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Album Details
- Artist: Children Of Bodom
- Album: Blooddrunk
- Label: Spinefarm / Fontana
- Year of Release: 2008
- ME Rating:
- Reviewed by: solitaryman on 2008-03-18
Media
Banned From Heaven (audio) Med
RecommendReviews are a fine art. You can do it sloppy and get away with it, but most of the time you're called on it. You can take it as seriously as Picasso took his paintings and still fall a little flat, but not for lack of trying. The main point is to get that main point across, however it strikes you to do so at the time. Don't think too much, just let the music do the talking for you. On the same token, don't be afraid to inject some of your own personality into it; that's one big reason for anyone taking the time to read these. What does any of this have to do with CoB's new album, "Blooddrunk?". It has everything to do with it. Kinda.
To be fair, I need to fill this space up with something OTHER than my opinions on "Blooddrunk". Why? Because not much needs to be said. From monster releases like "Hatebreeder" and "Hate Crew Deathroll", the band has emerged into one of today's premiere metal acts worldwide. Their previous jaunt, "Are You Dead Yet?", left many fans wanting more and expecting less the next time around. But all it takes is one listen to "Taste of my Scythe" or "Needled 24/7" to remember why so many of us love Children of Bodom. It was with mixed amounts of anticipation and dread I dove into "Blooddrunk", and I knew, shortly through intro and barnburner deluxe "Hellbounds on my Trail" that I only needed bring the former.
This is the metal album that I will judge all others this year next to. Not only is it superior to "Are You Dead Yet?" in all respects, it's damn near the best album they've done yet. Seriously, they hit each song just right, all of them offering up big, thrashy riffs, those beloved keyboard themes and, of course, the guitar wizardry and vocal insanity of Alexi Laiho, who's more in form after a scary shoulder injury last year than he's been his whole career; the solos are tighter, more innovative and...believe it or not...his vocals are really good! Still a bit monotonous, but he tries his best to vary them to fit the moods of the songs, and it shows big dividends.
I could have summed all this up by saying "Metal fans, you must own Blooddrunk". A totally true statement, by the way. But we all enjoy a little self-indulgement, don't we? And that's what this album comes to represent, to me. Indulging oneself in one's own rage, becoming, as the title suggests, intoxicated on your own power. Each of these 9 incredible songs shows you, in various ways, just how much power Children of Bodom have bottled up.
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Log In or Register to Rate Albumson 2008-03-14 deadveal Said:
Yeah ! You won't be disapointed with this album.
Rock on !
Rating: 10/10
on 2008-03-14 dscanland Said:
Dude, that's awesome! I'm trying to get my hands on a copy still. Checking out their Myspace player right now. I'm definitely excited!
Not Rated
Review:
on 2008-03-14 deadveal Said:
CoB are back with their 6th effort called Blooddrunk ! I'll now explain why I gave it a big 90%.
Hellhounds on my trail : This song kicks in with a traditionnal CoB intro with hits and an orchestra hit sound on the keyboard. The guitar sound is very clear and agressive. The drums are tuned fuckin well ( I play drums) and Jaska has really good drumming ideas on this effort. Melodically, they've tried new things, like a flat 2nd chord and unusual modulations (I.E. in the chorus). The song structure is really cool and the ending is really like a punch in the face !
Blooddrunk : The title track has a lot to give ! A 4/4 (or 12/8) triplet-feel with great riffs going away from the Cm scale and borrowing to the Blues scale. The solos in this song are really great ! Warman repeats a lick twice in the beginning of his solo, wich is cool cuz you remember it more easily (catchy). Also that part in the middle of the song with syncopated rythms (guitars/bass/snare drum) is a really good rythmic idea ! well done !
Lobodomy : That song seems a bit messy at the first listen but the more you listen to it, the more you understand what's being played and what are the harmonies and the time signature. Highlight of this song is the part with the hits near the end ! great !
One day you will cry : A great keyboard intro followed by a riff and hits (I love hits :P) . The riff in the verses is really cool cuz it's very surprising melodically. You have to hear it ! Also, the solos in this song are simply MIND-BLOWING ! Nice sweep picking from Alexi and nice blues-pentatonic scales from Warman !
Smile pretty for the devil : This has to be the song that looks the most like older CoB. It really feels like a song from Follow the Reaper. There's actually a part that looks like that part in Follow the Reaper (the song) where you can hear a guitar melody harmonized with the other guitar and the keyboard. This song has great melodies, really !
Tie my rope : A very thrashy song with cool strings sound ! The bridge is really nice : you can hear a very cool keys/guitar melody that modulates with a nice sus4 arpeggio at the end ! Amazing song !
Done with everything, die for nothing : This song reminds me of Next in line. Very cool 2guitars riffs at the beginning (after the HITS and the thrashy riff). The chord progression of the chorus is very cool ! Very dark song. Really cool and fast melodies ! The solos are amazing as always
Banned from heaven : The slow song of the album. A very simple melodies with chords in Cm under it. Suddenly comes a Dm chord wich makes it sound really cool (the melody plays a A and not a Ab like in Cm). However, compared to Everytime I Die and Angels Don't Kill, it's a bit faster and has more double-bass drumming. Really intense song ! Good headbanger.
Roadkill morning : This song is without a doubt the most agressive song of the album. It starts right in with everyone playing. This song has a very cool pre-chorus with cool rythms. The solos are very impressive also ! The chord progression under the solos remind me of old-school thrash metal. At the end, there's some hits (yeah !) and the middle one is a Major third above the fundamental chord, wich is pretty surprising because you don't have that E in Cm you have a Eb and that's what makes it so surprising !
So....this album is REALLY good ! To those who say that this album is not as complicated as, let's say HATEBREEDER, well it's the complete opposite ! Just cuz there's some fast keys/guitar melodies with plain powerchords under it doesn't mean it's complicated. This album is way more technically and musically advanced than Hatebreeder. I love HB but this album proves to me that CoB has evolved. Very very cool rythmic and melodic ideas !
Highlights of the album : Hellhounds on my trail, Blooddrunk, Smile pretty for the devil, Tie my rope, Done with everything
Rating: 10/10
