New Bodom

I've never quite understood what made these guys stick out. They strike me as so completely average.
The first two/three albums were a somewhat novel take on melodeath. I'll admit I view them through a nostalgic lens of them coming out when I was in my teens, so not at my most discriminating, but they've aged gracefully.

Since then, I would agree with the "average" assessment, they lost me with "Hate Crew Deathroll" and every time I check out new material, I'm quickly reminded of why I gave up on them. They were also terrible when I saw them live in 2003 (the HCDR tour) which more or less sealed my lack of ongoing interest in them.
 
The first two/three albums were a somewhat novel take on melodeath. I'll admit I view them through a nostalgic lens of them coming out when I was in my teens, so not at my most discriminating, but they've aged gracefully.
I've never really enjoyed his vocals, and always thought his guitar prowess was completely overstated. But I totally get how almost everything feels fresh and exciting during the teenage years, when you're just discovering music. There are a whole host of albums from my youth that I love, that in retrospect, were quite awful.

Since then, I would agree with the "average" assessment, they lost me with "Hate Crew Deathroll" and every time I check out new material, I'm quickly reminded of why I gave up on them. They were also terrible when I saw them live in 2003 (the HCDR tour) which more or less sealed my lack of ongoing interest in them.
I saw the live once, and once was enough.
 
At one point back in the early-to-mid 2000s, Bodom was one of the most kick-ass live acts in Metal, period. I remember listening to Follow The Reaper, Hatebreeder and HateCrew Deathroll repeatedly. I still get so nostalgic when I put those albums on. In fact, gonna listen to them today. :)

The new song is pretty cool. Maybe it's going to be a return to form; we shall see.
 
I honestly don't understand how people who have listened to metal for more than 2-3 years can still like this band, aside from nostalgia reasons like PureXul mentioned.
 
I honestly don't understand how people who have listened to metal for more than 2-3 years can still like this band, aside from nostalgia reasons like PureXul mentioned.

I think a big problem is that their last 3 or so albums (anything after HCDR) were so subpar compared to the earlier 4 that it completely alienated people and turned them away from the band for good. Also, the fact that their live show became boring after a few years (after, again, being one of the top live acts in the genre) contributed too.
 
I honestly don't understand how people who have listened to metal for more than 2-3 years can still like this band, aside from nostalgia reasons like PureXul mentioned.

LOL elitism.

They're a fun band, especially if you like melodic death metal and keyboards. Their last few albums haven't been amazing, but they've all been enjoyable, and the times I've seen them live they've been fantastic. Some things you don't need to overthink. The music is fun.
 
LOL elitism.

They're a fun band, especially if you like melodic death metal and keyboards. Their last few albums haven't been amazing, but they've all been enjoyable, and the times I've seen them live they've been fantastic. Some things you don't need to overthink. The music is fun.

This is particularly true also.

Who's going to tell me this isn't fun?

 
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I've never quite understood what made these guys stick out. They strike me as so completely average.

Please name another band that ever sounded anything remotely like them that isn't a copycat or clone which came around after the band's first couple of releases.
 
LOL elitism.

They're a fun band, especially if you like melodic death metal and keyboards. Their last few albums haven't been amazing, but they've all been enjoyable, and the times I've seen them live they've been fantastic. Some things you don't need to overthink. The music is fun.

Very much this. CoB is just fun. Nothing more. I still love them. The only album of theirs that doesn't really keep me grabbed is Relentless Reckless Forever.
 
Please name another band that ever sounded anything remotely like them...
By "sounded like them", do you mean bands whose songs don't engage the listener because the vocalist is awful and the melodies leave you never needing to hear a single one of their songs again? Because I can name thousands of bands like that. :heh:

Admittedly, my wording could have been more concise. The point I was trying to make (IMH,YIWIO), is that their songs are very average. I just don't think the success they've enjoyed is commensurate with their songwriting. And add to that equation, the one time I saw them live they sucked.
 
Please name another band that ever sounded anything remotely like them that isn't a copycat or clone which came around after the band's first couple of releases.

I associate them with In Flames and Soilwork, largely because I was exposed to all three in a RELATIVELY short span, and because my interest in "death" metal is very limited. Where I think CoB stood out was the almost neo-classical style to their shredding; it was a decidedly different approach to the genre than what others brought.

Personally, I think they have strayed away from that sound a bit, and I haven't been really impressed with anything they have done in years, but I'm always willing to give them another spin.
 
It's funny that you feel this way, because their live show is the reason I started buying their material.
Maybe they were having an off night? Though, from what I've heard, it seems they've had a lot of off nights in recent years. Or perhaps the passion is gone. I use to think In Flames was one of the best live acts I've ever seen. But it feels like they just mail it in now.
 
I guess Alexi's vocals are an acquired taste. It's not the sound that's important, it's the tone and the intent behind it, and I think it fits well with what they're doing, even if I wouldn't call his vocals "good". They're just there, it's the leads and the keyboards that have always interested me. Their last couple of albums have been kind of blah, I miss the heavy reliance on lead guitar, the last couple of albums have been way too focused on the riffs over the leads, but the new song sounds good enough to get me to at least give the album a couple of solid listens before I make any judgments.
 
I liked their early-era energy and manic'ness, especially with the guitars. Not that many bands play with that much shredding during the melodies. I suppose I like them for similar reasons that I love early to mid era In Flames.