Metal That’s Definitely Not Child’s Play
By Andrew Jones

Metal fans, come hither. If you’ve been thirsting for a band that gets back to the classic roots of the genre and really tears your face off, you can stop combing your back-length hair and start re-stitching that Maiden patch back onto your leather jacket… Your prayers have been answered ~ Children of Bodom is coming to the Palladium on December 16th. These guys are one of the most technical, crazy, and talented metal bands out there and just happen to hail from the European metal Mecca: Finland. As their worldwide siege continues, I got to have bassist Henkka Blacksmith forge me some COB schooling.

Pulse: What do you think your biggest feat as a band has been so far? 

Henkka: To be able to play good music that we like and with so many fans. It’s great!

P: How did everything go on the Europe tour with Slayer? Any not-so standard craziness?

H: It’s going really good. Lots of people and the organization is great. Everybody is treated really well. Nothing too crazy going on at the moment.

P: After being together as such a high energy, hard-working band, does it just keep getting better and better, or is anybody starting to get burnt out on touring so much and churning out album after album? 

H: No, sometimes there are bad days, but in the end it’s the best job! You just have to always remember that when it gets hard. Next year we have lot of time off too, so it’s all good!

P: What’s the longest break you’ve had from touring since you started?

H: Hmm, maybe 8 months…can’t remember. This tour now we have had maybe two months maximum!

P: What would your names be if you were all in a rap crew instead of a metal band?

H: Alexi would be EAZY A, that’s for sure!

P: Why has classic metal always had such a strong scene in Finland?

H: I have no idea. I think all the Finnish bands that are doing well are all different, from Nightwish to Impaled Nazarene. I don’t think there is a Finnish sound anymore. It’s hard to say why, small market and lot of metal fans, it makes it look really big, the scene.

P: Do you think they’ll ever make the metal fist the standard greeting in Helsinki?

H: Heh, I don’t think so. That’d be great, when President is meeting the visitors on Independence Day in the Presidential Palace everybody does the [666] horns.

P: One of the things I like about the live set-up is Janne’s tipped-back keyboard. What makes it so bad ass?

H: It’s not bad ass, it’s just good for his wrists, easier to play he says.

P: What are the main bands you would say you pay homage to?

H: Well, obviously Slayer. Such an influence, and now this tour is doing good for us too! Also Motley Crüe, Metallica. These [are the] bands that made us start playing I would say.

P: After this much technical playing for so long, whom do you think is going to get arthritis first?

H: Hmmm, we try to take care of the warming up. But of course Alexi is playing the hardest stuff, it might be him. But we all know how important it is to warm up and stretch your arms and fingers! Let’s hope we can avoid that situation.

P: Any last words for America before you once again chew us up and spit us out?
 
H: Hehe, we have been there so many times [in the] last years, it’s hard to understand how there still would be people interested. But we saw some presales and it seems good. We will play some fresh stuff this time, so it’s not always the same sh*t! But looking forward to it, last tour for us for a long time. See you there!