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Children Of Bodom: Hatebreeder

07/09/09 || Smalley

Depending on who you talk to, Children Of Bodom is either a joke of a band that inexplicably won some respect in the metal world, or some of the most awesome, ass-kickingest shredders ever. Well, I say they’re both right; no matter how much of a self-parody Bodom’s become through their last three albums, the first three remain strong examples of their… watchamacallit style. That melodeath/black/power/thrash metal thing they got going on or whatever. But even on the early records, I still laugh at them sometimes; I mean, the keyboarding? Alexi Laiho’s vocals? The one-dimensionally hate and death-obsessed lyrics? So, CoB were always a ridiculous band, but a very skilled one once, not just with their instruments, but with their songwriting as well (the lame writing since “Follow the reaper” is how they’ve become a self-parody), and Bodom reached the peak of both skills with “Hatebreeder”.

“Warheart” begins with a short sample from Amadeus, then takes off into hyperactive drumming and guitarwork (especially with the lead guitar), somewhat cheesy, over the top keyboarding from Jane Warman, and, as I like to call it, Alexi’s browling vocals (i.e. bratty growling). No kidding, he sounds like if a two year old in the middle of a tantrum could suddenly do harsh vox, and that, plus the other elements of Bodom’s sound, help me understand why this band pisses off some metalheads so badly. Still, it’s those same elements that make Bodom unique, and help me to enjoy their good stuff much more than I would otherwise, so “Warheart” remains an extremely energetic, entertaining song, with eight more left on the album as well. “Silent night, Bodom night” is a significant step up (the songwriting’s even better), and is my very favorite song by CoB, and while everything else on “Hatebreeder” doesn’t break from the basic template set by “Warheart”, it’s all still very, very good stuff.

But, while the album’s unrelenting energy level does get a little tiresome, and almost makes me want to pause it to take a mental breather, the music Bodom created here is more than good enough for me to put the kibosh on that, and keep on tearing through the record. I guess “Hatebreeder” is sorta like Pringles; once you pop, (assuming you like CoB) you don’t stop! The lead guitar work is always coming fast and thick here, but actually works within the overall songwriting, and avoids descending into look-at-me wankery (unlike many songs Bodom’s made lately), and there’s also many synergetic moments between the solos and the awesome keyboarding (the latter even takes some influence from classic Mozart pieces), so that definitely helps the album out a lot. As for the drumming, it never gets obscured underneath everything else that’s going on, with its nice, heavy sound given by the production job, and plenty of intensity in its basic performance as well, so my praises for Jaska on that.

Again, while I understand why Bodom’s sound and aforementioned, watchamacallit style annoys and turns off so many metalheads, those out there who can enjoy this band have a uniquely great album waiting for them in “Hatebreeder”, so, both current and not-yet Bodom fans, how about we enjoy an old, great record together, shall we?

Information
Released: 1999
Label: Spinefarm/Nuclear Blast
Website: www.cobhc.com
Band
Alexi Laiho: vocals, lead guitar
Alexander Kuoppala: rhythm guitar
Henkka T. Blacksmith: bass
Janne Warman: keyboards
Jaska W. Raatikainen: drums

Tracklist
01. Warheart
02. Silent Night, Bodom Night
03. Hatebreeder
04. Bed of Razors
05. Towards Dead End
06. Black Widow
07. Wrath Within
08. Children Of Bodom
09. Downfall
10. No Commands
11. Aces High

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