Children Of Bodom: Halo Of Blood – new album

 

They are partially responsible for this blog's ridiculous web address, they are CHILDREN OF BODOM. Their new and eight album, ‘Halo Of Blood’, is out now, June 7th, 2013, in Europe on Nuclear Blast Records; it will be released on June 10th in UK and on June 11th in North America. Described as “technically dazzling” by New York Times and “phenomenal” by Decibel Magazine, ‘Halo Of Blood’ was recorded at the band's Danger Johnny Studios in (“a top secret, undisclosed location in Helsinki”,)Finland with recording engineer Mikko Karmila and with Swedish producer Peter Tägtgren (of HYPOCRISY and PAIN) who oversaw production of both vocals and keyboards. The album was mixed at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki and its art created by Sami Saramaki. For behind the scenes stuff visit YouTube here, here and here, do watch COB's new video ‘Transference’ below, where you’ll find highly enjoyable title-track as well, and buy the record here (Nuclear Blast Europe), here (Nuclear Blast USA), on Amazon or on iTunes:

[Having been himself through quite a lot lately, CHILDREN OF BODOM's mastermind Alexi Laiho cautiously stated:] “Believe it or not, but we’ve managed to keep it fresh and new while still maintaining the elements that make COB's sound recognizable. Lyric-wise, ‘Halo Of Blood’ comprises topics we’ve never dealt with before. Whether you enjoy it with a beer or a glass of water, I’m sure you’ll have a blast!”

 

Formed in Espoo, Finland in 1993 by guitarist Alexi Laiho, also known as “Wildchild”, and drummer Jaska Raatikainen, CHILDREN OF BODOM's name relates to one of Finland's greatest and yet unsolved murder mysteries - the murders at the Lake Bodom. (In 1960s four teenagers went camping at the lake and three of them got butchered by axe-murderer and thrown into the lake.) With the lineup straightened with guitarist Alexander Kuoppala (whom Raatikainen reportedly met while playing French horn at a local big band where Kuoppala played a trumpet) and bassist Henkka “Blacksmith” Seppälä, CHILDREN OF BODOM recorded three demos, none of which allegedly made much of an impression. Undeterred, the band recorded an independent, self-financed album ‘Something Wild’ with keyboardist (and jazz pianist) Janne “Warman” Wirman. 1997's ‘Something Wild’ brought about the attention of Spinefarm Records as well as listeners and critics who marveled at the bandmembers' technical abilities. Following the band's grueling European tour, they next recorded 1999's ‘Hatebreeder’ and 2000's ‘Follow The Reaper’ (whom they seem to be following still, thirteen years later). In 2003, CHILDREN OF BODOM issued their fourth LP ‘Hate Crew Deathroll’, they were named Finnish Band of the Year at the Finnish Music Awards, and they embarked on their first world tour which resulted in Kuoppala's unexpected departure from the band. ‘Are You Dead Yet?’ arrived in 2005, “showing the quintet plowing full steam ahead, as the venom continues to bubble to the surface throughout” (Greg Prato, AllMusic – more here), pawing way for 2008's ‘Blooddrunk’ which apparently went Gold in Finland based on anticipation alone (“Boy, whoever thought that technical metal was dead as a doornail during the mid- to late '90s has been proven dead wrong,” wrote Greg Prato, AllMusic – more here). COB's seventh album ‘Relentless Reckless Forever’ came next in 2011, conquering the Finnish Albums Chart, entering the Germany's Album Chart at position number 20, and peaking at position number 42 on the Billboard Top 200:

“Ask heavy metal detractors what rubs them the wrong way the most about the genre, and one possible reason could be that, more often than not, metallists take themselves way too seriously. But that can’t be said about CHILDREN OF BODOM who have shown their lighter side when it comes to their knack for selecting cover tunes over the years (Britney Spears, Kenny Rogers, etc.) …  Throughout the album, you’ll endure a blitzkrieg of vicious yet tricky guitar riffs and solos, while “singer” Alexi Laiho knows only two ways to deliver a vocal line - growl and/or shout. But it’s not all pedal to the metal from beginning to end, at least from a musical standpoint - for every ferocious rocker (the album-opening ‘Not My Funeral’) there is a breather (‘Roundtrip To Hell And Back’) … Front to back, ‘Relentless Reckless Forever’ is probably the most consistent CHILDREN OF BODOM release yet,” [wrote Greg Prato, AllMusic – more here]

CHILDREN OF BODOM features: Jaska Raatikainen - drums, Alexi Laiho - vocals and guitar, Roope Latvala - guitar, Janne Wirman - keyboards and Henkka Seppälä on bass