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| Hatebreeder | 
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| Artist: Children Of Bodom
Label: Nuclear Blast Americ
Category: Music
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $11.88
You Save: $3.10 (21%)
New (11) Used (5) from $8.48
Avg. Customer Rating:  94 reviews
Sales Rank: 90195
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 6387
UPC: 727361638726
EAN: 0727361638726
ASIN: B00000IN5G
Release Date: May 18, 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: IMPORT 9 Tracks BRAND NEW/SEALED - Free Upgrade to 1st Class Shipping or Air Mail for International Orders - Everything is Guaranteed or Simply Return It in the Same Conditon for a Complete Refund
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| Tracks:
| • | Warheart | | • | Silent Night, Bodom Night | | • | Hatebreeder | | • | Bed Of Razors | | • | Towards Dead End | | • | Black Widow | | • | Wrath Within | | • | Children Of Bodom | | • | Downfall |
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| Customer Reviews: Read 89 more reviews...
 Like a breath of ice-cool mint...from hell July 20, 2004
54 out of 55 found this review helpful
I've long heard a lot of praise for Finland's Children of Bodom. Ultimately, after listening to the album repeatedly during about half a year of owning it, I have decided that this praise is well-deserved. Children of Bodom are an interesting addition to the wave of Scandinavian (or thereabouts) metal bands. The biggest comparison to another band that I can make would have to be to Sonata Arctica; like, if you replace Tony Kakko with a black metal vocalist, and intensify the guitars just a bit, you have Children of Bodom. Hell, both bands are from Finland, too! Must be something in the water...
I might add a note about the band's name: in 1960, four teenagers were camping in Finland, at Bodom Lake, just outside of Helsinki. That night, they were assaulted by some unseen attacker, and three of them were murdered brutally, and the other one went crazy (to this day, as far as I know). True story! This incident is well-known in Finland as one of their worst crimes, and is definitely worth checking into alone. Now we have a band named after those children of Bodom who were slaughtered...
Blending styles similar to both melodeath (especially Soilwork and Dark Tranquillity, a la keyboards) and black metal (screeching vocals that are particularly evil-sounding, as well as extremely intense musical delivery), Children have a very signature kind of sound that is like a blast of frosty air from over the mountains: at once fierce and yet beautifully refreshing.
One of the few metal bands that I enjoy which has only one lead guitarist, Children's metal is highly melodic but very intensely heavy. Alexi Laiho is immediately recognizable with his uniquely high-pitched vocals, but it are his contributions as lead guitarist that are most noteworthy. Although fellow guitarist Alexander Kuoppala does not shred up lead notes, the two are a tightly interweaving duo reminiscent more than often of Murray & Smith, Chris & Michael Amott, and Mustaine & Friedman. The Iron Maiden similarity is the most obvious - just listen to the first part of the bridge of "Hatebreeder" and just try to tell me that isn't reminiscent of something Murray & Smith wouldn't do. The two have great speed and use many chords with excellent finesse, but it is Laiho's leads which steal the show. He shreds with uncompromising speed and ease, yet maintains the great melodies present in each of the songs. He does not just save his leads for the bridges of songs, either - like on "Hatebreeder," there are leads throughout the verses and choruses. An especially noteworthy performance is on the bridge/outro to "Cowards Dead End" - the way Laiho plays out his leads, it sounds like the orchestral arrangements of a classical piece!
Often, Laiho alternates leads and solos with keyboardist Janne Pimeys to create beautifully crafted interweaving notes. Many people find keyboard solos in metal songs to be overtly cheesy, but I think that if done right (like Children of Bodom does), it can be very effective. Pimeys is great in every aspect of his instrument; his background textures finely complement the melodic riffs, yet when he leads, the work can make a listener laugh with how beautifully it fits in (like his solos in "Silent Night, Bodom Night"). His almost blissful intro to "Black Widow" is simply beautiful. If it wasn?t obvious enough already, Children of Bodom is a very beautiful band while being excellent at metal.
Henkka T. Blacksmith is far from the average bassist; although a majority of his bass blends in with the heavy riffs, he can often be heard creating his own complex rhythms which add to the onslaught. Blacksmith does an awesome sort of "lead" in during the last chorus of the title track, too - just listen to that and tell me that's not cool! To once again bring up an Iron Maiden comparison, Blacksmith's interweaving bass lines are reminiscent of Steve Harris. (NOTE: I'm not saying that Children of Bodom compare to Iron Maiden in any form of greatness, I just mean how they SOUND can be awfully similar at times).
And finally, Jaska Raatikainen is a memorable drummer. Complex, fast, heavy on double-bass (but not to the point of overkill like too many death and black metal bands do), and hard-hitting, he can do it all. Every track is a perfect example of his talent, so it is really hard to find anything particularly outstanding (although he becomes even better on FOLLOW THE REAPER).
Now what to say about HATEBREEDER? Nine songs clocking in at just a little over half an hour is a little too short for my tastes, but Children of Bodom are good at making short, fast, hefty songs which always manage to kick some a$$. The lyrics largely deal with...er, death, I guess. It is often hard to distinguish what the songs mean, but "Silent Night, Bodom Night" is obviously a metal song's retelling of the story behind the band's name. While I'm talking about lyrics, I'll mention my biggest (and probably only) problem with the band: they never include ALL the lyrics to their songs. They include most in this case, but on HATE CREW DEATHROLL, for instance, they include the lyrics to 4 out of 9 of the songs. Alexi Laiho, who writes all the lyrics, insist that some of the songs are "too personal" to include the lyrics to. Okay, I'm not sure how "I'm accessing in all the northern light/ You know I got no f***ing other souls, guilty now/ I've got no fine, no f***ing thoughts, so/ A combination, now you're f***ing dead" is all that personal, but whatever. The lyrics are hardly one of Children of Bodom's strengths, so it hardly matters.
Some of my favorite tracks include "Silent Night, Bodom Night" (obviously; I've only mentioned it four times now), "Hatebreeder," "Black Widow"...hell, they're all good. This is a fantastic album. If you like black metal, melodeath, or even just well-crafted metal, this will be a treat. Go buy it.
Silent Night, Bodom Night...Huh Roy?... April 4, 2006
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
-Hatebreeder-...ahh, how this stands as Bodom's greatest. Or does it? To me, pretty much, but ya this becomes a question because -Follow The Reaper- was released two years later. By all means they both serve well in their endeavors, but I just have a personal connection with -Hatebreeder- more than -Follow The Reaper-, but don't get me wrong that it's less superior to this. The overall mood, vibe, and atmosphere of this record doesn't seem stardom struck as -Follow The Reaper- does, and it feels more secluded and secret. I do find Alexi's scream/yell to be more bearable on here than on -Follow The Reaper-, but it works well on there too. Another thing that makes this sound very well brooded is the use of keyboards, which even though are more elaborate and longer than on -Something Wild-, they appear only at the best times for the best lengths. A different way of putting this is by Roy's scythe. Look out how obvious it looks like on this, then look at his scythe on -Follow The Reaper- and post albums. It is larger and therefore broader than what seems to be little and personal on here.
"Warheart" springs forth with subtle and thoughtful words from Roy before it speeds through with keyboard ticks that aloft itself with the riffage. "Silent Night, Bodom Night" kicks off with a catchy lead while it trills itself with miniature solos until both Alex and Alexi do a duet until the catch-up. Keyboards lay a good role until everyone else lays a nice beat. Another guitar solo drives through while everyone keeps it loose. "Bed Of Razors" drifts above with the perfect keyboard volume, only till the guitars pick up pace thereafter. Goes into pretty standard riffage during the verse with occasional NAH NAH, NAH NAH, NAH NAH shreds. This is the one song that I find to have this perfect melody that sounds ultimately successful at such a speed. At 2:20, the keyboards take part again briefly until the devastatingly melodious solo, packed hereafter with the greatest keyboard comeback solo on the entire album. So much beauty and intricacy packed in 15 seconds; Janne is a master at his art. "Wrath Within" starts incredibly fast and catchy, much more powerful and loud than the rest. Guitars and bass take control throughout the beginning. The keyboards make a brief appearance, shedding some melody to the finger-flinching playing. Alexi then rips a solo herein that displays what only -Hatebreeder- can deliver, especially with the keyboard running down the bridge, eventually finding its own time to display power matching Alexi's. Very sweet duet between Alexi and Janne before the ending minute. "Downfall" is already deemed a fan classic. Picks up with Janne delivering a nice solo, with Alexi and Alex grabbing the pieces into what is to become a fabulous masterpiece. This song never lets up in any way. Henkka has his own little moment until Alexi shreds his grandest stage solo.
This is the essential Melodic Death Metal album and only common sense to add to your Bodom collection if not done so already. Every track, even though I only mentioned half of them, all carry their worth of living here. -Hatebreeder- felt like it didn't need to achieve anything greater than the previous, it just came out that way. Bodom improved what they felt needed improvement, and that is why I feel that -Hatebreeder- comes out as my top favorite.
 Children Of Bodom - 'Hatebreeder' (Nuclear Blast) February 20, 2007
12 out of 16 found this review helpful
Good follow-up to this somewhat over-the-top Scandinavian black metal band's 'Something Wild' debut (see my review). One thing I couldn't help but to notice is this sophomore release is definitely faster, louder and more intense. Best cuts are "Silent Night,Bodom Night", the in-your-face "Bed Of Razors", the band's namesake "Children Of Bodom" and "Downfall". Missed them on their most recent tour. Shazbat!
Children of Bodom deserve your attention August 11, 2005
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
I've always liked Children of Bodom. Ever since I first heard the opening lines to Warhearts back in the day I've been a fan. "From now on we are enemies, you and I." Of all the albums CoB have released this is probably their best, as it was released before they experienced the massive influx of fans that they now have. The sound is true Bodom without other influences. Children of Bodom's combination of sweeping keyboards, hyperspeed guitars and solid rhythm section truly make Hatebreeder an album to remember.
Alexi Laiho, despite looking like a girly pretty boy much of the time, is a metal machine, belting out his signature vocals and guitar runs with pinpoint precision. You have to admire him for his love of music, as he dropped out of school to play in his own band he created. Now this might have some sort of correlation with the lyrics... I don't know if it's because English is not his native language (although he does love the word f*cking, which you would conclude if you have ever seen them live) or because his education in school was limited, but CoB's lyrics for the most part are pretty shallow and ridiculous. I really like the thrash influences Alexi puts into the guitar parts, as the shredding really goes well with the scales and melodic solos that are dispersed throughout the songs.
I'm not a fan of keyboard in most bands (for example I'm not a huge Nightwish fan) but for the most part CoB uses them properly. It does bug me, however, when they use effects to make the keyboards sound like a guitar. If you want to have a guitar sound, play a guitar instead of simulating one. That's the same reason real drummers are better than drum machines. You just can't imitate the real thing.
The bass playing on the album is a definite high point, and I love it when bands give the bass an empty space for them to showcase their sound. There aren't many things cooler than a naked bass line at super speed. Bass has always been a strong point in Children of Bodom, from Something Wild all the way up to Hatecrew Deathroll (or Trashed, Lost, & Strung Out, if you consider EP's)
It's really hard to classify CoB under just one category. Some call them Black Metal, (which they are not, although they have influences) while others say they are Melodic Death (also possible, as they play with melodies and keyboards a lot.) Personally I don't know where to place them. (Their CD's are between Immortal's and Nile's in my CD collection, if that makes any sense.)
The CD is a little on the short side, with only 9 songs coming in at 38:06. This is fine though, as CD's like this (much like Slayer's Reign in Blood) tend to work best when they are not to long. 38 minutes gives you enough time to thoroughly enjoy what the album has to offer, but not so long that it gets boring and repetitive. Usually I enjoy the shorter albums (30-50 minutes) more, as that prevents the album from getting repetitive and boring (this is still possible if the band sucks...) Epic albums do have a place in metal however, but the sound, the setting, and the mood all have to be properly implemented to ensure a memorable experience.
I highly recommend this album to everybody who has been sitting on the fence deciding whether or not to listen to Children of Bodom. If you want pure CoB, give this album a chance. If you want to start with something a little more easily accessible though, I suggest giving Hatecrew Deathroll a shot first.
\m/ Enjoy
Oh my god February 14, 2000
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Deffinately a must own for any fan of melodic death/thrash/speed metal with a classical influence. After putting this cd in my cd player, I cant take it out. CoB are all teenagers, but the music they produce is purely unbelievable. Lead guitarist/vocalist pulls off riffs and solos that would make any proffesional jelous and he is 19 for god's sake. Keyboards fit in very nicely as well and the double bass drumming sound like machine guns are going off through out all of the songs. Deffinately a classical influence there as well and you will know what I mean when you hear the guitar solos. Note that the vocals are death metal vocals, and there are no clean vocals here what so ever. The faint of heart need not apply but a deffinate must own for any metal fan who enjoys that extra heavy push that just makes you want to mosh and bang your head non-stop. If you love In Flames and other melodic death metal bands you will love Children of Bodom as well. Do yourself a favor and get this album now, while you are at it, check out CoB's first album(Something Wild) also a great masterpiece.
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