Follow the Reaper

In my Something Wild review, I stated that nothing that Children of Bodom released afterwards was worth listening to. I’ve retracted my statement after relistening to Hatebreeder a few more times, because even though that album’s production sucks compared to the raw intensity of SW and the songs are basically rehashed, it still provides an entertaining listen. That concession, however, will be my last, as everything else they’ve put out is basically shit.

Follow the Reaper is the first good example of Bodom’s innovative bankruptcy (Hatebreeder was an example, but again, could still be listened to). Outside of “Children of Decadence,” which relies more on atmosphere than their compositions generally do, there are no original ideas to be found here. If Hatebreeder was Something Wild rehashed, this is Hatebreeder rehashed, but slowed down. Alexi’s leadwork is improved (it improves every album), but his writing is boring, almost to the point where one could consider him the Yngwie Malmsteen of his generation in that regards. The keyboards still enhance the band’s work (christ, imagine how bland this would be if they were removed!), but they’re basically a novelty at this point, being completely predictable in execution. And now that the band isn’t writing fast songs, the drumming is fucking boring too.

Let’s see, what else. Alexi’s vocal delivery is passionless, the lyrics are dumb, and all the songs have the same riffs. If this is the first Bodom album you get, I can understand how you’d enjoy it. But with the knowledge that it’s just a retreading of better material from their earlier albums (as well as who knows how many classical pieces), it loses all integrity. And the albums after this are even worse. The only thing worth listening to here is the guitar solos.

Imagine if Alexi had actually succeeded in killing himself after Something Wild. Bodom’s reputation might have been legendary…