Band Photo: Children of Bodom
Formed: 1993
From:
Helsinki,
Finland
Last Known Status: Active
Background
Children of Bodom was bred in spring 1993 when guitarist Alexi Laiho (Sinergy, Kylähullut, ex-Impaled Nazarene, Thy Serpent, Norther) and drummer Jaska Raatikainen (Virtuocity) decided to form a death metal band under the moniker "Inearthed." They recruited bassist Samuli Miettinen and recorded their first demo "Implosion of Heaven" in 1994. Soon after, the band added guitarist Alexander Kuoppala (Norther) and keyboardist Jani Pera Pirisjoki. Later on, Miettinen and Pirisjoki left the band and Henkka Seppäla (bass) and Janne Warman (keyboards; Warmen) joined in.
With their own money, the band recorded their debut album "Something Wild" in 1997, blending elements of speed, death and power metal. The album impressed Spinefarm Records so much that they decided to sign the band. Inearthed changed its name to Children of Bodom (named after a notorious mass murdering that occured at Lake Bodom just outside of Helsinki in 1960) in order to get out of their previous contract with a Belgian label. Children of Bodom got a licensing deal with Nuclear Blast to handle releases to the rest of Europe.
Alexander left the band in July 2003, leaving fans in shock as the band had said that they would quit if one of its members left. But Alexi said "Children of Bodom ain't ready to fucking die yet!" as they recruited Alexi's fellow Sinergy guitarist, Roope Latvala (Walhalla, ex-Stone, To/Die/For, Waltari). After ruling Europe, Children of Bodom began to take over North America with their first ever North American tour with Dimmu Borgir in late 2003.
Latest Children of Bodom News
Children Of Bodom Issues Tour Recap
Children of Bodom has issued the following recap of their world tour:
"We started in May 2008, when the album came out. With Megadeth in USA. Summer arrived and we escaped to Australia's and New Zealand's winter. Then a longer flight to Japan, back to warmth and the perfect noodlesoups. We also did some festivals in Europe including Wacken and Download.
"Back to USA as headliner, after which we hit arenas with Slipknot and Machine head in Europe. Here and there a couple headliners in between. Christmas home and new years too. Beginning of the year was time for the longawaited headlining in Europe. Managed to get Cannibal Corpse and Diablo with us. Then experienced a couple of weeks of spring time in Finland, and off we go, with Lamb Of God, NorthAmerica. Somebody falls from his bunk and we go home. Summertime, everything healed, and we hit some festivals, but also had the chance to enjoy the Finnish summer. Summer ends and we fly to spring of Buenos Aires, from where we start the last thing of this cycle. Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Mexico, USA, Canada, Hawaii, Japan, Hongkong, Beijing, Taipei and finally Moscow.
"We toured with many bands, many crew. Met a lot of nice people, weird people, funny people. Tasted weird foods, emptied minibars, swam in the ocean. Pounded Brazilian Churrascaria beef, had tons of nigiris in Tokyo, frenchfries animalstyle in Cali and poutine in Canada. We enjoyed the tropical heat, fruits and surf in Honolulu, also the hospitality of locals in the Irish Bar, and the dayafter around the island, ending in Gyu-Kaku. Played many cities where we never headlined before, including Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, Clifton Parks, Beijing, Taipei, Hongkong, Honolulu, Monterrey, Buenos Aires... Learned to say hello in Chinese and Cantonese, not to forget the dirty phrases in Japanese in Rock-Rock. We wanna thank all the fans we had the honour to play with! And the really nice fans who we were able to meet! More...
Tonight's Headbangers Ball Line-Up Details
Tonight's Headbangers Ball on MTV2 at 2 AM ET/PT will feature All That Remains discussing metal songs added to the Rock Band video game and the following lineup of videos:
Confide - "Such Great Heights"
Godsmack - "I Stand Alone"
Bullet for My Valentine - "Waking the Demon"
Children Of Bodom - "Are You Dead Yet?"
Lacuna Coil - "Closer"
All That Remains - "Two Weeks"
Lamb of God - "Laid to Rest"
Hypocrisy Recruits Alexi Laiho For Tour
Swedish metallers Hypocrisy have enlisted Children of Bodom guitarist/frontman Alexi Laiho for their upcoming North American tour. Alexi has agreed to temporarily fill the currently vacant guitarist spot on their tour alongside Ensiferum, Hypocrisy, Ex Deo, Blackguard, and Swashbuckle
Hypocrisy mainman Peter Tagtgren commented: “We’re very happy to bring Alexi along on this tour and that he’s helping us out with filling the 2nd guitarist position. Funny, the first Children of Bodom show was a support gig for Hypocrisy. Since then me and Alexi have become very good friends. I’ve helped him with producing and he's helped me by contributing a guitar solo on one of my records with my other band Pain. There will be no shortage of alcohol on this tour that’s for sure.”
The currently confirmed dates are as follows: More...
Children Of Bodom Posts New Video Online
Finnish heavy metal outfit Children Of Bodom has posted their new music video online for their cover of the Creedence Clearwater Revival song, "Lookin’ Out My Back Door." You can check it out below. The song comes from the bands forthcoming new covers album, "Skeletons In The Closet" which will be released on September 21st in the United Kingdom and a day later in North America. More...
Children Of Bodom Streaming Three New Songs Online
Children of Bodom has issued the following update about streaming three cover songs online from their upcoming album "Skeletons in the Closet:"
"CHILDREN OF BODOM, the esteemed Finnish Heavy Metal band that features frontman and modern day Guitar Hero Alexi Laiho will release a full album of cover tunes containing 17 impressive remakes of the group’s all-time favorite songs this fall. Titled Skeletons in the Closet, the record will drop on September 22, 2009 via Spinefarm Records / Fontana International. CHILDREN OF BODOM will launch a 20 city North American headlining tour in support of the record beginning Friday, September 18 in Providence, RI
"A first taste of what Skeletons in the Closet will deliver can be had today as not 1, not 2, but 3 wild new CHILDREN OF BODOM remakes have been posted online via the band’s just refashioned MySpace page. Check out all the action including COB’s revved up take on BILLY IDOL’s ‘Rebel Yell’, CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL’s ‘Lookin’ Out My Back Door’ and SUICIDAL TENDENCIES’ ‘War Inside My Head’ now at this location.
"Long known for employing a lighthearted musical modus operandi despite both a weighty work ethic and no joke dedication to its craft, CHILDREN OF BODOM (or COB) has joined the ranks of the world’s finest heavy music acts over the course of the last decade. Skeletons in the Closet features a first-rate selection of covers; some of them previously existing recordings, others specially laid down for this release. The LP delivers bang-up recordings of – among others -- the Ramones’ ‘Somebody Put Something in My Drink’, Iron Maiden’s ‘Aces High’, ‘Talk Dirty to Me’ by Poison and the searing version of the Billy Idol classic ‘Rebel Yell’. Of special note is CHILDREN OF BODOM’s now-infamous take on Britney Spears’ ‘Oops!...I Did It Again’. The cover previously appeared on a Japanese-only pressing of the band’s 2005 album Are You Dead Yet?, and will now be available worldwide for the very first time."
The full track listing for "Skeletons in the Closet" is as follows:
1. Lookin’ Out My Back Door (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
2. Hell is for Children (Pat Benatar)
3. Somebody Put Something in My Drink (Ramones)
4. Mass Hypnosis (Sepultura)
5. Don’t Stop at the Top (Scorpions)
6. Silent Scream (Slayer)
7. Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) (Kenny Rogers)
8. Hellion (W.A.S.P.
9. Aces High (Iron Maiden)
10. Rebel Yell (Billy Idol)
11. No Commands (Stone)
12. Antisocial (Trust / Anthrax)
13. Talk Dirty to Me (Poison)
14. (Ghost) Riders In the Sky (Stan Jones / Johnny Cash)
15. War Inside My Head (Suicidal Tendencies)
16. Oops!...I Did It Again (Britney Spears)
17. Waiting (King Diamond)
Skeletonwitch Announces Upcoming Tour Dates
Skeletonwitch has issued the following announcement about upcoming tour dates:
"Cheers and beers metal maniacs!! Hope everyone out there is well! We're stoked as hell to be nearing the release of 'Breathing the Fire.' We can't wait for everyone to hear this motherfucker! It comes out on Oct. 13th and you can pre-order it here!
"The impending release of our new fiery slab of Witch tunes can mean only one thing........ a fuck load of tour dates!! We can't wait to get back on the road and we already have two killer tours locked and loaded.
"The first is with Children of Bodom and The Black Dahlia Murder. The second is with The Black Dahlia Murder, Toxic Holocaust, and Trap Them. Hang out, bang out, shoot the shit, and drink a beer with us (if you're into that sort of thing) on the following dates:" More...
The Black Dahlia Murder Announces Headlining Tours
Fresh off the Rockstar Mayhem Festival and leading up to their new release, "Deflorate," out September 15th, The Black Dahlia Murder are ready to get back out on the road with direct support slots locked down with Slipknot (8/23 - 9/05) and with Children of Bodom (9/18 - 10/12). Once The Black Dahlia Murder finishes up their run of dates with Bodom they will hit the road for their first headline run in concurrence with the release of "Deflorate," the Michigan metaler's 4th full-length studio album. For their headline run the band will be taking out Skeletonwitch, Toxic Holocaust, and Trap Them on a month long trek across the US.
"On the behalf of my mates in The Black Dahlia Murder, we are fucking pumped to hit the road with Skeletonwitch, Toxic Holocaust, and Trap Them. We have forged this alliance in the name of Satan, hand picking the best bands possible to bring you the most stage dive worthy tour of the fall. Circle up!" comments vocalist Trevor Strnad.
The currently confirmed tour dates are as follows: More...
"Rock Band: Metal Track Pack" Details Revealed
A standalone metal-themed track pack for the "Rock Band" videogame series will be released on October 13th. The outing, dubbed "Rock Band: Metal Track Pack," will see a release at retail stores on the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Playstation 2 and Wii and will feature the following track listing:
1. All That Remains - "Two Weeks"
2. At the Gates - "Blinded By Fear"
3. Black Tide - "Shockwave"
4. Blue Oyster Cult - "Transmaniacon MC"
5. Bullet For My Valentine - "Waking the Demon"
6. Children of Bodom - "Are You Dead Yet?"
7. Evile - "Thrasher"
8. Godsmack - "I Stand Alone"
9. The Haunted - "D.O.A."
10. Hawkwind - "Master Of The Universe"
11. I Mother Earth - "Levitate"
12. In This Moment - "Forever"
13. Judas Priest - "Screaming for Vengeance"
14. Lacuna Coil - "Closer"
15. Lamb Of God - "Laid to Rest"
16. Motorhead - "Killed by Death"
17. Nazareth - "Hair Of the Dog"
18. Queens of the Stone Age - "3's & 7's"
19. Rage Against The Machine - "Bulls On Parade"
20. Yngwie Malmsteen - "Red Devil"
Skeletonwitch Posts New Song Online
Cleveland melodic metal band Skeletonwitch has posted a new track on their MySpace page. The song, entitled "CRUSHED BEYOND DUST," comes off their new album, "BREATHING THE FIRE," due out on October 13 through Prosthetic Records.
Vocalist, Chance Garnette, commented about the track, "This song is simply about killing someone with nothing but your bare hands! Plus I was stoked I could find a home for the word 'quashed.'" More...
Children of Bodom Adds Second Mexico City Date
Another Mexico date has been added to the Children of Bodom and Amorphis's South American tour this fall. The bands will be playing at Circo Volador in Mexico City on September 14th, in addition to the previously announced show the day after.
The rest of the South American dates are as follows:
Sept. 08 Buenos Aires, Argentina - Teatro Flores
Sept. 10 Santiago de Chile, Chile - Teatro Teleton
Sept. 12 Sao Paulo, Brazil - Via Funchal
Sept. 15 Mexico City, Mexico - Circo Volador
Sept. 16 Monterrey, Mexico - Monterrey Metal Fest at Arena Santa Lucía
