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Review: Children of Bodom - Are You Dead Yet?
Children of Bodom
www.cobhc.com
Are You Dead Yet?

Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Year released: 2005
Duration: 37:24
Tracks: 9
Genre: Power/Thrash

Rating:
1.5/5


Review online: February 3, 2006
Reviewed by: Christian Renner
Readers' Rating
How do you rate this release?

Rated 2.73/5 (54.5%) (40 Votes)
Review

I have to start this review by saying that I am a big fan of this band and my reviews of the last two albums will pretty much prove that fact. That being said it is that much more difficult to understand how such a good band can drop the proverbial ball so dramatically. To make sure there will be no misunderstanding about my feelings about this album I can sum this up in four words…this album fuckin' sucks.

I can think of only two good reasons for how poorly this album came together. Number one… they started listening to people telling them how great they are and how much better off they would be by trying to appeal to a larger fan base. Number two…They are worn out and possibly just rushed through this album trying to get it out as quickly as possible. I would really hope it would be my second thought but I am afraid it may very well be my first. With the amount of extra attention they have been receiving over the last year as well as some rumors floating around that they could be on next years Ozzfest lineup I could see this change as trying to solidify that spot by appealing to the Ozzfest crowd. I really hope I am wrong about this because at the heart of this album you can still tell this COB. Unfortunately it is a just a watered down version that would appeal more to the mall crowd than it would to a real metal fan. Don't get me wrong there are a couple of tracks that remind you of what this band is capable of but the problem is these couple of songs can do little to change the overall pervasive feeling of complete mediocrity. All of what made this band great is gone on this album. Gone are the mostly up tempo songs with riffs that would dare you not to move your head. Gone are the amazing guitar solo's. Gone is the keyboard wizardry of Janne Warmen. Gone are the give and take trade off moments between Warmen and Laiho. I never thought Laiho had a great voice but on this album that even sounds more subdued.

Overall this album really suffers from a severe lack of energy and spark which makes you wish the album would just come to an end. Unless you are a fan that has to own every release or a completist in general I would really recommend skipping this release and keep your fingers crossed that this was just a fluke and the next album will help them regain their form.

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