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As one of the rising Finnish acts under the most scrutiny for taking a step up the career ladder, blackened power metallers Children of Bodom are certainly dividing opinions left and right with their sixth record, the uncompromising Blooddrunk; an album that, if anything, dispels the rumours of their demise after the irrefutable nadir of their profession in 2005's Are You Dead Yet?

Adopting yet again the heavier, more Thrash-orientated leanings of Hate Crew Death Roll, the tempestuous Finns blaze a trail of earth-shattering rhythms, bruising solos and cataclysmic riffs across a wasteland of shiny keys and battering double kicks, much in the tradition of the aforementioned Hate Crew... record, but unlike its proceeding lacklustre effort, Blooddrunk unites these aggressive inflections with the more melodic sentiments of their past, giving tracks like "Smile Pretty For The Devil" and the shattering "One Day You Will Cry" echoes of Hatebreeder, or even Follow The Reaper in their chilling display of technical aptitude. Band leader — and increasing egomaniac — Alexi Laiho leaves the pseudo-Blackie Lawless croons of yore behind for a hostile bark, that again extricates Blooddrunk from 2005's wearisome endeavour. There are plenty of high-powered blasts of energy to be found on tracks like the thrashy "Roadkill Morning", and bouts of undisputed melodic aggression — as seen on the boisterous "Tie My Rope". The shredding machine that is Children of Bodom do however slip into dangerously commercial territory from time to time, and the overly-polished production creates a vacuum for this to flourish, but overall, Blooddrunk, despite minor grievances, is a solid addition to the band's growing discography that may not hold a candle to the shiny Follow The Reaper, but at least resurrects some of the magic that made that volume so tremendous.