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Rating: With "Follow The Reaper," Children Of Bodom seemed to have embarked on an experimental path a bit too soon for the wishes of the fans, who were literally addicted to the masterpiece "Hatebreeder."
In 2002, however, "Hate Crew Deathroll" was released, which indeed represents a reversal in trend compared to the Power-Death metal of the early albums, but in my opinion, in terms of songwriting, we are faced with another masterpiece. Generally, the album presents a leaning towards Thrash concerning guitar rhythms, while Wirman's keyboards alternate between Black bases in the style of "Something Wild" and the usual ultra-fast improvisations very close to the "green" album.
The CD thus opens with "Needled 24/7," a track dominated by a continuous and furious double bass drum, noteworthy also is the keyboard work, which at some points seems close to Industrial; the chorus is phenomenal. "Sixpounder" presents itself with a decidedly Nu-metal riff (something I don't see as negative, contrary to many people who write about metal on this site), making it the heaviest song on the album. "Chokehold (Cocked’n’Loaded)" takes COB towards a Death metal strangely pure for their standards. The next track "Bodom Beach Terror" brings us back to the Black atmospheres of "Something Wild" and the genuine malevolence that marked COB's debut. "Angels Don’t Kill" is probably the most inspired track on the album, featuring a dark and grinding riff interspersed with more airy parts that are very Heavy until the central part, where Alexi flies on his guitar's keyboard and then, together with Janne Wirman, performs one of those "Hatebreeder"-like riffs that few can match in evoking emotion.
The following two tracks "Triple Corpse Hammerblow" and "Better Off Dead" perhaps best embody the innovations of this album: heavy riffs between Thrash and Nu and a more intense drumming than usual, countered by decidedly Power keyboard solos. So is the next track, which reminds me of the first one. We arrive at the title track: the start reminiscent of "Bed Of Razors" (Hatebreeder) should not fool us, because we are facing the most Thrash and least melodic piece of the record. It concludes with a nice cover of "Silent Scream" (Slayer).
In my opinion, the most exciting album from COB. Without a doubt, the best remains "Hatebreeder," but this demonstrates that the five Finns rock big time even when they don't focus solely on melody and exasperated technique, but indeed, they try to evoke emotions with their music.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Needled 24/7 (04:08)
Since day one I've been crass and far beyond.
I couldn't laugh, I couldn't cry...
Before you gauge me, take a look at yourself.
Condescending, outlivin' in a lie..
Despite all the pain in my heart grinding through,
It ain't due that you hate that I hate what you do
Despite all the piety you've been consuming thus far,
A backstabbing motherfucker to the bone is what you are
And everyday when the knife in my back starts to twinge n' turn,
My eyes are catching fire and my heart starts to burn.
A foot away from you is like a bit closer to heaven,
Then again it's like being needled 24/7
You look down to me to see the scum of the earth to be.
Fuck you , that's me, vile and obscene.
I ain't happy about it but at least I don't judge and decree
to be better than another human being.
And everyday when the knife in my back starts to twinge n' turn,
My eyes are catching fire and my heart starts to burn.
A foot away from you is like a bit closer to heaven,
Then again it's like being needled 24/7
Despite all the piety you've been consuming thus far,
Hey, would somebody tell me what the fuck is going on?
And everyday when the knife in my back starts to twinge n' turn,
My eyes are catching fire and my heart starts to burn.
A foot away from you is like a bit closer to heaven,
Then again it's like being needled 24/7
Yahoo yahoo yahoo
"Death?
What do you know about death...?"
02 Sixpounder (03:24)
Can you say what you can't do
In darkness of the eyes
The wrecking voice stain mirror
Awaiting the first sixpounder
I wanna show you battle
That's how the pain really is
A little piss to bring you down
Like a spark resist you
Pounder!
War!
I refuse to be brought down by you
Praise is far away from what you do
Not only are you cranking up my rage
I'm ready to blow you away...666 (pounder)
Hey, what you said, that darkest time
I try to live all right
Little bits remain from you
That you try to persuade me by
Load the sixpounder!
Can you say what you can't do?
In darkness of the eyes
A little piss, to bring you down
Like a spark resist you
Pounder!
War!
War!
I refuse to be brought down by you
Praise is far away from what you do
Not only are you cranking up my rage
I'm ready to blow you away...666
03 Chokehold (Cocked 'n' Loaded) (04:12)
Minefield is called the place I'm living in,
Carefully watching each and every step I take
Bright white straight jacket chokes me off
My eyes are tired...
I... feel the cold steel on my forehead
Like... binding pleasure of being dead
Downward future! I descend...
Counterblast!
And chokehold til' the end...
I'm flushed like the booze I hammer down,
like a piece of trash to be kicked all around.
When would be a time for a better day?
My cocked 'n' loaded soulmate leads the way
06 Triple Corpse Hammerblow (04:06)
Like I said, I'm ready to go
Ease my pain desire
Last night I begged to god
Light my heart to fire
Let me pour some taste down
See my last silent pain desire
Let me take a last breath
Before I saw, blind my eyes
Triple corpse hammerblow
Triple corpse hammerblow
Don't push me...
Don't push me...
Don't push me!
Let it trust my great vow
Life goes away faster
Let it trust the meaning
Like life it was way before
Move away the blow out
Like it was by silent Bodom
The way it feels, like it feel before
How you feel, feel before!
Triple corpse hammerblow
Don't push me...
Don't push me...
Don't push me!
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Other reviews
By AR (Anonima Recensori)
"Angels Don’t Kill, an absolutely delightful track that shows how COB don’t need to go all out to create great songs."
"Hate Crew Deathroll once again demonstrates how the band does not want to remain the same as in the beginning, adding features to each album that make the records even more enjoyable to listen to."
