Children of Bodom Something Wild 1997 Album Review

Something Wild
Children of Bodom
1997


Finland is well known for having a thriving metal scene, and Children of Bodom add their name to the generous list of Scandinavian artists who made it onto the global scene. Something Wild is a short and punchy album that seeps with classic musical talent. The way the melodies are thrown down over their sweaty fret-boards defines the difference between guitar players and posers. I know when I first heard it, I forced myself to learn at least one intro riff to prove my worth as a player. It took me a few weeks.


Deadnight Warrior begins the album with a ghostly atmosphere which breeds an animalistic grunt and a spine shivering scream. The fast paced guitars with thumping drums then tear away the facade to bring forth the metal in a frenzy of pulse and melodic pantomime. Finding the space to flow in interesting and scale shifting interludes between the thrashing of power chord riffs takes a special talent that requires a lot of work. This debut album proves that the band members already took the time to truly learn their craft.


Alexi Laiho on vocals and guitar gives a masculine infused lyrical delivery from the back of the throat. The music is screamed, roared, and shouted at us where the dramatic and emotively charging compositions swirl around in manic rocked out sonic laser beams all around the room. What sticks out with this band is the fantastic use of keyboards to give a fascinating layer of sound that many metal bands simply shy away from or feel would be too much. Bodom have successfully managed to introduce classical and melodic keyboard sounds into hardcore music, which is an achievement by itself. Rather than using the cliché gothic effects and string simulations, Janne Wirman as the keyboard player has clearly defined his talent in new and worthwhile ways.


Punk attitudes to energy and the guts to go out and throw the solos and frills which punk totally lacks combined with interesting and enchanting melodic compositions make Something Wild a metal album with a difference. It's going to rock you, it's not designed to flimsy along the flowery path with an electric guitar for style, it won't suit everyone's taste. There's a concentrated heaviness to this band which make them simply inaccessible for many.  
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Something Wild on iTunes