Up-Load UK, Gigs News & reviews Children Of Bodom Review

Bodom scythe through the North

You know you’re in for a special show when you can’t park outside your local rock club because there are a couple of huge luxury coaches with Satellite dishes akimbo taking up all of the car park and there are masses of cars up and down the road to accommodate all those who couldn’t manage to get down to London for Children Of Bodom’s only UK date outside the capital. Finally finding somewhere to park up and getting in the venue, the place is packed and we’ve already missed opening act One Man Quartet and the Army Of The Undead.

Storming onto the stage Ektomorf start up a barrage of sludgy hard hitting riffs and a thunderous barrage of drums. Hair whirling like a demented dervish, these Hungarian metallers have the crowd from the off, proving themselves to be a more than able support for the mighty Bodom. Vocalist & guitarist Zoltàn Farkas shreds his way through the set all the while singing at a motor mouth pace. Most headline acts would die for this kind of reception, but as Zoltàn holds his guitar high and the last notes fade, you can’t help but feel that half of the rapturous response is in anticipation of Children Of Bodom.

As the lights dim and a hip hop “Twist & Shout” booms out of the PA, the crowd hushes and Janne Warman’s keyboards ooze out over the expectant audience. Scythes are waved in anticipation and the band burst into life with “Living Dead Beat”. Bounding round the stage with zest and pizzaz, Alexi Laiho sings precisely and acidly throughout the set managing to connect with the crowd easily and confidently. Solid drums thrash in perfect counterpoint to the keyboard wizardry and quite frankly astonishing guitar work from Alexi. “We’ve got a new album out…” he grins before dashing into “We’re Not Gonna Fall” for yet another dose of his crisp, crunching guitar work. He’s not selfish with his talents though, the band leaving the stage for drummer Jaska Raatikainen to flex his muscles to great applause. “The Reaper” follows soon after, though I fail to spot any of the scythes that were much evident earlier on. “I wanna see everyone go crazy” grins Alexi as they break into “Needled 24/7” and the room is happy to oblige. Alexi & Janne have their time in the spotlight (though to be honest Alexi is seldom out of it!) for a ferocious keyboard/guitar duel and solo, nearly – but not quite – breaking into “Hit Me Baby One More Time” at it’s crescendo. The pounding rhythm of “In Your Face is next, and the set is rounded off with “Are You Dead Yet?”. It’s not all over yet though as the Fins bound back on stage for “Hate Crew Deathroll” and “Every Time I Die”. Just as it all seems to be over Alexi screams “You guys want to hear more heavy metal?” and they make for a final blast through “Downfall”. The reaction is ecstatic and the boys finally leave the stage having made their mark on Bradford in a way that won’t be forgotten in a hurry. Classic.