Up next on the chopping block is a band that I’ve kinda been meaning to review for some time but just never got around to it. Now when I think of bands from Finland, usually it’s either the band H.I.M. or Children Of Bodom. Of course since I am not a fan of H.I.M. the band up on the chopping block is Bodom. So let’s take a look………
Something Wild- ok so right out the gate, we get an album that actually doesn’t sound like it was produced on a low budget. In fact, this album is starts off strong and stays that way throughout. Alexi’s vocals sound great and well I shouldn’t have to tell you how great the guitar work is on here. Anyway, a great start and it gets 9.5/10
Standouts: Deadnight Warrior, The Nail, Lake Bodom
Hatebreeder- ok seriously if you thought the first album was great, this one definitely tops that. You know how some debut albums are not as good as the next? Yeah that’s not the case here. This one further shows how great of a shredder Alexi Laiho is. I will say that some of the keyboard parts do sound like they could be on an old school Nintendo game. I also remember when I saw them open for Slayer in Long Beach, they opened with Silent Night Bodom Night. Anyway, another great record and it gets 10/10
Standouts: Silent Night Bodom Night, Children Of Bodom, Hatebreeder
Follow The Reaper- boy these guys are on a roll here. I’ve got to say it’s rare to find many bands where they have three great records in a row but here we are. This one continues where the last record left off and there isn’t a whole lot to say about this one except that if you are a guitar guy, then you’ll love this record. I will say though that if I were to take one song off, I would get rid of the song Everytime I Die. I give this another 10/10
Standouts: Follow The Reaper, Taste Of My Scythe, Children Of Decadence
Hatecrew Deathroll- alright so this is when I first heard of Children Of Bodom. I remember seeing the video for the song Sixpounder (my favorite Bodom song) on FUSE. Again not a whole lot to say about this one except that if you are going to start getting into these guys I would listen to this or any of the other records I’ve reviewed thus far. One thing I want to point out is that the artwork on this and the last three records are absolutely badass and all seem to compliment one another. I will say that the songs can seem a bit slower in parts but overall, this is just as good as the last three records. I give this one 10/10
Standouts: Sixpounder, Lil’ Bloodred Ridin’ Hood, Hatecrew Deathroll
Are You Dead Yet?- ok so like the song Sixpounder, I remember the video for the title track always being played on Uranium on Fuse. I think I actually went out and bought this record because of it. I will say that this record does hold back slightly on the keyboard parts which is kind of nice. This one actually does seem to have almost a thrash vibe to it for some of the songs. Anyway, another fantastic release and I give it 10/10.
Standouts: If You Want Peace Prepare For War, In Your Face, Next In Line
Blooddrunk- ok so I wasn’t expecting to like this one as much as I thought. And that’s mainly because from what I had heard was that people either like this or hate it. It does seem to continue the same sound that was on Dead Yet so that’s good. I will say it’s not quite as strong as the last record or the previous ones but definitely check this one out. I give it 8/10
Standouts: Hellhounds On My Trail, Smile Pretty For The Devil, Lobodomy
Skeletons In The Closet- (sigh) so here we have a covers album. This album is an example of just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Now obviously they put this out just for fun and in fact a few of these songs are already on previous albums but some of these songs you just have to ask why? An example of this is why on earth did they cover the Brittany Spears song Oops I Did It Again? Seriously it’s not good. I mean check this out if you want to but this is a very hit or miss record for me. I give it 5/10
Standouts: Silent Scream, Aces High, Antisocial
Relentless, Reckless Forever- this one starts off great with the opening song but then gets boring. Fortunately this is probably the shortest record of theirs thus far. I mean the guitar work is great but I don’t know I just found this one to be ok. Like it wasn’t anything special. I give it 6/10
Standouts: Ugly, Not My Funeral, Cry Of The Nihilist
Halo Of Blood- I remember hearing about this one when it came out but never really bothered with it. This is another one of those hit or miss records. I will say that with this record, the keyboards aren’t as in your face as they have been on other albums but overall, this is just an average record for this band. I give it 7/10
Standouts: Your Days Are Numbered, Waste Of Skin, Halo Of Blood
I Worship Chaos- first off I just want to say that I Worship Chaos is a really stupid name for a record. Ok now that that is out of the way, how’s the album itself? Well, it’s fine but nothing special. The songs tend to drag in parts but again the guitar playing is good. Again, this isn’t a bad record but just ok. I give it 6.5/10
Standouts: My Bodom (I Am The Only One), I Worship Chaos
Hexed- again, this is another just ok record. Not sure what’s going on here but the last few releases have been just average. Now they aren’t as bad as the new In Flames records (those are terrible) b7t like the last couple records, I just found myself bored with this one. I’m not gonna go too much into it but just say that this would sadly be the last record we get from CoB. I give this 4/10
Standouts: Hexed
Well I’ve gotta say that when I saw them with Slayer, they put on an amazing show. Alexi Laiho could’ve been Finlands Randy Rhoads and he probably would’ve fit in as one of Ozzy’s guitar players but sadly we will never know. It really is too bad that he passed away because he was such a talented guitar player. I do wish I had seen them more live but I’m glad I saw them when I did.
Final Grade: B-
Album Rankings:
- Follow The Reaper
- Hatecrew Deathroll
- Hatebreeder
- Something Wild
- Are You Dead Yet?
- Blooddrunk
- Halo Of Blood
- Relentless, Reckless Forever
- I Worship Chaos
- Skeletons In The Closet
- Hexed
Sinister Reviews 