cornershopstudios » Children Of Bodom @ Metropolis

Six years after Children Of Bodom’s first Montreal appearance, the crowd at Metropolis was full of energy to see these death-pop stars bring on the goods, and frontman Alexi Laiho loved every second of it. Pulling out fan favorites from all six of their full-length albums, at every turn, the Hate Crew pummelled the audience with finger-snapping rhythms and fist-pumping melodies. Laiho can do no wrong in Montreal; holding casual conversations with band members between songs was perfectly acceptable by the Hate Crew crowd. Even keyboardist, Janne Warman, had the right idea with one hand on the keys and the other funnelling the contents of a beer bottle into his stomach. The Alexi Laiho show, complete with squealing guitars and outstretched tongues hit all the right notes with the local crowd. Accompanied by a light show that was sure to promote epileptic seizures, Children Of Bodom were tight, and more than thrilled to be back in this city. Laiho and crew are gluttons for praise, and it shows; raising the guitar like a beacon of heavy metal hope to cut through the crowd. Even the lights beamed on the adorning crowd for Laiho and his company on stage to see. Hit after hit, they levelled the cheering crowd, each song borrowing gratuitously from the likes of Iron Maiden, Type O Negative, and a handful of other power metal bands. Children Of Bodom may just be the catchiest death metal band in the world, and the crowd loved every catchy second.

Adam Reider