COB Interviews
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- Start date
Children of Bodom (Soundi 03/2008)
Soon also Children of Bodom will join to our internationally known bands that have released six studio albums. Hard working Alexi Laiho tells why band chose Hollola over Hollywood, why his luggage is often packed in the hallway and why January is cursed month.
All Saints Day. Sun rise has barely ended when sun set begins. But its always like this in beginning of the November in Finland. Journalist and photographer Timo Isoaho stops front of Siwa at Hämeenkoski (note: Siwa is small grocery store). He has just got an order on the phone to bring cider when he arrives. Brand doesnt matter as long it is as dry as possible. It really wasnt an order; its hard to imagine jovial front man of the band bossing anyone around.
Bag full of Kopparberg, Crowmoor and Fizz we continue towards Hollola. There we are suppose to follow how keyboardist Janne Wirman records Laihos guitars parts to upcoming album. Mikko Karmila that usually does the recording is having a day of and rest of the guys hasnt been around for awhile.
We are not playing anymore laughs Wirman when opening the door and Laiho continues that all the rhythm guitar parts have already been recorded. Pair had good working mood in the day before so they finished the job early. This way they got to celebrate ten year anniversary of their debut album Something Wild earlier.
Then Booze Brothers play some samples from upcoming album and, as we later found out, reveals name of the album too early to us. Tiina Rappula brings evening snack while Laiho and Wirman are entertaining Soundi delegation with their colorful but unprintable stories. Many of them feature Roope Latvala, other guitarist of the band. We are already on our way when musicians start praising Petrax as many other fellow musicians have done. Everything has been really fantastic.
- I havent even been here before, Laiho says. Fantastic place, we like this commune thing that whole band is living at the studio during at the beginning of the recordings.
Leap day. We barely got the winter when it start to fade a way. But it seems to go like this in Finland now days. Taxi stops at front of apartment building near seashore in the eastern Helsinki. Out from the taxi, push of the doorbell and elevator ride to the uppermost floor. Outer door is already open but inner door is closed. It has black and yellow police Line Do Not Cross tape from corner to corner and in the middle of the door there is reference to one of the favorite movies of the apartment owner. The Dudes Not In, says text.
Here lives one of most celebrated guitarist of the now days. There is small disorder suitable for traveling young man. At the moment he has been surprisingly long in Finland. Recording of the Blooddrunk album was started at the beginning of the October and last days have been full of promotional work in the Finland.
- Why I always have awful hangover when I meet you? Laughs 28 years old man while shaking hands. He has done almost 20 interviews during last three days. For Soundi magazine Allu wanted to give more time and more comfortable surroundings so interview was done in his own couch.
Now there is no packed suitcase in the hallway but in this apartment it is more rule than exception.
- Couple of times I have come home for less than a week and I havent unpacked my suitcases at all. I just go to sleep for a week and then go back on tour.
Ron, Heat or similar Robert De Niro movie where there are group of specialist offers an idea that you cant be successful if you cant leave everything in 30 seconds.
- My life is not that dramatic, but almost. Insomnia has been more topical movie for me lately. My sleep rhythm was totally messed up a while ago. Then I went to my girlfriends place. She went walk the dog and I said that I try to sleep a little. I woke up 15 hours later!
- I have decided already long time ago that this is my life. So being on the road all the time doesnt bother me. I have been thinking it over so that I have to be ready to leave for example to Australia in 5 minutes. We have to do this now when there is an interest for us. And none of us have family so we are dedicated to the band at the moment.
That doesnt mean that someone somewhere wouldnt know very precisely where Alexi is going to be in near future. Does he know himself where he is going to be for example at January 2009?
- I know that Im not going to be sitting here. First we have that big Dave Mustain tour in US. Then we have some festivals in Europe and after those we have headliner tour in Australia, New Zealand and Japan. After that some more festivals and European headliner tour followed by US headliner tour. So I would guess that we are touring in US at that time.
At some break band might release an EP or DVD. This time I wouldnt be one whole concert but more like collection. Before Gigantour starting 12th of March COB has been supporting for example Halford and touring with Slayer in both US and Europe.
- Tour with Slayer in UD was like best tour ever for us. Laiho tells and continues that biggest stars are usually nice guys.
- The ones we have had problems with have been wannabe rock stars from Germany that think too much of themselves. ..Prima Fear tried to rip off money from us and they werent nicest guys in the world anyway.
- Slipknot has been asking us to join their next tour. Was I even allowed to talk about this yet? Well fuck anyway, I hope it happens. They play in really big places in the US.
Selecting January for random do you know where you will be at question amuses Laiho because its dangerous month for him.
- January is cursed month. Maybe I had something to do with the wrist Alexi says sarcastically about January 2005 which he spent recovering from an accident that happened in December 2004.
- January 2006 I kicked my toe to the monitor. January 2007 I broke my shoulder and wait a second! Nothing happened this January. Maybe January 2009 will be really bad. My head will explode with out warning.
Laiho, who won player of the year 2007 category as expected on readers poll of the Soundi, has legendary reputation with all his drunken accidents. Previous generation also had their Al-starting guitar hero. Alber Järvinen didnt spit into the glass either.
Alexi was talking about guitar heroes with Esa Holopainen and Timo Tolkki in the Soundi 10/2007 Guitar Heroes article but lets summaries couple of points.
- Zakk Wylde who is one of the biggest guitar heroes of now a day is too down to earth guy to be a Guitar Hero Alexi says pointing to the album playing background.
- Yngwie Malmsteen and other ego maniac guys were left to 80s.
- There are lots of good players but being a guitar hero is more about the attitude. Steve Vai is so mystical dude that he can be considered as a guitar hero. I associate some sort of Oriental thing to the guitar heroes. You have to go the India search your self and other hippie things, Alexi says like a referring to his commonly misunderstood comment about John McLaugh and Shakti in the earlier article .
- If I would like to find myself I would go the India to search it!
Status as an admired guitarist is something that Alexi who started his musical studies at age of five doesnt overlook. And even he doesnt say it directly its something he also wanted to achieve when setting up a good band and learning to write good music.
- I have always wanted to show off. You have to want it. Wouldnt it be quite sad to practice ten years in so cellar and then not to show off? You shouldnt underestimate yourself. Fuck, Im always ready to rock out, Allu laughs.
- But we are playing music not solos. Im quite excited because first time in my life I have new song ideas before album is out. I dont start worrying until I consider myself as a guitar hero.
Santeri Ojala from Tampere has been making fun of guitar heroes. His parody videos posted the Youtube under name StSanders has been getting lot of attention.
- Those are really funny. Partly because you can hear that the guy is really good guitarist. They are played wrong in really cool way. For example that Steve Vai thing, good shit.
- The latest thing, that videos have been remove from Youtube I dont understand at all. Someone was asking if Yngwie doesnt have sense of humor anymore. That copyright thing is just bullshit. There wasnt original audio so copyright shouldnt be an issue.
Just like with HIM, Apocalyptica and Nightwish this is also Children of Bodoms 6th studio album. Venus Doom, Worlds Collide, Dark Passion Play and Blooddrunk are so to say documents of the moment when band should already know where they are aiming and how they sound. Being influence for other bands tells also something about the situation of the band.
Apocalyptica doesnt have many imitators, understandably, but others have lots of bands imitating them. Laiho sees it as a positive thing.
- Its flattering. I have met bands that go defensive if someone sounds like them. Thats stupid. Point is that we have our influences and they have their influences. I think is just fun that some parts of someone sounds similar to us.
You can find these band also outside from Finland. COB has also toured with some of them for example with Trivium. Laiho follows loosely genre to which they are often lumped together.
- Im forced to follow it because we tour with those bands. At some point I felt that similar sounding metal core bands are everywhere. It became boring. But for example Lamb of God and Shadow Falls are good. Also Killswitch Engage.
Younger bands from this genre often mention COB as their influence.
- Surprisingly many dig us. Many players have told that they have been listening us and In Flames. That is weird thing especially because we are used to be youngest band of the festival or tour. But it makes me feel that we have achieved something. Especially at the tours you notice that everyone is influenced by others.
If Laiho, Children of Bodom and Blooddrunk are sort of forerunners metal bands will make meaner and more aggressive music on the future. New album is snottier and more straight-forward than its predecessors.
- That just happened. We have always wanted to do more aggressive and stronger album. All of our albums are more extreme than its predecessors.
- It could be that I have been listening more extreme stuff lately. But there are hooks even though progressive parts are scarce. Maybe hooks are not so much in choruses but in the keyboard and guitar parts. I understand the album so that it takes lot of listening to open up which is good. At least I like that as a listener that you dont get everything right away.
Punk has always been in the headlines and also trendy for a while. Laiho has deeper relationship to the Punk.
- Im not anymore that aware of the scene but there are some interesting names. Lately I have been digging Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphy. They have Irish thing going on. They are not ug but more real than fake punk bands playing on MTV. I often go back to basics classics like Ramones, Pistols I like also UK Subs. Maybe thats more ug. I dont know scene that well anymore.
Straight-forwardness, aggressiveness and strongness limit the portion. According to Laiho Blooddrunk is less than 37 minutes because who would like to listen that kind of music longer. Album became shorter also because two last songs were combined; loose parts were thrown to the garbage bin and best parts were used in one song. Result is one of the Alexis favorites.
- Nine good songs are better than ten not so good. He says.
- Quality is more important than amount. How many 13 or 14 track album doesnt have any filler songs? And I always can use reign in blood card if needed.
Growing mp3 culture hasnt effected to COBs attitude. Laiho think albums as a whole and uses lot of time to think order of the tracks.
- You could make a lot worse album out of those songs if you would put them to random order.
Children of Bodom are Laiho, Wirman, Latvala and bass player Henkka Seppälä and drummer Jaska Raatikainen. Front man Alexi listens others but makes final decisions by himself.
- Im open to suggestions, for example sound ideas. And of course others tell their opinions and I listen them. But some things I have already decided how they go and I wont change them. But there arent many such things.
Blooddrunk has been done with Mikko Karmila and Peter Tägtgren. Latter was helping with vocal sessions.
- I knew before hand that that it will work but it still went better than I expected. Point was that I wanted someone who is singer and knows this style to record my vocals. It makes my life much easier when I can trust to his word and suggestions. We probably will continue like this. With Karmila things went better this time. We are not so afraid of him anymore and he doesnt treat us like small kids, Laiho laughs.
Produces COB doesnt need,
- Our songs are ready when we enter studio. We dont need any guy to touch our compositions or arrangements. That is for boybands. I dont really even understand whole producer role. Officially he is probably the guy who looks after that album is ready when agreed with money agreed.
- Before this album our US management told that some local was interested for producing our album. Scott something, I dont remember. He had been playing with big guys like Velvet Revolver and Nine Inch Nails.
Phone call to Wirman reveals that it was Scott Humphries. He hasnt worked with bands that Laiho mentioned because Allu is once again messed up things or remembers wrong, like Wirman says. But Humphries has worked for example with Rob Zombie. COB was discussing with Humphries and visited his studio but in the end chose Hollola over Hollywood.
- Hollywood could have been little too restless environment. Laiho explains. - And its really expensive there. We could have taken the risk if there would have been need for change and guarantee that result is significantly better. But there wasnt. Worst case scenario would have been that we go there act as a rock stars and come back home with really bad album.
Just like with HIM, Apocalyptica and Nightwish also Children of Bodom have been operating in the international markets for long time, especially in the USA. Band has been doing long tours there for years either alone or with other bands. Front man knows who to thank of opened up American market.
- It is mainly due to US Century Media. No one was asking us to come there before Century Media licensed Hate Crew Death Roll (2003) and started to push it. Luckily there was one guy in the company that was really excited about us. He arranged our first tours and lot of interviews. He made huge amount of work for us.
Touring affect also to the sales figures. Hate Crew Deathroll sales figures rose in a half year from 6000 to 50000. And because Are You Death Yet? (2005) sold about 80 000 copies, target for Blooddrunk is in the next round figure. Also Laiho admits this little bit shyly.
- They are thinking that we sell over 100 000 copies of this in the US. And sure it would be nice. Sales have been growing all the time and now we have different company making promotional work. They seem to take it seriously.
Unlike other our internationally significant bands Children of Bodom has managed to say out of main media. Main reason being nature of the music, Needled 24/7 or In Your Face hasnt been playing radio and band members are not familiar to everyone.
There is also some other factors. Press has hard time finding for example Laihos taxation information. I realized it when Laiho was paying those ciders as a bank transfer.
- Yeah, my parents wanted to give me my grandfathers names. Aleksi, my calling name, is my third name. I have always been called Aleksi. Its quite inconvenient arrangement but I wouldnt like to be called Make (note: common nickname for Markku) either. But truth comes out every time Im watching for example my flight tickets.
This is band leader and song writer whose band is expected to sell over 100 000 copies in US. When you add up tendency to end up hospital when drunk, you could think that press loves him. Hopefully Alexi Laiho can stay invisible also in the future.
- Media likes to write about bands that have sold ten times less than us and who have done show in the Sweden. Real international bands! Heavy bands arent in the headlines that often.
- But I dont need that kid of attention. Metal people get their information from somewhere else that gossip magazines. We do sell gold in Finland even without media attention.
Ville Valo, Eicca Toppinen and quite funnily Tarja Turunen, but not Tuomas Holopainen, have taken part Presidents Independence Day reception. What would Alexi Laiho do if he would get invitation to the reception?
- Hahahahaha! I cant imagine me being there. It would be way too awkward. Maybe I get to go there when I became guitar hero. Then I can wear Yngwie style frill shirt.
Soon also Children of Bodom will join to our internationally known bands that have released six studio albums. Hard working Alexi Laiho tells why band chose Hollola over Hollywood, why his luggage is often packed in the hallway and why January is cursed month.
All Saints Day. Sun rise has barely ended when sun set begins. But its always like this in beginning of the November in Finland. Journalist and photographer Timo Isoaho stops front of Siwa at Hämeenkoski (note: Siwa is small grocery store). He has just got an order on the phone to bring cider when he arrives. Brand doesnt matter as long it is as dry as possible. It really wasnt an order; its hard to imagine jovial front man of the band bossing anyone around.
Bag full of Kopparberg, Crowmoor and Fizz we continue towards Hollola. There we are suppose to follow how keyboardist Janne Wirman records Laihos guitars parts to upcoming album. Mikko Karmila that usually does the recording is having a day of and rest of the guys hasnt been around for awhile.
We are not playing anymore laughs Wirman when opening the door and Laiho continues that all the rhythm guitar parts have already been recorded. Pair had good working mood in the day before so they finished the job early. This way they got to celebrate ten year anniversary of their debut album Something Wild earlier.
Then Booze Brothers play some samples from upcoming album and, as we later found out, reveals name of the album too early to us. Tiina Rappula brings evening snack while Laiho and Wirman are entertaining Soundi delegation with their colorful but unprintable stories. Many of them feature Roope Latvala, other guitarist of the band. We are already on our way when musicians start praising Petrax as many other fellow musicians have done. Everything has been really fantastic.
- I havent even been here before, Laiho says. Fantastic place, we like this commune thing that whole band is living at the studio during at the beginning of the recordings.
Leap day. We barely got the winter when it start to fade a way. But it seems to go like this in Finland now days. Taxi stops at front of apartment building near seashore in the eastern Helsinki. Out from the taxi, push of the doorbell and elevator ride to the uppermost floor. Outer door is already open but inner door is closed. It has black and yellow police Line Do Not Cross tape from corner to corner and in the middle of the door there is reference to one of the favorite movies of the apartment owner. The Dudes Not In, says text.
Here lives one of most celebrated guitarist of the now days. There is small disorder suitable for traveling young man. At the moment he has been surprisingly long in Finland. Recording of the Blooddrunk album was started at the beginning of the October and last days have been full of promotional work in the Finland.
- Why I always have awful hangover when I meet you? Laughs 28 years old man while shaking hands. He has done almost 20 interviews during last three days. For Soundi magazine Allu wanted to give more time and more comfortable surroundings so interview was done in his own couch.
Now there is no packed suitcase in the hallway but in this apartment it is more rule than exception.
- Couple of times I have come home for less than a week and I havent unpacked my suitcases at all. I just go to sleep for a week and then go back on tour.
Ron, Heat or similar Robert De Niro movie where there are group of specialist offers an idea that you cant be successful if you cant leave everything in 30 seconds.
- My life is not that dramatic, but almost. Insomnia has been more topical movie for me lately. My sleep rhythm was totally messed up a while ago. Then I went to my girlfriends place. She went walk the dog and I said that I try to sleep a little. I woke up 15 hours later!
- I have decided already long time ago that this is my life. So being on the road all the time doesnt bother me. I have been thinking it over so that I have to be ready to leave for example to Australia in 5 minutes. We have to do this now when there is an interest for us. And none of us have family so we are dedicated to the band at the moment.
That doesnt mean that someone somewhere wouldnt know very precisely where Alexi is going to be in near future. Does he know himself where he is going to be for example at January 2009?
- I know that Im not going to be sitting here. First we have that big Dave Mustain tour in US. Then we have some festivals in Europe and after those we have headliner tour in Australia, New Zealand and Japan. After that some more festivals and European headliner tour followed by US headliner tour. So I would guess that we are touring in US at that time.
At some break band might release an EP or DVD. This time I wouldnt be one whole concert but more like collection. Before Gigantour starting 12th of March COB has been supporting for example Halford and touring with Slayer in both US and Europe.
- Tour with Slayer in UD was like best tour ever for us. Laiho tells and continues that biggest stars are usually nice guys.
- The ones we have had problems with have been wannabe rock stars from Germany that think too much of themselves. ..Prima Fear tried to rip off money from us and they werent nicest guys in the world anyway.
- Slipknot has been asking us to join their next tour. Was I even allowed to talk about this yet? Well fuck anyway, I hope it happens. They play in really big places in the US.
Selecting January for random do you know where you will be at question amuses Laiho because its dangerous month for him.
- January is cursed month. Maybe I had something to do with the wrist Alexi says sarcastically about January 2005 which he spent recovering from an accident that happened in December 2004.
- January 2006 I kicked my toe to the monitor. January 2007 I broke my shoulder and wait a second! Nothing happened this January. Maybe January 2009 will be really bad. My head will explode with out warning.
Laiho, who won player of the year 2007 category as expected on readers poll of the Soundi, has legendary reputation with all his drunken accidents. Previous generation also had their Al-starting guitar hero. Alber Järvinen didnt spit into the glass either.
Alexi was talking about guitar heroes with Esa Holopainen and Timo Tolkki in the Soundi 10/2007 Guitar Heroes article but lets summaries couple of points.
- Zakk Wylde who is one of the biggest guitar heroes of now a day is too down to earth guy to be a Guitar Hero Alexi says pointing to the album playing background.
- Yngwie Malmsteen and other ego maniac guys were left to 80s.
- There are lots of good players but being a guitar hero is more about the attitude. Steve Vai is so mystical dude that he can be considered as a guitar hero. I associate some sort of Oriental thing to the guitar heroes. You have to go the India search your self and other hippie things, Alexi says like a referring to his commonly misunderstood comment about John McLaugh and Shakti in the earlier article .
- If I would like to find myself I would go the India to search it!
Status as an admired guitarist is something that Alexi who started his musical studies at age of five doesnt overlook. And even he doesnt say it directly its something he also wanted to achieve when setting up a good band and learning to write good music.
- I have always wanted to show off. You have to want it. Wouldnt it be quite sad to practice ten years in so cellar and then not to show off? You shouldnt underestimate yourself. Fuck, Im always ready to rock out, Allu laughs.
- But we are playing music not solos. Im quite excited because first time in my life I have new song ideas before album is out. I dont start worrying until I consider myself as a guitar hero.
Santeri Ojala from Tampere has been making fun of guitar heroes. His parody videos posted the Youtube under name StSanders has been getting lot of attention.
- Those are really funny. Partly because you can hear that the guy is really good guitarist. They are played wrong in really cool way. For example that Steve Vai thing, good shit.
- The latest thing, that videos have been remove from Youtube I dont understand at all. Someone was asking if Yngwie doesnt have sense of humor anymore. That copyright thing is just bullshit. There wasnt original audio so copyright shouldnt be an issue.
Just like with HIM, Apocalyptica and Nightwish this is also Children of Bodoms 6th studio album. Venus Doom, Worlds Collide, Dark Passion Play and Blooddrunk are so to say documents of the moment when band should already know where they are aiming and how they sound. Being influence for other bands tells also something about the situation of the band.
Apocalyptica doesnt have many imitators, understandably, but others have lots of bands imitating them. Laiho sees it as a positive thing.
- Its flattering. I have met bands that go defensive if someone sounds like them. Thats stupid. Point is that we have our influences and they have their influences. I think is just fun that some parts of someone sounds similar to us.
You can find these band also outside from Finland. COB has also toured with some of them for example with Trivium. Laiho follows loosely genre to which they are often lumped together.
- Im forced to follow it because we tour with those bands. At some point I felt that similar sounding metal core bands are everywhere. It became boring. But for example Lamb of God and Shadow Falls are good. Also Killswitch Engage.
Younger bands from this genre often mention COB as their influence.
- Surprisingly many dig us. Many players have told that they have been listening us and In Flames. That is weird thing especially because we are used to be youngest band of the festival or tour. But it makes me feel that we have achieved something. Especially at the tours you notice that everyone is influenced by others.
If Laiho, Children of Bodom and Blooddrunk are sort of forerunners metal bands will make meaner and more aggressive music on the future. New album is snottier and more straight-forward than its predecessors.
- That just happened. We have always wanted to do more aggressive and stronger album. All of our albums are more extreme than its predecessors.
- It could be that I have been listening more extreme stuff lately. But there are hooks even though progressive parts are scarce. Maybe hooks are not so much in choruses but in the keyboard and guitar parts. I understand the album so that it takes lot of listening to open up which is good. At least I like that as a listener that you dont get everything right away.
Punk has always been in the headlines and also trendy for a while. Laiho has deeper relationship to the Punk.
- Im not anymore that aware of the scene but there are some interesting names. Lately I have been digging Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphy. They have Irish thing going on. They are not ug but more real than fake punk bands playing on MTV. I often go back to basics classics like Ramones, Pistols I like also UK Subs. Maybe thats more ug. I dont know scene that well anymore.
Straight-forwardness, aggressiveness and strongness limit the portion. According to Laiho Blooddrunk is less than 37 minutes because who would like to listen that kind of music longer. Album became shorter also because two last songs were combined; loose parts were thrown to the garbage bin and best parts were used in one song. Result is one of the Alexis favorites.
- Nine good songs are better than ten not so good. He says.
- Quality is more important than amount. How many 13 or 14 track album doesnt have any filler songs? And I always can use reign in blood card if needed.
Growing mp3 culture hasnt effected to COBs attitude. Laiho think albums as a whole and uses lot of time to think order of the tracks.
- You could make a lot worse album out of those songs if you would put them to random order.
Children of Bodom are Laiho, Wirman, Latvala and bass player Henkka Seppälä and drummer Jaska Raatikainen. Front man Alexi listens others but makes final decisions by himself.
- Im open to suggestions, for example sound ideas. And of course others tell their opinions and I listen them. But some things I have already decided how they go and I wont change them. But there arent many such things.
Blooddrunk has been done with Mikko Karmila and Peter Tägtgren. Latter was helping with vocal sessions.
- I knew before hand that that it will work but it still went better than I expected. Point was that I wanted someone who is singer and knows this style to record my vocals. It makes my life much easier when I can trust to his word and suggestions. We probably will continue like this. With Karmila things went better this time. We are not so afraid of him anymore and he doesnt treat us like small kids, Laiho laughs.
Produces COB doesnt need,
- Our songs are ready when we enter studio. We dont need any guy to touch our compositions or arrangements. That is for boybands. I dont really even understand whole producer role. Officially he is probably the guy who looks after that album is ready when agreed with money agreed.
- Before this album our US management told that some local was interested for producing our album. Scott something, I dont remember. He had been playing with big guys like Velvet Revolver and Nine Inch Nails.
Phone call to Wirman reveals that it was Scott Humphries. He hasnt worked with bands that Laiho mentioned because Allu is once again messed up things or remembers wrong, like Wirman says. But Humphries has worked for example with Rob Zombie. COB was discussing with Humphries and visited his studio but in the end chose Hollola over Hollywood.
- Hollywood could have been little too restless environment. Laiho explains. - And its really expensive there. We could have taken the risk if there would have been need for change and guarantee that result is significantly better. But there wasnt. Worst case scenario would have been that we go there act as a rock stars and come back home with really bad album.
Just like with HIM, Apocalyptica and Nightwish also Children of Bodom have been operating in the international markets for long time, especially in the USA. Band has been doing long tours there for years either alone or with other bands. Front man knows who to thank of opened up American market.
- It is mainly due to US Century Media. No one was asking us to come there before Century Media licensed Hate Crew Death Roll (2003) and started to push it. Luckily there was one guy in the company that was really excited about us. He arranged our first tours and lot of interviews. He made huge amount of work for us.
Touring affect also to the sales figures. Hate Crew Deathroll sales figures rose in a half year from 6000 to 50000. And because Are You Death Yet? (2005) sold about 80 000 copies, target for Blooddrunk is in the next round figure. Also Laiho admits this little bit shyly.
- They are thinking that we sell over 100 000 copies of this in the US. And sure it would be nice. Sales have been growing all the time and now we have different company making promotional work. They seem to take it seriously.
Unlike other our internationally significant bands Children of Bodom has managed to say out of main media. Main reason being nature of the music, Needled 24/7 or In Your Face hasnt been playing radio and band members are not familiar to everyone.
There is also some other factors. Press has hard time finding for example Laihos taxation information. I realized it when Laiho was paying those ciders as a bank transfer.
- Yeah, my parents wanted to give me my grandfathers names. Aleksi, my calling name, is my third name. I have always been called Aleksi. Its quite inconvenient arrangement but I wouldnt like to be called Make (note: common nickname for Markku) either. But truth comes out every time Im watching for example my flight tickets.
This is band leader and song writer whose band is expected to sell over 100 000 copies in US. When you add up tendency to end up hospital when drunk, you could think that press loves him. Hopefully Alexi Laiho can stay invisible also in the future.
- Media likes to write about bands that have sold ten times less than us and who have done show in the Sweden. Real international bands! Heavy bands arent in the headlines that often.
- But I dont need that kid of attention. Metal people get their information from somewhere else that gossip magazines. We do sell gold in Finland even without media attention.
Ville Valo, Eicca Toppinen and quite funnily Tarja Turunen, but not Tuomas Holopainen, have taken part Presidents Independence Day reception. What would Alexi Laiho do if he would get invitation to the reception?
- Hahahahaha! I cant imagine me being there. It would be way too awkward. Maybe I get to go there when I became guitar hero. Then I can wear Yngwie style frill shirt.
sleeper666
MetalMutha
SteveMCsteve
Member
children of COB
Deadnight Drinker
valkoukukka you rock so fucking hard 
, many thanks! BTW what is that Guitar Heroes interview with Esa and Timo? Do you have it?
, many thanks! BTW what is that Guitar Heroes interview with Esa and Timo? Do you have it?valkoukukka you rock so fucking hard
That interview was in the Soundi last fall (when Guitar Heroes album came out), so it is in Finnish. I don't have it scanned but I have that magazine. Article was mainly about how they started guitar playing, what they think of guitar heroes and each others and so one.
And you're all welcome
children of COB
Deadnight Drinker
If one day you have so much free time that you type it too please make us know
Shit I wish I was able to use finish for more than counting and saying ''hello'', ''good moring'' and that usual stuff You get so much cool articles and stuff from your band s there. Here in Spain we don't even have good bands to get stuff from them, and of course we haven't got that good mags We just have shitloads of pop shit mags and tunning cars and of course 9384528346590239756¡290356 mags of OMFG football (soccer). Seriously it's a disease, 
there are football mags that talk even about 5 years old leagues from the shittiest village of the country. I like football, but it's too much, and if we were good at football like finnish bands are at metal then it'd be ok, but we suck at football! We're world champions of handball, basketball, swimming, hockey (not ice, the one we call traditional here), volley ball and a shitload more, but those don't get more than 2 pages in the diary all together and 1 mag each. Things are way too twisted, even more than ou minds,
Ah it feels good to rant about it, Especially with the tremendous hungover I'm having today, (yesterday I got drunk once, puked and got drunk again, )
Shit I wish I was able to use finish for more than counting and saying ''hello'', ''good moring'' and that usual stuff
You get so much cool articles and stuff from your band s there. Here in Spain we don't even have good bands to get stuff from them, and of course we haven't got that good mags We just have shitloads of pop shit mags and tunning cars and of course 9384528346590239756¡290356 mags of OMFG football (soccer). Seriously it's a disease, there are football mags that talk even about 5 years old leagues from the shittiest village of the country. I like football, but it's too much, and if we were good at football like finnish bands are at metal then it'd be ok, but we suck at football! We're world champions of handball, basketball, swimming, hockey (not ice, the one we call traditional here), volley ball and a shitload more, but those don't get more than 2 pages in the diary all together and 1 mag each. Things are way too twisted, even more than ou minds, Ah it feels good to rant about it,
Especially with the tremendous hungover I'm having today, (yesterday I got drunk once, puked and got drunk again, )I'll keep that in mindIf one day you have so much free time that you type it too please make us know
. I can translate is sometime but it will take a while because I have life, not to brag or anything
children of COB
Deadnight Drinker
Hence why I said that ''If one day you have so much free time that you type it '' I do have one too, and tomorrow I have a fucking chemistry exam, wish me luck cos I'm going to need it, I've not studied chemistry during my time at high school, so even if I study I end up looking at the paper like ''dude WTF is this??'' Now I'm having a break, but in 10-15 min again to it,
I do have one too, and tomorrow I have a fucking chemistry exam, wish me luck cos I'm going to need it, I've not studied chemistry during my time at high school, so even if I study I end up looking at the paper like ''dude WTF is this??'' Now I'm having a break, but in 10-15 min again to it, 
If one day you have so much free time that you type it too please make us know
Shit I wish I was able to use finish for more than counting and saying ''hello'', ''good moring'' and that usual stuff
Ah it feels good to rant about it,
you guys have some good bands..Mago de Oz for example
Nah but seriously, I think that band is awesome
children of COB
Deadnight Drinker
Mago de Oz? :zombie: You really like them? You can stand a dumbass like Chus? Then enjoy them, but I can't stand someone who calls himself a drummer but has almost all the drums sampled and spends the gig running around the stage bothering his mates while they play and pretending to be a rockstar, Besides, I met them once and they think they are Iron Maiden, they think they are over the rest. Only Spanish bands I like are Avulsed, Gilles De Rais, Saratoga and Darksun. There are bands with some cool songs (Soziedad Alkohólika [Alcoholic society, ], Koma, Baron Rojo, ...) but do you know any of them? That's what I was talking about, they have some fame here but can't compete with foreing bands.
Anyway, I've been told that there's a band nowadays called Bringer Of Pain who rock hard Nah, the rock-metal scene is really bad here. In my town we're just 3-4 extreme metal bands and 5-6 power-heavy metal bands (out of 150000 people). And I'm talking of amateur bands whose componets study, work and record (if they can afford it) the drums at a small studio and everything else at home with Toneport/etc... There are no pro bands here, Oh, and half of the components of each band play in other bands too. The 3-4 extreme metal bands are formed by 10-12 people that play at the same time at 2-3 bands, Same with power-heavy bands. And there are 0 rock bands, To make gigs we're always asking people from other provinces to come or we are going there cos if not we have to make one band gigs. And of course there's no venue at my town, we play always in the same lame ass pub illegaly or in the back of our reharshal place in an abandoned car park,
Besides, I met them once and they think they are Iron Maiden, they think they are over the rest. Only Spanish bands I like are Avulsed, Gilles De Rais, Saratoga and Darksun. There are bands with some cool songs (Soziedad Alkohólika [Alcoholic society, ], Koma, Baron Rojo, ...) but do you know any of them? That's what I was talking about, they have some fame here but can't compete with foreing bands.Anyway, I've been told that there's a band nowadays called Bringer Of Pain who rock hard
Nah, the rock-metal scene is really bad here. In my town we're just 3-4 extreme metal bands and 5-6 power-heavy metal bands (out of 150000 people). And I'm talking of amateur bands whose componets study, work and record (if they can afford it) the drums at a small studio and everything else at home with Toneport/etc... There are no pro bands here, Oh, and half of the components of each band play in other bands too. The 3-4 extreme metal bands are formed by 10-12 people that play at the same time at 2-3 bands, Same with power-heavy bands. And there are 0 rock bands, To make gigs we're always asking people from other provinces to come or we are going there cos if not we have to make one band gigs. And of course there's no venue at my town, we play always in the same lame ass pub illegaly or in the back of our reharshal place in an abandoned car park, Mago de Oz? :zombie: You really like them? You can stand a dumbass like Chus? Then enjoy them, but I can't stand someone who calls himself a drummer but has almost all the drums sampled and spends the gig running around the stage bothering his mates while they play and pretending to be a rockstar,
Anyway, I've been told that there's a band nowadays called Bringer Of Pain who rock hard
yea I do like Mago de Oz...I used to listen to spanish (not from spain, but as in the language) rock when I lived in Colombia (lived there for about 6 years ). I don't really care what kind of people they are haha, as I will never meet them, so I just like to enjoy the music from those bands you listed, I've only heard of Baron rojo and Darksun, and they're alright.Oh and one more thing, I can speak spanish but I didn't want to ruin the thread like some dick heads do by having conversations that nobody can understand
Edit: I just realized you used 9
's in your post hahaquite funnily Tarja Turunen, but not Tuomas Holopainen, have taken part President’s Independence Day reception.
Omfg Finns are so fucking stupid. They still think it's Tarja's band, and never heard of Tuomas.
It's also a pretty fucking small country, the headlines of recent maybe 3 weeks has been about some politician writing sexual content sms to some chick. There's like people dying out there and things going on in the world but that is all this country seems to care for. The way news are brought out in this country is like drama and entertainment.
Omfg Finns are so fucking stupid. They still think it's Tarja's band, and never heard of Tuomas.
It's also a pretty fucking small country, the headlines of recent maybe 3 weeks has been about some politician writing sexual content sms to some chick. There's like people dying out there and things going on in the world but that is all this country seems to care for. The way news are brought out in this country is like drama and entertainment.
children of COB
Deadnight Drinker
Oh and one more thing, I can speak spanish but I didn't want to ruin the thread like some dick heads do by having conversations that nobody can understand
Edit: I just realized you used 9
YYay, I'm addicted to that smiley,
About spanish, let's stick to english, as only 1 or 2 will follow wha we write and we don't want to ruin the thread
Oh and one more thing, I can speak spanish but I didn't want to ruin the thread like some dick heads do by having conversations that nobody can understand
Edit: I just realized you used 9
Did you really live here in Colombia? Hey, that's cool!
Anyway, back on topic... does anyone have the Revolver issue with the article and interview about Gigantour? I'd be pretty thankful if it was posted in here
drama and entertainment sells better
that's also why so many people watch soaps
anyhow thanks for posting/translating interviews!!!
Cute Janne, sharp Henkka and relationship advices from Alexi:
http://www.6d.fi/cultitude/page.2008-03-28.7828719103
http://www.6d.fi/cultitude/page.2008-03-28.7828719103
SteveMCsteve
Member
sleeper666
MetalMutha
