Band: Children Of Bodom

Title: Blooddrunk

Label: Spinefarm Records

Distribution: Universal Records

Release date: May 2008

Review: CD

Even though Children Of Bodom might be one of the most important bands in the Finnish extreme Metal scene (they did inspire so many other young bands), they didn't always stand for the highest quality in musical performance. Since their early years, this formation created some mixture of heavy Metal with melody (very, very Finnish, so clearly Finnish) and an easy-listening feeling (meaning: at least for the heavier scene). Their combination of Heavy, Black, Thrash, Death, Folk and Traditional Metal has always been a winner for a huge scene, and I'm sure Blooddrunk will continue this path. For forty minutes, pretty fast and intense Metal gets combined with atmospheric and / or orchestral keyboard lines, Folk-tunes, long, experienced guitar solos and many tempo-changes. Especially those solos do annoy me (yet that's only my personal opinion): again and again, the band tries to convince me how skilled they are - and maybe they are (or better: I'm sure these guys do know what they are doing and they do know how to handle their instruments) - yet enough is enough. Also the typical Suomi-approach (keyboard-wise, yet also the compositions, riffs, vocal arrangements, …) might bother some. So many bands from Finland do play this kind of ‘poppy' Metal and Children Of Bodom may be one of the protagonists, yet I'm waiting for something new / renewing in this case. Only Catamenia can please me when it comes to this scene, Children Of Bodom does not (anymore). Anyway, on the other hand I'm sure there is an audience, probably a big one, that will adore Blooddrunk , so forgive (and forget) my litany.

70/100

Ivan Tibos.