The Melodic Death Metal Thread

Children of Bodom - "Follow the Reaper" (2000)

I think it might have been Ben who first introduced me to this Finnish act upon my return to metal in 2009 & it may have been through this very album too if memory serves me correctly. I can't say that "Follow the Reaper" does very much for me these days though with its power metal-infused melodeath sound largely flying straight over my head. This shit really lacks consistent aggression with the vocals of Alexi Laiho being fairly stereotypical for the melodic death metal scene & the neoclassical guitar solos removing whatever edge may have been achieved by some of the more heavyweight riffs. There can be no denying Laiho's talent as a shredder but I need more than that these days. European power metal has never been my thing either  so this record was always gonna be a challenge for me. It's certainly not a complete disaster but "Follow the Reaper" offers very little that fits into my wheelhouse in 2025.

For fans of Kalmah, Norther & Wintersun.

2.5/5

There are undoubtedly a lot of bands / albums that I've introduced you to over the years (and vice versa), but Children of Bodom are not one of them. I don't think I've ever got through a full track, let alone an album.

There are undoubtedly a lot of bands / albums that I've introduced you to over the years (and vice versa), but Children of Bodom are not one of them. I don't think I've ever got through a full track, let alone an album.

Are you sure? I can distinctly remember you rocking over to my place in a brand-new Agalloch "Pale Folklore" t-shirt, raving about Paul Baloff-era Exodus & playing me three of your favourite new metal records from Children of Bodom, Dragonforce & BABYMETAL.