Children Of Bodom's Reviews
Hatebreeder (Average Rating: 9.36 out of 10)
Minderasing, stunning genre-defying metal assault (Rated this album with 10 out of 10)
Reviewed by
Kyle Moore
from Boulder, CO United States
I must hand it to Alexi and the lads...Hatebreeder was a huge transitional album for my metal listening career, bridging the gap between metal beginnings (such as Metallica and Rage Against the Machine) and true metal insanity!When I first heard "Warheart" and "Downfall," I thought "this is the most outrageous stuff I've ever heard! The 'singer' sounds like he's got a dying toad for a voice the keyboards are annoying." Oh, such a shallow thing can a first impression be! Something oddly drew me back to these songs time and again. I didnt know why I was lured back time and again to play these songs on my computer, but something about the outright savagery and amazing talent this band has pulled me right in. Before I knew it, I had bought the album and became a diehard COB fan. Despite the speed, harsh vocals, and plentiful brutality, this album singlehandedly got me into underground metal; not of any one particular classification though..."death metal" alone isn't enough for COB. The vocals and keys are quite blackish, but the superbly constructed neoclassical elements give it roots in melody and the guitar-drum attack is powerful thrash. From the moment you put this CD in, you'll be drawn in to the masterfully built savagery of Alexi Laiho. The speed of "Warheart" and "Silent Night..." will break your neck while the heavy groove of "Bed of Razors" puts you fresh in a killing mood. Laiho is a superb soloist and could well become a new 'guitar hero,' assuming his keyboardist Janne Warman doesn't become a 'keyboard hero' first. Laiho and Warman often duel during solos and the result is mesmerising. Backed by melodic-thrash riffs that gain their power from the skill of their crafting instead of the velocity of pure speed and the tight, yet manic drum barrage, you end up with a truly powerful record. I recommend Hatebreeder to absolutely anybody who's looking for something beyond the undeniable, but limited power of Metallica and wants to taste the bounty that lies in the underground European metal scene. In addition, their first album Something Wild is equally powerful, if not a bit short, though Hatebreeder's follow-up entitled Follow the Reaper is weaker. With Hatebreeder, Alexi and co. will smash your virgin brain to little gory pieces for the Reaper to harvest and leave you wanting so much more. This is definitely the metal album of the year.
Buy this album on Amazon at $14.99
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