To review a band who’s material I’ve never heard and know very little about isn’t easy, first stop, www.childrenofbodom.com and I go straight to the bio section. And I’ll quote a couple of lines from the opening paragraph,” has gone from being this amazing band from Finland, to being a household name on the metal scene. And that, of course, is obvious given the intensity, sheer quality of their material and the flawless execution. Make no mistake, CHILDREN OF BODOM do not play around, they are here to kill!” And I’ll be honest, they ‘aren’t kidding. “Are You Dead Yet?” is quite possibly perfect, which is a broad claim, but easily backed up. 

A whole range of bands comes to mind as soon as you here the album, but COB aren’t copying anyone. They taken the intensity of someone like Arch Enemy, but lifted a dark shroud by adding keyboard. Mixed with a staccato, Pantera/Machine Head-like punch, some scorching lead guitar and a vocalist whose voice just bleeds hatred, and the result is brutal. 

“Living Dead Beat” opens the album at a fairly furious pace and sets the tone. Initially, I was a little dubious about how the keyboard angle would fit with the detuned ferocity, but in truth it adds a haunting quality without softening the overall “hate” mentality. The addition of some Malmsteenesque moments when the keys and guitar double up on solos adds a different dimension and I’m so glad that solo’s are cool again. To an old timer like me, guitar/keyboard solos just seem to complete a track.  

“In Your Face”, “Next In Line”, “Bastards Of Bodom” and the title track stand out, but to find fault with any track is difficult. Purists might have a problem with the keyboards, but the polish that it puts on the album only seems to enhance the overall intensity. With nine tracks collectively weighing in at just under forty minutes, the album smacks of the “get in, hit ‘em hard and get out” mentality and works well on all levels. The musicianship is faultless, each track stands on it’s own merit and the production quality is immense. Children Of Bodom make some broad claims in their website biography and on the basis of “Are You Dead Yet?” I can’t disagree with any of it. Top band, top album.

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Track List

Living Dead Beat
Are You Dead Yet
If You Want Peace... Prepare for War
Punch Me I Bleed
In Your Face
Next In Line
Bastards Of Bodom
Trashed Lost And Strung Out
We're Not Gonna Fall

Line Up

Jaska Raatikainen - Drums
Janne Warman - Keyboards
Alexi Laiho - Guitars/vocals
Henkka T. Blacksmith - Bass
Ale Kuoppala - Guitar