Children of Bodom – Hate Crew Deathroll
Chidren of Bodom is one of those bands that has been laboring along with worldwide success acting as their magic carpet, but I’ve done very little to keep up with them due to overblown guitar wankery and their general upholding of the rules maintained by popular modern metal. The guitar work on this is definitely impressive and the crisp riff work, though very Gothenburg in style, does get my head nodding on occasion, but when the virtuoso guitar solos and equally annoying synth accompaniment come in, my interest is turned off like a light switch. Main man and axe slinger Alexi Laiho evidentally feels that his ego is too large to be contained to just playing guitar, so he’s on the mic as well, belting out a sterile scream that’s as dry as a popcorn fart. A more unique singer and less synth noodling would help this band get the job done so much more effectively. As it stands, there are some good riff ideas on display here, but Children of Bodom have yet to win me over in thinking that they are anything more than yet another interchangeable band in a scene full of imposters – Marty
CENTURY MEDIA
Worm Gear 