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Although I have been following this site for a long time, only today did I decide to register and start posting comments, reviews, rankings, etc. This is my first review: I hope you'll be lenient with me and that you can give me various tips to use in the future. But without further ado, here's the review!
The record in question is "Something Wild," the first LP dated 1997 from the Finnish band Children of Bodom. The 5 members of the group, at the time just eighteen years old, led by Alexi Laiho, released an album of short duration (just 36 minutes), but very violent.
As soon as we press the play button, we hear thunder and a malevolent laugh; and after a minute the music starts, immediately making things clear: there's no joking around here. The track in question is "Deadnight Warrior," in my opinion the worst of the bunch, as it never really inspired 'violence' in me.
However, already with the next one, the quality level rises significantly: "In The Shadows" is a 6-minute mini-suite where the neo-classical influences are already felt, especially in Wirman's keyboards, combined with death metal. Excellent here is the work done by the bass and the rhythm guitar, which strongly support the 6 minutes and beyond of the song.
The following are wonderful: "Red Light In My Eyes, Pt. 1" and "Red Light In My Eyes, Pt. 2" are the songs where the neo-classical influences are most felt: the intro of the first is taken from "Invention No. 13" by J.S. Bach; while the intro of the second is from "Symphony No. 25" and later we can hear the 'Confutatis' from the "Requiem," both compositions by W.A. Mozart. Skillful here is the blending of these melodies with the harshness of the tracks, at times truly violent (in 'Pt. 1' the blast beat is used). The result is truly curious and intriguing.
The fifth track is the most famous of the album, and also the most melodic, as we can guess from the intro: "Lake Bodom" conceptually summarizes the entire album, and I find it perfect for introducing the band to a newcomer of the Espoo quintet. It feels like breathing the air of death from that cursed lake a few kilometers from Espoo, where a gruesome massacre took place.
The next song is my favorite of the band: "The Nail" is also a mini-suite of over 6 minutes where Alexi and company showcase all their skill and talent. The intro is curious: the sounds heard come from the famous horror film "Nightmare," while the words come from "Ben Hur." Of course, classical music can't be missing here either, as this time the superb ''Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565'' by the master J.S. Bach is used; while for 5 minutes the group creates apocalyptic and devastating atmospheres, drawing from their entire repertoire; memorable are the fast gallops throughout the song, and Alexi's final sweeps.
The seventh and final track of the LP is "Touch Like Angela Of Death," the only one with lyrics in the booklet. The keyboard still takes center stage, in a whirlwind of notes and bell sounds. A particularity of the song is that it contains a ghost track: after a few minutes of silence, we can hear some simple yet evocative keyboard phrases, played by Alexi and Alexander drunk in the studio.
In conclusion, I can say that this is undoubtedly my favorite album by the Finnish band. The only note of regret is the fact that from the next LP onwards, the neo-classical influences disappear, making way for a more 'Iron Maiden-like' sound. The drums do their dirty work as you can see, the bass and rhythm guitar support the whole work excellently, the keyboard and lead guitar unleash all their skill to create perfect solos; and sudden silences of the other instruments in which only the keyboard is heard (the entire album is filled with these moments). A downside is Alexi's voice, which is annoying at certain points.
The lineup that composed the album is as follows:
-Alexi Laiho (vocals, lead guitar);
-Alexander Kuoppala (rhythm guitar);
-Janne Wirman (keyboards);
-Henkka Blacksmith Seppala (bass);
-Jaska Raatikainen (drums).
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Deadnight Warrior (03:21)
Before the Daylight falls to rest,
into shadows,
Soon I'll be on a black-night trip,
I'll fly across the sky.
It's not a lonely flight,
This one'll be black,
The death lies always in the sky,
It reflect hatred in my eyes.
[Keyboard stuff]
If the daylight dies, the Shadow's are falling on me.
Then I'll be at your side,
Always in the moonlight shadow,
I can't get out,
Lost in time for eternity.
[Lead part]
You're the guard of the dead ones,
In the night I'll find you to drink your blood,
You're the Dead night's fresh meat in my arms,
The dead by night's close by!
Don't wake it up, call my name, it's death!
Set them all on a trip of pain,
I can't wait!
[Kick ass solo!]
[After solo this part comes again]
It's such a lonely flight,
This one'll be black,
The death lies always in the sky,
It reflect hatred in my eyes.
It is such a pain to allow, -???
being hard to wound, -???
Always in the moonlight shadow [echo: shadow],
I can't get out!
06 The Nail (06:17)
While cutting their shadows, kill them into the dark trough
Black is all the way, furious never-ending darkness show
Only way could be hard in their small and human nation
I kill the first man, getting by death, we are God, through death
Go, get up... victims that died
Waiting for death, I should cry
Take the farther off to cut your means,
listening up for afraid by means,
They showed laughing me for my heart
So they wake up these scythes, following me,
cold wind blow out, now to go,
Let it go again with the scythes
(Something wild!)
It`s got the light, blow it out within you
Never let the best shot come from fucking Avalon, that`s the one
Time to feel my spirit... I gathered my souls
Beat my night to kill them into my sin (doom... get up!)
Well go, get up... victims that died
Waiting for death, I should cry
(Laughter)
I can`t wait to for my heart...
I can`t get up, shadows... down (can't get up!)
Set them along, time is right, far too along...
they wake me up (wake me up!)
07 Touch Like Angel of Death (07:46)
a glance to my eyes, deep within reveals
this worn-out warrior's mind
i'm killing you by suffering
discomposure of a deepest kind
in the night i crave to feel your breath
and your touch like angel of death
in the dawn i'm in chains of beastial rage
and forced to make you dead
the chains get tighter around my throat
i can give you no love, only dead-lift of pain
in the dusk of evening i tuck you up with feather
forever i'll stand by your side
in the twilight of night i'm laughing
while cutting you hundred and thirteen times
can't you see i am evil, double-edged razor
child of eternal hate.
to torment you like a motherfuckin-whore
i'll make you cry forever more
i'd crawl through broken glass to you...
and your name is written in my very flesh
with the knife i'm still longing to use
in the night i crave to feel your breath
and your touch like angel of death
in the dawni'm in chains of bestial rage
and forced to make you dead
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Other reviews
By wwwhatemoornet
Great CD, violent, angry, and enhanced by Alexi Lahio’s virtuosity, growl similar to Popeye’s voice, and the great Janne Warmann: a great duo of neoclassical inspiration.
Alexi Lahio spits solos and sweeps as if it were normal, supported and doubled by the immense keyboardist Janne Warmann.
