Children of Bodom- Are You Dead Yet?

If you like your metal heavy, fast and a touch black, and you’ve not heard of Children of Bodom, then I suggest you check them out. Named after a trio of unsolved murders in the homeland of Finland, CoB blend tight, aggressive riffs, with a harsh vocal delivery, courtesy of their singer / guitarist Alexi ‘Wildchild’ Laiho.

Their fourth album, ‘Are You Dead Yet’, sits well within the metalcore / extreme metal genre, but is lifted above the scene norms with a real sense of melody and the imaginative use of synth parts. There is also a definite European feel to the sound, which distinguishes them from their more polished American counterparts.

Album highlights are the single, ‘In Your Face’, which has enough hooks in to give the band some mainstream success, and the title track, ‘Are You Dead Yet?’ which showcases the more melodic side of the band.

Each CoB album has at least one song related to the murders after which the band is named, and this album sticks with tradition, featuring ‘Bastards of Bodom’, a threatening tale of the reaper and his scythe.

Low point of the album would have to be the cover of Billy Idol’s ‘Rebel Yell’, which does not really deviate from the original enough to be worthwhile. Covers are a something of a tradition with CoB though, so perhaps the album isn’t complete without one?

All in all though, an accomplished slab of extreme metal - Children of Bodom certainly aren’t dead yet!

Artist Website/contact - www.cobhc.com