» Children Of Bodom 2005 02 04  
« back


Reviewed by Niklas
----------------------------------------
City: Stockholm, Sweden
Venue: Arenan
Date: 5 Feb 2006
Set Length: 90 mins

Children Of Bodom

When Children Of Bodom announced that they were going to have their concert in Stockholm filmed for an upcoming live-DVD, a few questions came to mind. Would the guys offer the Swedish audience any special treats? Would they be extra hungry to play, or perhaps a bit anxious because of all the cameras? Well, the latter is clearly not an issue; already during the first song "Living Dead Beat" Alexi & Co proves that they are professionals to the bone.

Before we start to dissect the music and the performances, the ingenious set must be mentioned. In the background, the front half of a car has been positioned so that Alexi can jump up on it whenever he wants to perform his most sensational guitar licks. Additionally, three huge metal plates hang above the stage, and during "Angels Don't Kill" these turn out to be filled with light bulbs that form the letters C, O, B. Together with pyrotechnics the size of flame throwers, it makes a grandiose sight.

The crazy Fins are touring with the rather new release "Aren't You Dead Yet?" - a very good album, even though it lacks the magic that made "Follow The Reaper" and "Hate Crew Death Roll" instant classics. The band seem to be of the same opinion, as the set list only contains four new songs, with the standout track "Thrashed, Lost & Strungout" strangely absent. And although the hard-hitting single "In Your Face" is one of the nicer acquaintances at this party, old friends like "Hate Me", "Follow The Reaper" and "Needled 24/7" are the most fun to socialize with.

The only part of the show that is threading on thin ice is, without a doubt, the endless solos. We're not just talking about one drum solo here, mind you, but also a dual solo with guitar and keyboard! If the guys were aiming for making the audience checking their watches to see if it was time to go home yet - mission accomplished. Memo to Children Of Bodom: we know that you are all very skilled musicians, but just go on with the show, please.

In spite of these drawn-out features, the concert is pretty damn entertaining. Alexi's conversations with keyboardist Janne Warman are the funniest; like when Janne grills hot dogs on the flames, and then lets Alexi have a bite, before he throws the leftovers to the audience. Or when Alexi asks Janne to play the meanest song he can think of and the keyboardist starts to play Celine Dion's Titanic-ballad "My Heart Will Go On".

If it wasn't for the huge camera-crane that sweeps by over my head from time to time, I wouldn't have figured that this was a performance meant for a live-DVD, since the set list doesn't contain any changes from previous gigs on this tour. But it doesn't matter much when the show is as fun as it is. When you check out the DVD in the future, remember to look for a guy in the audience with a white shirt and a big smile on his face. That would be me.

8 chalices of 10

SET LIST:

Living Dead Beat
Sixpounder
Silent Night, Bodom Night
Hate Me
We're Not Gonna Fall
Angels Don't Kill
Drum Solo
Bodom After Midnight/Bodom Beach Terror
Follow The Reaper
Needled 24/7
Guitar/Keyboard Solo
In Your Face
Hate Crew Deathroll
Are You Dead Yet?
----------------------
Lake Bodom
Everytime I Die
Downfall

Related links:
www.cobhc.com