black / death metal fans. Nothing for purists or old-school death metal fans, but.... Check out: Hatebreeder, Children Of Bodom, Black Widow and Wrath Within.
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Something Wild

(Spinefarm - 1998)



 
 

 

Thunder.... some noises.... laughter... Then they come over you with Deadnight Warrior. The Finnish youngsters create their own sound by mixing death metal, black metal elements and power metal-influenced guitars. Especially the hoarse vocals of mainman Alexi Laiho - not really grunts or growls - of Alexi will make them more interesting for the death metal fans then for the typical power metal head, but open-minded should give them a chance... The keybaord of Janne Wirman adds some melody and delivers a playgound for the guitar riffing of Alexi Laiho and Alexander Kuoppala.

Interesting is Red Light In My Eyes which is splitted into 2 parts. Part 1 is more melodic then the previous tracks and has some anthem-kind of parts, on the other hand there are black metal parts. Perhaps the best track(s) to check out the Finnish youngsters. At part 2 they get a little heavier... Rougher. With Lake Bodom they become more death metal again, even if the keybaords are more typical for black metal....

Even if the band is pretty young, they all very good instrumentalists. And they have good ideas... Looks like they have a bright future....
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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