Published on Dec 18, 2003
Once again, the young prodigies from the icy grim forests of
Finland release a solid metal album.
This release (Bodom’s third) would be the one to bring them into
the limelight of the “melodic death metal” genre (I personally hate
that title, “melodic death metal” is an oxymoron). But regardless
of names, this is a very interesting hybrid. Combining the usual
death metal recipe (shredding guitars, blood-curdling vocals) with
speeding, poppy keyboards makes for a very enjoyable listen.
The album kicks off with the ominous reciting of one of John
Donne’s Holy Sonnets: “Death be not proud. Though some have called
thee mighty and dreadful, for, thou art not so.” As soon as those
words are spoken, Alexi Laiho (the band’s frontman) leads off with
a ferocious riff, with his amazing voice following suit. The rest
of the album’s tracks follow a similar pattern, but are heavy and
“cool” enough to keep one interested. The talent of this band is
simply amazing, especially considering that they’re all in their
early-to-mid 20s.
Now, despite all the great things I’ve said about this album,
it’s not without its flaws (though there are very few albums that
are perfectly flawless, n’est-ce pas?). Right after the rocking
song “Children of Decadence,” we go into the semi-ballad “Everytime
I Die,” which just doesn’t seem to flow too well. Also, right after
the grandiose “Hate Me!” we have “Northern Comfort,” which just
seems to be non-existent. Also, “Taste of My Scythe,” though
featuring an exciting intro, ends up going flat. Other than those
three, the rest of the songs simply rule, especially the finale,
covering W.A.S.P.’s “Hellion” as a tribute to the metal gods
themselves.
Now I sit here looking at the CD, squealing with delight (it’s
signed by Alexi Laiho himself) and I just can’t get enough of it.
Though it may not be the greatest album ever conceived by man, once
you listen to it, you just can’t stop, and soon it’ll have a
permanent spot in your CD player. For any fans of death metal or
excellent guitar-playing, or new-comers looking to expand their
tastes, I recommend this album.