Children of Bodom

Children of Bodom
Company type	Private
Industry	Music
Founded	1993 in Espoo, Finland
Founder	Alexi Laiho, Jaska Raatikainen
Defunct	2019
Headquarters	Espoo, Finland
Products	Music albums, live recordings, EPs, compilation albums, DVDs

Children of Bodom was a melodic death metal group hailing from Espoo, Finland. Established in 1993 under the original name Inearthed, their final roster prior to disbanding in 2019 consisted of lead vocalist and guitarist Alexi Laiho, drummer Jaska Raatikainen, bassist Henkka Seppälä, keyboardist Janne Wirman, and guitarist Daniel Freyberg. Over their career, they produced ten studio albums, three live recordings, two extended plays, two compilation albums, and one DVD release.

Their third full-length album, Follow the Reaper (2000), marked their initial achievement of gold certification in Finland; subsequent releases also earned similar recognition. The following four albums each entered the Finnish album charts at number one and secured positions on the US Billboard 200. With over 250,000 copies sold domestically, they rank among Finland’s top-selling musical acts.

In 2019, Children of Bodom held their farewell show in Helsinki titled A Chapter Called Children of Bodom before officially dissolving. Afterward, Laiho and Freyberg formed Bodom After Midnight in 2020. Unfortunately, Laiho, the founder and principal songwriter of the band, passed away in December 2020.

In October 2025, the remaining members announced a reunion for two tribute concerts dedicated to Laiho scheduled for February 2026, featuring Samy Elbanna as the new vocalist and guitarist.

Formation and early years (1993–1996)

The inception of Children of Bodom dates back to 1993 when guitarist Alexi "Wildchild" Laiho and drummer Jaska Raatikainen founded the band under the name Inearthed. Both shared a passion for heavy metal genres, particularly death metal groups like Dissection, Entombed, and Cannibal Corpse, alongside classic metal influences such as Iron Maiden and Metallica. The original lineup was completed by bassist Samuli Miettinen, who also penned lyrics during his tenure until relocating to the United States in 1995. During this era, Inearthed recorded two demos: Implosion of Heaven and Ubiquitous Absence of Remission. The latter marked their initial collaboration with producer Anssi Kippo at Astia-studios in Lappeenranta, Finland, and introduced keyboard elements performed separately by Laiho and Raatikainen.

Raatikainen, who had experience playing French horn in a local big band, encountered guitarist Alexander Kuoppala during rehearsals; Kuoppala soon joined Inearthed following their second demo. In early 1996, Henkka "Blacksmith" Seppälä took over bass duties from Miettinen while also providing backing vocals. At the same time, Jani Pirisjoki was added as keyboardist. This formation recorded a third demo titled Shining, which unfortunately did not attract record label interest. To better integrate keyboards into their sound, Pirisjoki was replaced by jazz-trained pianist Janne "Warman" Wirman.

Due to an existing contract with Shiver Records under the name Inearthed, the band opted to change their name upon signing with Spinefarm Records. Drawing inspiration from the infamous local Lake Bodom, they adopted the moniker Children of Bodom.

Something Wild and Hatebreeder (1996–2000)

Something Wild was both produced and engineered by Anssi Kippo alongside Children of Bodom at Astia-studios located in Lappeenranta, Finland. To increase their exposure, the band supported Dimmu Borgir during their 1997 tour. The album saw its initial release in Finland at the end of 1997, followed by an international launch in 1998. Promotion included a modestly budgeted music video for "Deadnight Warrior," directed by Mika Lindberg.

Despite being the band's debut, Laiho expressed dissatisfaction with Something Wild, considering it his least favorite album. Nevertheless, he recognized it as a crucial milestone that established their identity. The album’s technical complexity was influenced by Laiho's admiration for guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen.

Children of Bodom embarked on their first European tour in February 1998, sharing the stage with acts such as Hypocrisy, The Kovenant, and Agathodaimon. During this tour, keyboardist Wirman was temporarily replaced by Erna Siikavirta. Later that year, the group returned to Astia-studios with Kippo to record two new tracks: "Towards Dead End" and "Children of Bodom." The live debut of "Forevermore," later retitled "Downfall," took place in Russia.

In September 1998, during their second European tour, Kimberly Goss from Sinergy filled in on keyboards due to Wirman’s unavailability. This period also marked Laiho’s invitation to join Sinergy extended by Goss.

The band’s sophomore album, Hatebreeder, was recorded between late 1998 and early 1999 at Astia-studios with Kippo producing. Originally intended to be named Towards Dead End, the title was ultimately changed to Hatebreeder. The single "Downfall," released two weeks ahead of the album and accompanied by another video from Lindberg, generated considerable excitement. Upon release, Hatebreeder achieved top chart positions throughout Europe, significantly boosting their profile.

In July 1999, buoyed by the success of "Downfall" and Hatebreeder, Children of Bodom arranged three concerts in Japan alongside Sinergy and In Flames. Two of these performances were captured for the live album Tokyo Warhearts, which was praised for its raw authenticity and absence of overdubs.

Rise to popularity: Follow the Reaper and Hate Crew Deathroll (2000–2004)

For their subsequent album, Children of Bodom shifted recording locations to Peter Tägtgren's Abyss studio in Sweden, moving away from their prior collaboration with Anssi Kippo at Astia. They composed eight tracks and added the quickly written "Kissing the Shadows," featuring improvised lyrics by Laiho. Recording sessions took place from August to September 2000, with a worldwide release later that year. The Finnish director Tuukka Temonen created a music video for the track "Everytime I Die."

In February 2002, writing commenced for Hate Crew Deathroll, with the band returning to Astia studio under Anssi Kippo’s production. The recording process spanned August to September, leading to a January 2003 release in Finland. The album dominated Finnish charts for three consecutive weeks and became Children of Bodom’s first gold-certified record. Subsequently, all their albums attained gold status, with Follow the Reaper achieving platinum certification.

On 3 January 2003, during the Finnish Metal Music Awards held at Tavastia Club in Helsinki, Children of Bodom received the accolade for Finnish Band of the Year.

Their inaugural world tour between 2003 and 2004 featured numerous sold-out performances and solidified their foothold in North America. Midway through this tour, guitarist Kuoppala departed unexpectedly due to personal lifestyle changes. Laiho clarified that there were no hard feelings involved; Kuoppala had simply chosen to step away from the rock scene. After Kai Nergaard declined an offer to fill the vacancy, Roope Latvala—founder of the seminal Finnish metal act Stone and Laiho’s bandmate from Sinergy—joined as a session guitarist. This new lineup made its debut in Moscow on 16 August.

Breakthrough with Are You Dead Yet? (2004–2007)

Following Janne Wirman’s permanent addition, Children of Bodom issued the EP Trashed, Lost & Strungout alongside the single "In Your Face," which included tracks destined for their forthcoming album and a humorous rendition of Britney Spears' "Oops!... I Did It Again." Late in 2005 saw the release of Are You Dead Yet?, an album characterized by more straightforward, heavier guitar riffs infused with industrial influences. Although fan responses were divided, it emerged as their most commercially triumphant record, achieving gold certification in Finland and securing the top position on Finnish charts; it also attained #16 rankings in Germany and Sweden and reached #17 in Japan. The band followed up with a DVD-single for "In Your Face," containing the music video, behind-the-scenes footage, and a live version of "Sixpounder" recorded at Wacken Open Air 2004. In June, they performed before an audience of 120,000 at the final Böhse Onkelz concert, with their rendition of "Everytime I Die" featured on the concert DVD Vaya Con Tioz.

Their live DVD Chaos Ridden Years - Stockholm Knockout Live was released on 5 December 2006, capturing a February 2006 Stockholm performance with over 90 minutes of live footage. The title also encompasses a documentary including interviews and tour clips. This release contains all Children of Bodom music videos except "Needled 24/7." Notably, guitarist Alexi Laiho was honored as the world’s best guitarist in 2006 by Metal Hammer magazine.

In June 2006, Children of Bodom embarked on one of their most extensive tours, The Unholy Alliance, sharing stages with Slayer, Lamb of God, Mastodon, In Flames, and Thine Eyes Bleed across the US during summer and Europe in autumn.

On 31 January 2007, Laiho sustained a left shoulder injury after slipping in a bowling alley, which led to the cancellation of early-year tours and a headline festival slot. By 31 March updates indicated that while Laiho’s injury would not fully recover, it no longer impaired his guitar performance. The band had commenced writing new material and planned to enter the studio later that year.

Blooddrunk and Relentless Reckless Forever (2007–2012)

Between October and December 2007, Children of Bodom recorded their sixth studio album, Blooddrunk, which was released on 15 April 2008. The record includes ten tracks featuring a cover of "Ghost Riders in the Sky". That year, they joined the Gigantour North American lineup alongside Megadeth, In Flames, and others, performing at major festivals such as Wacken Open Air and Donington Download with prominent acts like Iron Maiden and Sonata Arctica. In March 2008, they hosted a UK signing event for their single "Blooddrunk," releasing limited edition vinyl editions.

June 2008 marked Children of Bodom’s debut performance in Auckland, New Zealand. During this period, their first three studio albums plus Tokyo Warhearts were remastered with added bonus content. A US tour supporting Blooddrunk took place later that year with support from The Black Dahlia Murder and Between the Buried and Me, featuring a guest appearance by Testament. Subsequently, they toured Europe supporting Slipknot and Machine Head. Early 2009 saw them co-headlining a European tour with Cannibal Corpse, supported by Diablo.

On 2 April 2009, Children of Bodom joined the No Fear Energy Tour headlined by Lamb of God, alongside As I Lay Dying, but withdrew prematurely due to frontman Alexi Laiho’s injury sustained during a fall on tour. Despite this setback, planned summer festival appearances proceeded without interruption.

In February 2009, the band announced plans for a cover album titled Skeletons in the Closet, which was released on 23 September 2009. They acknowledged a need to enhance songwriting output for future releases. That September, they toured South America and Mexico supported by Amorphis, followed by a month-long North American headlining run backed by The Black Dahlia Murder and Skeletonwitch, including guest performances from acts like Austrian Death Machine.

In October 2009, Children of Bodom performed at Japan’s Loudpark Festival alongside major bands such as Megadeth and Judas Priest, followed by concerts in Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, and Moscow to conclude their extensive Blooddrunk World Tour.

Skeletons in the Closet is a compilation cover album featuring previously released covers plus four new tracks. The artists covered include Suicidal Tendencies, Britney Spears, Alice Cooper, Iron Maiden, Slayer, Andrew WK, Billy Idol, and Scorpions.

To support this release, Children of Bodom ran a contest from August to September 2009 offering prizes such as an ESP/LTD M-53 electric guitar, their complete back catalog, and copies of Skeletons in the Closet. Winners were revealed on 28 September 2009.

Revival with Halo of Blood (2010–2014)

After completing the Blooddrunk tour, Children of Bodom commenced work on their new album, encountering setbacks caused by a tornado-induced power failure during drum recording sessions. Following a joint tour with Black Label Society, they unveiled new songs "Pussyfoot Miss Suicide," "Ugly," and "Was It Worth It?" in an exclusive feature with Metal Hammer magazine.

In November, the band announced "The Ugly World Tour 2011" throughout Europe, supported by Ensiferum and Machinae Supremacy, with UK dates including Amon Amarth as guests. The album title, Relentless Reckless Forever, was confirmed on 24 November and released on 8 March 2011. The music video for "Was It Worth It?" featured professional skateboarders such as Chris Cole and was incorporated as downloadable content in the video game Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock.

Their eighth studio album, Halo of Blood, was released on 6 June in Europe, 10 June in the United Kingdom, and 11 June in North America. Starting 18 March 2013, the band participated in the Mayhem Festival alongside acts like Rob Zombie, Mastodon, and Amon Amarth.

Neil Kelly of PopMatters commended Halo of Blood for potentially reintroducing death metal to a wider audience, describing it as Children of Bodom’s most approachable album to date.

In May 2014, Children of Bodom toured eastern Australia, performing in cities including Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. They were supported by Eye of the Enemy, Orpheus Omega (Melbourne), and Emergency Gate (Brisbane and Sydney).

I Worship Chaos, Hexed, and concluding performance (2014–2019)

Work on the follow-up to Halo of Blood began on 7 April 2015. On 29 May 2015, the band announced guitarist Roope Latvala’s exit, proceeding to record the new album as a quartet. Antti Wirman, sibling of keyboardist Janne Wirman, joined live performances through the end of the year but did not become an official member. The album titled I Worship Chaos was released via Nuclear Blast on 2 October 2015. Daniel Freyberg joined as guitarist on 19 January 2016, making his live debut in Tampa, Florida on 9 February.

By September 2017, keyboardist Janne Wirman confirmed plans to record another album with their established production team at their warehouse studio. Bassist Henkka Seppälä disclosed in November that half an album’s material had been composed. Recording started in March 2018 with a target release date in early 2019. The band announced their album Hexed in November 2018, which was released on 8 March 2019.

On 1 November 2019, Children of Bodom declared their final concert featuring the current lineup would take place on 15 December at Helsinki Ice Hall in Finland. The announcement explained that after nearly a quarter-century and ten studio albums, Seppälä, Wirman, and Raatikainen chose to step away to explore new paths while Laiho and Freyberg intended to pursue additional musical ventures.

Reports suggested that internal disagreements between Laiho and other members led to these departures. Although Laiho and Freyberg recruited new musicians afterward, they were unable to continue using the Children of Bodom name without consent from former bandmates.

The final performance was subsequently released as a live album on 15 December 2023.

Bodom After Midnight and the passing of Alexi Laiho (2020–2021)

In 2020, Alexi Laiho established the band Bodom After Midnight, bringing together Daniel Freyberg, bassist Mitja Toivonen (formerly of Santa Cruz), drummer Waltteri Väyrynen (Paradise Lost), and touring keyboardist Lauri Salomaa. Their inaugural live performance occurred on 23 October 2020 in Seinäjoki, Finland, where they played a one-hour set comprised solely of Children of Bodom tracks.

Laiho passed away on 4 January 2021 at the age of 41 due to health-related issues. Prior to his death, Bodom After Midnight had recorded three songs and produced a music video intended for their debut release; these were issued posthumously. On 10 February, the band revealed plans for the EP Paint the Sky with Blood, which was released on 23 April 2021 and included two original compositions alongside a cover of Dissection. Guitarist Daniel Freyberg confirmed that no additional material was available: "No further songs were written... no leftover tracks."

In April 2021, Freyberg announced that Bodom After Midnight would not proceed without Laiho, emphasizing the deep connection between the band’s identity and its frontman. The track "Paint the Sky With Blood" earned recognition as the eighth best metal song of 2021 by Loudwire.

Reunion performances (2025–present)

On 28 October 2025, the remaining members of Children of Bodom declared a reunion for a singular tribute concert titled A Celebration of Music, scheduled for 26 February 2026 at Helsinki's Tavastia Club. Due to rapid sell-out, a second show was added for 27 February at the same venue. Alongside Raatikainen, Seppälä, and Wirman, rhythm guitarist Alexander Kuoppala rejoined, with Samy Elbanna from Lost Society stepping in to cover vocals and guitar duties formerly held by Laiho.

Musical style and influences

Children of Bodom is distinguished by its fusion of melodic death metal and power metal, resulting in a distinctive sonic signature. Their inspirations encompass bands such as Anthrax, Darkthrone, Dimmu Borgir, Entombed, as well as artists like Yngwie Malmsteen, Helloween, and Stratovarius. According to AllMusic, Laiho was "widely celebrated as one of the genre's most accomplished players," highlighting the band's significant influence within metal music.

Tributes

In 2022, Espoo saw the opening of Bodom Bar & Sauna near the Niittykumpu metro station, a venue featuring a public sauna concept that pays homage to the band’s enduring legacy.

Band members

Final lineup

Alexi Laiho – lead guitar, lead vocals (1993–2019); bass (1993–1994, 1995–1996); keyboards (1993–1996, 2019); rhythm guitar (1993–1996, 2003, 2015) (deceased 2020)
Jaska Raatikainen – drums (1993–2019, 2026); keyboards (1993–1996)
Henkka Seppälä – bass, backing vocals (1996–2019, 2026)
Janne Wirman – keyboards, backing vocals (1997–2019, 2026)
Daniel Freyberg – guitar, backing vocals (2016–2019)

Bodom After Midnight lineup (2020–2021)

Alexi Laiho – lead guitar, lead vocals (deceased 2020)
Daniel Freyberg – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Mitja Toivonen – bass, backing vocals
Waltteri Väyrynen – drums
Lauri Salomaa – keyboards, backing vocals (live member)

Former members

Samuli Miettinen – bass, backing vocals (1994–1995)
Jani Pirisjoki – keyboards, backing vocals (1994–1997); rhythm guitar (1994–1995)
Alexander Kuoppala – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1996–2003, 2026)
Roope Latvala – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2004–2015; live member 2003–2004)

Former live members

Erna Siikavirta – keyboards (1998)
Kimberly Goss – keyboards, backing vocals (1998)
Netta Skog – accordion (guest appearances in 2015 and 2016)
Antti Wirman – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2015)

Timeline

Discography

Something Wild (1997)
Hatebreeder (1999)
Follow the Reaper (2000)
Hate Crew Deathroll (2003)
Are You Dead Yet? (2005)
Blooddrunk (2008)
Relentless Reckless Forever (2011)
Halo of Blood (2013)
I Worship Chaos (2015)
Hexed (2019)

External links