Children Of Bodom
Metaldays - 2018
Text: Tobias Nilsson Photo: Lunah Lauridsen
Now veterans in the game,Children Of Bodom was the band set to headline the final day of Metaldays 2018. It made good sense too, as Children Of Bodom have a good history of creating quite a party at their shows. While not a favourite band in this household anymore, they still carry enough weight to warrant our participation - maybe we’d finally get Red Light In My Eyes, Pt. 1, which they so shamefully conned us for two years earlier?
Goddamnit Slovenia! How the fuck are you doing?!”
- Alexi Laiho (vocals/guitar)
Given the extravaganze this band has shown in the past, it was a surprisingly scraped stage that met us when it was time for the show - only a simple backdrop, and then the musicians. Was this a sign of them not caring as much as they used to, or simple travel logistics? That hadn’t stopped them in the past, but who knew at this point. The important thing was after all that the band was present, and that they’d deliver a good show. So, did they?
To be perfectly honest with you, “passable” is the word best describing this show.
The band didn’t show much energy when they walked on stage and began playing. Henkka T. Blacksmith was the only one walking around a bit, but even this wasn’t very convincing.
The music was what it was, we know the songs, but there wasn’t really a fire behind them, making it fun to recognise old favourites, but not much else, I’m afraid.
It wasn’t all the band’s fault though, as the tech was really working against them as well. Several times during the show, in I Worship Chaos among others, the sound would cut wholly or more often partially out, and at other times just mess up. Through the start of the show, there was no sound from the guitars at all.
“Slovenia, are you ready to throw down?”
- Laiho (vocals/guitar)
Interestingly, this seemed to have little to no effect on the crowd however. From the first note played, the moshpit opened up, and the very large crowd went amok. Crowdsurfers went sailing by, as they do at this festival, and the ground was vibrating - from the fans' standpoint, Children Of Bodom was clearly still the right band for the situation.
Little by little, the still new guitarist, Daniel Freyberg, opened up and became more and more active as well. Nothing outstanding, but at least there was something going on.
It would take almost half the show for Laiho to begin moving about, and showing that he was interested in performing this night, and he never came close to the energy outbursts of old, the ones that helped cement the status the band lives so well on today.
Not surprisingly, Red Light In My Eyes, Pt. 1, wasn’t played, but that was really the least of the band’s problems, as you can tell. So for us, Children of Bodom was a big nope this night, but apparently they just have to show up to make the diehard fans happy.
Setlist (incomplete):
I Worship Chaos
Blooddrunk
Angels Don’t Kill
Hate Me!
Needled 24/7
Everytime I Die
Goddamnit Slovenia! How the fuck are you doing?!”
- Alexi Laiho (vocals/guitar)
Given the extravaganze this band has shown in the past, it was a surprisingly scraped stage that met us when it was time for the show - only a simple backdrop, and then the musicians. Was this a sign of them not caring as much as they used to, or simple travel logistics? That hadn’t stopped them in the past, but who knew at this point. The important thing was after all that the band was present, and that they’d deliver a good show. So, did they?
To be perfectly honest with you, “passable” is the word best describing this show.
The band didn’t show much energy when they walked on stage and began playing. Henkka T. Blacksmith was the only one walking around a bit, but even this wasn’t very convincing.
The music was what it was, we know the songs, but there wasn’t really a fire behind them, making it fun to recognise old favourites, but not much else, I’m afraid.
It wasn’t all the band’s fault though, as the tech was really working against them as well. Several times during the show, in I Worship Chaos among others, the sound would cut wholly or more often partially out, and at other times just mess up. Through the start of the show, there was no sound from the guitars at all.
“Slovenia, are you ready to throw down?”
- Laiho (vocals/guitar)
Interestingly, this seemed to have little to no effect on the crowd however. From the first note played, the moshpit opened up, and the very large crowd went amok. Crowdsurfers went sailing by, as they do at this festival, and the ground was vibrating - from the fans' standpoint, Children Of Bodom was clearly still the right band for the situation.
Little by little, the still new guitarist, Daniel Freyberg, opened up and became more and more active as well. Nothing outstanding, but at least there was something going on.
It would take almost half the show for Laiho to begin moving about, and showing that he was interested in performing this night, and he never came close to the energy outbursts of old, the ones that helped cement the status the band lives so well on today.
Not surprisingly, Red Light In My Eyes, Pt. 1, wasn’t played, but that was really the least of the band’s problems, as you can tell. So for us, Children of Bodom was a big nope this night, but apparently they just have to show up to make the diehard fans happy.
Setlist (incomplete):
I Worship Chaos
Blooddrunk
Angels Don’t Kill
Hate Me!
Needled 24/7
Everytime I Die
Children Of Bodom
