Many say that fans can tell where bands come from just by name, which is true for the Children of Bodom band. They are a Finnish band whose style has been described as a fusion of power metal and melodic death metal. Incidentally, the name of the gang comes from the infamous Lake Bodom murders in 1960 in Finland.
Booming startup
In the early years of its formation, the band underwent many line-up changes in which only two original members remained within the group: the founders Alexi Laiho as guitarist and lead vocalist and Jaska Raatikainen as drummer. The current members are Roope Latvala on rhythm guitar and backing vocals, Henkka Seppälä on bass and backing vocals, as well as Janne Wirman on keyboards.
From the beginning, Children of Bodom was not one to follow any mold set by other musicians of its genre. In fact, some music critics call it their musical craze that encompasses dual guitar shredding and keyboard virtuoso, fusing thrash and melodic metal like no other band has ever done before.
However, fans don’t always agree with critics on the band’s genre, sparking a lively debate as to whether the band’s music is speed metal, power metal, neoclassical, or melodic death metal. But for Laiho himself, his music should be considered extreme metal because all other labels are too restrictive in definition.
Boom discography
So far, Children of Bodom has released six albums from 1997 to 2008. These albums with their comments are:
o Something Wild – 1997 version; He was responsible for the European media label for the new kings of the underground metal scene, which must have been the beginning of the Children of Bodom merchandising.
o Hatebreeder – 1999 version; He had 9 tracks that garnered commercial success and critical acclaim around the world, which was due to his fearless push the boundaries of all bad music influences.
o Follow the version of Reaper – 2000; focused more on the band’s songwriting skills with more groovier melodies and hooks but never, ever, compromising the aggressive stance the hate band is known for.
o Death Roll by Hate Crew – Released 2003; is one of the most destructive and overwhelming, musically speaking, among Children of Bodom’s products.
or Are you still dead? – Launch of 2005; the band opted for a dropped C tuning and a reduction of power metal influences.
o Blooddrunk – 2008 release; It’s the band’s best album yet in terms of chart performance (debut at number 22 on the Billboard 200) and it should drive Children of Bodom’s merchandising success, as does the band.
Through all these albums, Children of Bodom’s lyrics almost always focus on themes of personal struggles, death, war, and always a reference to the Lake Bodom murders. Its label of hate band is deserved because the lyrics increasingly deviate towards a violent antagonism against oneself and against others.
What more can you ask for from a metal band? Nothing else except more poisonous hatred, more insane guitar and drum works, and more raucous keyboards as only the Sons of Bodom can provide.