Album Review: Children of Bodom - A Chapter Called Children of Bodom
Reviewed by Liam True
December 29th would be a day which all Children Of Bodom fans wouldn’t think would arrive as early as it did. Aged 41, Alexi Laiho has passed away. Just a year prior, Children Of Bodom had performed their final show in Helsinki titled ‘A Chapter Called Children Of Bodom’. This record is that final show.
Through the roaring of the crowd a rumbling intro tape plays, but due to the crowd overpowering it you can’t even hear it before Bodom explodes into Under Grass And Clover. Janne Wirman’s keyboards rip through the band as the double kick demon Jaska Raatikainen lays waste behind the band. Alexi Laiho has had some trouble with his vocals in some shows, but you wouldn’t even think he had any with his performance on this live output. While the first two tracks, Under Grass And Clover & Platitudes And Barren Words are the only two songs from their 2019 album, Hexed, they still stand toe-to-toe with the classics. In Your Face & Shovel Knockout remain as heavy and breathtaking as they were when they dropped. No hiccups. No stopping unless it’s to interact with the crowd. Just Bodom melting your face and ears.
Bodom Beach Terror stands tall with Raatikainen’s machine gun kicks starting the song as the band rip through it like it’s nothing to them. While Laiho is a phenomenal guitarist in his own right, Daniel Freyberg on the rhythm guitar holds his own against Laiho onstage as they’re both furious on the fretboard. There’s no point even going through the setlist, it’s almost an hour and a half of pure Bodom mayhem. With every albums having an appearance with at least one song. Blooddrunk, I Worship Chaos, Halo Of Blood, all of their albums are represented on the set. While Blooddrunk is played, Done With Everything, Die for Nothing would have been the better track to go with, but that’s the only track I’d have changed. The fact that this is Bodoms last show, and while is was advertised as such, no one would know how true that would ring out. You can’t say this is a great setlist, show and experience to go out on. Hell, on times the crowd are even louder than the band as they scream over the instruments.
Nothing will prepare you for the end. Downfall. Bodoms most known song. As the band tear through it with Laiho’s vocals sounding sharp and the keyboard of Wirman piercing through the twisting guitar assault of Freyberg and Laiho makes it an emotional listen. Wirman & Laiho soloing together toward the end is heart wrenchingly beautiful. As Downfall ends and the crowd roaring fades out, no one will blame you for shedding a tear. It’s the last time Laiho’s live vocals were heard. And with the live album you can feel a part of the experience with Helsinki.
Rest In Power Alexi Laiho. And long live Children Of Bodom.
