Follow the Reaper...For he hath something wonderful in store for you!
Written: Sep 05 '05 (Updated Oct 14 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Every song on the album is outstanding.
Cons: It is short.
The Bottom Line: Follow the Reaper is a solid release by Children of Bodom, and should be bought whenever possible.
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| den_inte_dod's Full Review: Follow the Reaper by Children of Bodom |
Finnish bands are getting more and more popular by the minute. One of these bands go by the name of Children of Bodom, and if you wish to know, the name of the band was taken from a murder case in Finland. Well, when I bought this album, Follow the Reaper, I expected it to be a little different from Hate Crew Deathroll, the band's 2003 release. I anxiously scanned through the album, and then I knew that, yes, it was different. However, there were a few similarities. Alexi's vocal style changed, for the most part. The music didn't change much. Anyways, the bottom line is, this album is amazing.
THE GUYS WHO MADE THIS AMAZING ALBUM:
Alexander Kuoppala: Guitar
Henkka T. Blacksmith: Bass
Alexi "Wildchild" Laiho: Vocals, Guitar
Janne Warman: Keyboard
Jaska Raatikainen: Drums
Follow the Reaper is an energetic, brutal, and flat-out wonderful album. It begins with the self-titled track, Follow the Reaper, where Alexi begins mumbling, "Death be not proud, though some have called thee mighty and dreadful, art not so". Then, you will practically fly out of your chair, with the booming sound of keyboards, drums, guitars, all in one. Alexi kicks it off with a yell a little bit after the beginning. You then immediately catch on with how the music sounds, and you will be amazed of how this album sounds. The title track ends shortly after a crisp guitar/keyboard solo that will catch your undivided attention.
Bodom After Midnight begins with a brief drum solo at the beginning, followed by guitars and keyboards. There are back-up shouts at the beginning of the song, and Alexi quickly follows by screaming in his unique ways. Alexi is a wonderful guitar player, and it is surprising that he can scream in his wild ways and still manage to play the guitar the way he can. The chorus consists of Alexi roaring the song's title "Bodom After Midnight", and the last time he screams it, he holds the note for a little bit. There is a keyboard and guitar solo later on in the song that is just flawless.
Being one of the best songs on the album, I was not disappointed with "Mask of Sanity". It starts peacefully with a mystic tune from the keyboardist Janne Warman. Suddenly, the pace of the song changes as Alexi holds a lengthy and impressive scream. Things speed up as well as the double bass pedal kicks in. This track includes back up shouts from the rest of the band, as well as the one of the previous tracks "Bodom After Midnight". Alexi does not always scream. Hell, at some points of the song, Alexi does James Hetfield-like vocals, which will please plenty metal fans. The track ends with a few last guitar riffs with keyboards included as well.
"Hate Me!", although it has a rather lame track title, is still a great song. At first, there are high-pitched keyboarding parts with drums and bass. It works its way up to getting heavier as Alexi launches a scream, and the tone of music changes. Later, There is a rather great keyboarding tune that can easily get stuck in your head, and it most likely will. Like most of the other songs on this album, it includes assisting back up shouts. There are two guitar solos in the song. One of them is short, and the other is a bit more lengthy. Whatever the case, they are both flawless. The drummer begins playing speedily toward the end, and Alexi performs a finishing scream with the back up shouts, all together ending the track.
For the bonus track on the album, Children of Bodom did a cover of a WASP song, "Hellion". At the beginning, it sounds as if someone pops open a soda can and takes a drink, and then does a sigh of relief. Alexi's vocals loosen up a bit, for he doesn't do his usual scream very often in this song. Alexi never fails to deliver an excellent guitar solo, and he performs it just as it was in the original version of "Hellion". Shortly after the solo, this brilliant album comes to an end.
Recommended if you are into: Nightwish, In Flames, Dark Tranquility
TRACK LISTING:
1. Follow the Reaper
2. Bodom After Midnight
3. Children of Decadence
4. Everytime I Die
5. Mask of Sanity
6. Taste of My Scythe
7. Hate Me!
8. Northern Comfort
9. Kissing the Shadows
10. Hellion
MORE CHILDREN OF BODOM REVIEWS:
Hate Crew Deathroll
Hatebreeder
Recommended:
Yes
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den_inte_dod
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Boy, oh boy do I need a break from work!
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