Children Of Bodom
Hatebreeder

THE REVIEW

The second album by the Finnish band and (it must be said) the second masterpiece by the five children of Bodom. If the first "Something Wild" is the best calling card a band can present to the world, this "Hatebreeder" is the definitive consecration of one of the most innovative groups in the Metal scene. The genius of singer/guitarist Alexi Laiho is manifested in all its splendor, the compositions become more imposing and majestic compared to those of the previous album, even though the musicians' technique is favored over the violence of the music.

The "monument to baroque violence", as I like to call this album, begins with a bang with the captivating track "Warheart", which introduces us to the first song to be passed down to the metalheads of tomorrow, "Silent Night, Bodom Night", where the great Laiho and keyboardist Janne Warman engage in a race to the fastest note, at the end of which they reach the finish line together. The album continues with another great track, "Bed Of Razors", whose neoclassical atmospheres, backed by a beautiful harpsichord effect from Warman, seem to transport the listener to a reality of another time. "Toward Dead End" and "Children Of Bodom" are the other two tracks where the Finns achieve high peaks in technique and composition. But here is the masterpiece within the masterpiece, "Downfall", the otherworldly elevation and grandeur of Laiho and company concentrated in just under five minutes of pure ecstasy.

An album like few others and unfortunately perhaps one of the last jewels that Children Of Bodom will be able to give us. Unfortunately, history often does not repeat itself.