One of Finland’s biggest Metal bands ever, Children of Bodom’s story is one worth reflecting on. Started in 1993 by Guitarist Alexi “Wildchild” Laiho and Drummer Jaska Raatikainen under the name of Inearthed, the band would create a ground swell of interest in the underground Metal scene as Children of Bodom. A buzz that began with 1997’s Something Wild, it quickly became apparent that this band were fusing various genres from traditional Heavy Metal to Black and Death Metal all in one insane package. The kicker, there was also classically influenced instrumentation dazzling before your ears with guitar work from Laiho and Janne Wirman on keyboards. At the time only kids themselves, they would follow up massively in 1999 with Hatebreeder, 2000’s Follow the Reaper, and 2003’s Hate Crew Deathroll. Then moving forward in 2005 with Are You Dead Yet?, Children of Bodom struck it big and became more than underground… they were international Metal stars.
An amazing tale, they kept going strong through to their final album in 2019, Hexed. Decided to be the last album as Children of Bodom due to creative differences, the current members went their separate ways onto other projects; this is while Laiho would launch a new band called Bodom After Midnight. A sad development for fans, even more tragic was less than a year after Children of Bodom bid farewell, Alexi Laiho had passed on. Shocking to many, he was gone at only 41 years old, however, not before leaving behind a legacy that will live on in the Metal world forever.
Now nearly 3 years since Laiho’s death, Children of Bodom’s music is celebrated with the release of the live album A Chapter Called Children of Bodom – The Final Show in Helsinki Ice Hall 2019. Captured on December 15, 2019 at the Helsinki Ice Hall in Finland, prior to the night, it was already predetermined it would be the final performance ever for Alexi Laiho, Henkka Seppälä, Janne Wirman, Jaska Raatikainen, and Daniel Freyberg as Children of Bodom. Something that weighed heavy on the hearts of fans who were in attendance, it could have only felt even more pronounced with Laiho now gone.
That in mind, longtime Children of Bodom label Spinefarm Records offers fans this final show on December 15, 2023. Available to stream, or purchase on CD or vinyl, this live album consists of the 18-song set that began with “Under Glass and Clove” and dramatically concluded with “Downfall.” Nothing less than spectacular for Bodom fans, the selections were well plotted as a final show; featuring everything from “In Your Face” to “Everytime I Die,” as well as “Follow the Reaper” and “Deadnight Warrior.” With so much in-between, the performance truly encapsulates 25 years of the band that spanned over 10 albums… plus it all sounds as tight and right-on as ever.
A great live record, removing yourself from the equation, you have to also consider how emotional this performance had to be for members of the band knowing very well this was their final curtain call. Were they nervous? What thoughts were going through their heads, and what emotions were they feeling? Well, that is all documented in the output they gave on each of these songs. A bittersweet end for Children of Bodom, but one that will keep you coming back for future listens, Cryptic Rock gives A Chapter Called Children of Bodom – The Final Show in Helsinki Ice Hall 2019 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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