GTAForums Music in Review

[Scarface187]

 

 

Artist: Children of Bodom

Album: Tokyo Warhearts

Release date: 1999

Genre: Black/Power metal

Label: Spinefarm

 

 

 

 

What can I say. I love live albums. Maybe it is because I never get chances to see live shows and albums are the next best thing for me next to live DVD’s. I love the atmosphere and the excitement from the crowd you can hear, and although some people don’t like it I also enjoy crowd participation, it can really do a song some good (like when Maiden performs “Fear of the Dark” live.) This album is no exception to me. After giving it a few listens this album ranks up there as one of my favorite live albums along with “Live After Death” by Iron Maiden and “S&M* by Metallica. Throughout the entire concert I found myself heading banging and getting lost in this listening experience, and with some the headphones I was using turned up all the way it almost sounded like I could be in that Tokyo audience moshing to some Children of Bodom.

 

Bodom recorded this album in Tokyo, Japan after the release of their second (and classic) album “Hatebreeder”. While that’s fine I just think they maybe should of waited after “Follow the Reaper” to do a live album instead of doing one so soon. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing but it leaves the band with not so much material to play which I think results in the short running time which is 44 minutes and 40 seconds. I probably would have been disappointed if I was in that audience but since I can just listen to this over and over again, I’ll be ok.

 

Now for the track summaries:

 

”Intro” - A great f*cking way to start this thing. As noises from the crowd come in and the audience starts to clap, keyboardist Janne Wirman goes into a very awesome version of “Crockett’s Theme” from Miami Vice by Jan Hammer (those of you who have listened to the Emotion station on Vice City will probably recognize it). Then you hear the crowd go crazy as the band is taking the stage, then, all ready to play Alexi yells “Alright Tokyo!” and the band launches into the first song.

 

”Silent Night, Bodom Night” – Still in awe of that killer keyboard track from the intro, this came on at full force. A great song. One of my favorite songs from them. Everything is fine here. The instruments sound great and I actually like Alexi’s vocals a bit on it.

 

”Lake Bodom” – After “Silent Night, Bodom Night” Alexi addresses the crowd, going “Good evening Tokyo! We’re Children of Bodom and we come from f*cking Finland!”. That gave me chills and got me pretty excited for the next song. Right after that they launch into “Lake Bodom” from the album “Something Wild”. This is a really amazing song. The opening keyboard and guitar are great. I love it. It is a good song all the way through and never bores me.

 

”Warheart” – Another one of my favorite Bodom songs. Killer bass, nice guitar solo and this is one of the few songs in which I like Alexi’s vocals, although I like the vocals better on the album more but still, a good song.

 

”Bed of Razors” – After “Warheart” Janne starts fiddling around on the keyboard which eventually turns into a really great intro to my favorite song from the band “Bed of Razors”. Great opening keyboard, and a good memorable riff. While everything else is just fine, the keyboard stands out on this song the most for me. It contains one of the best keyboard solos I think. Its pretty catchy. A great song, I’d get the album just for this and the intro.

 

”War of the Razors” – Not an actual song but something else. Dueling solos between Janne and Alexi. A battle to see who can go the fastest basically. It gets pretty crazy. I liked it a lot

 

”Deadnight Warrior” - This one starts out with a sweet drum beat then they go into the actual song. As for the song, its another good one. Again, the keyboards and guitars are great.

 

”Hatebreeder” – “It’s time to breed some f*cking hate” Alexi says before they launch into this song. This song has one of my favorite intros ever. That big keyboard part within the first 5 seconds. Its great and I find myself listening to it over and over again. The rest of the song is ok but that’s got to be my favorite part.

 

”Touch Like Angel of Death” – Another sweet intro. It starts with some synth slowly then the drums and guitar kick in and it gets really good. It’s a good slow introduction to the song. Some really good riffs. Beautiful at times if I must say so. Then Alexi shreds and the song gets heavier and faster and they go into it. The rest of the song is ok but the intro is where this track shines. I should also note that the slow intro isn't included in the original version of the song which kind of sucks but eh.

 

”Downfall” - Good riff at the beginning of this song with some keyboard going on. Its at this point that Alexi’s vocals start to get annoying for me. I mean at times I like his vocals but then theres times where I wish he would shut up and do a solo or something. There are solos in here though that are pretty great.

 

”Towards Dead End” – The last song unfortunately but this is a good one. One of those classic Bodom riffs I think. Its got some cheesy vocals in some parts but it isn’t that bad. Another good solo, and yeah.

 

 

Final thought: This album opened with some great numbers like the keyboard intro. That got me pumped for all the other songs to come. Towards the end it does get kind of repetitive but it wasn’t really that bad. A great live album. The only thing that is stopping me from giving this 5 records is the lack of material. Like I said earlier, I think they should of waited till after the release of “Follow the Reaper” for a live album. Anyways, I know some people aren’t big fans of C.O.B. Lots of people don’t like them for the keyboards and a lot of people don’t like them because they can’t stand Alexi’s voice. However if you are even some what a fan of Bodom’s work, you should definatly pick this album up. There is lots of good guitar work and even better keyboard action. Stay tuned till next time when I review the new In Flames album.

 

 

 

Edited February 24, 2006 by Scarface187

[Digital Murders]

Great review....but I strongly, strongly disagree with your rating.

[ToyMachine]

 

Nice review. I was never much into Children of Bodom. The singer sucks but they sure know how to play their instruments though.

 

[lesfleanut]

Great review....but I strongly, strongly disagree with your rating.

Nice review. I'm going to have to agree with digital though, you have to be more objective even when dealing with one of your favorite bands. This album deserves 3 or 3 1/2 stars. I don't wanna start any trouble or anything, but from your own writing I was expecting to see a lower number... 4 1/2 is a hell of a rating, I don't know if I can agree with it.

[Holy_diver]

this may be somekind of commaf*ckin', but since when CoB have been Black Metal? I see no similarities at all, maybe Power but definately not black. I'd say they're Speed Metal /w Harsh Vocals.

[Scarface187]

this may be somekind of commaf*ckin', but since when CoB have been Black Metal? I see no similarities at all, maybe Power but definately not black. I'd say they're Speed Metal /w Harsh Vocals.

Nice job bumping this topic just to say that.

 

 

I only put that because before I guess they were called black metal. I myself don't think they are. If anything they're power metal with some thrash in them. Now their just crap.

[ToyMachine]

More like Gothenburg/Melodeath a'la In Flames and Arch Enemy.