I think this topic needs no introduction 
But I want to wrap up people's opinion on a poll. First of all the widely understood old and new Children Of Bodom ranges from the first albums until Hate Crew Deathroll and beyond - the controversial bit is whether Hate Crew Deathroll as an album belongs to the old or the new category (I myself think it started the new direction). The band's first three albums were each considerably different, but the general view is after that it's been more similar.
And another matter that needs to be reminded is a lot of fans go out saying they changed because Alexander left the band - but forget he was still with them during the Hate Crew Deathroll period, which in my opinion tramples the theory (in case he would ever have such huge influence in the music/chemistry in the first place as a rhythm guitarist...)
This change that's occurring in COB's music since the last decade or so is something we see happening with a lot of bands once they make their financial breakthru. That's something that divides the possibilities roughly onto two options: either the management/label steps in at that point and starts to steer the music into the supposed 'pop' direction (like choosing Was It Worth It? to be the single of the new album, which was confirmed to be the label's choice instead of Shovel Knockout - as well as hiring an (American) producer for the album) - or it's about the band no longer carrying that personality in their music that made them sound different. With inexperience comes personality and with experience comes firm and secure musical output, and somewhere in between usually is the band's "peak moment" when there's a good blend of experience and personality to make their most memorable package, as opposed to having much personality but lack of experience, or much experience but lack of personality.
I won't specualate with my opinions yet... we have speculated several times before whether you liked the changed and what is your favourite album yada yada, but this is about why did the change happen. I divided the poll possibility to only two possible motivators. Money, and change of musical taste. And I'd like people to further elaborate whether it was about:
Money:
- Management / label interrupting with musical development in hopes of more sales.
- The band itself consciously or subconsciously making music suitable to opening the market to US which happened with Hate Crew Deathroll.
- Other?
Music taste:
- The other touring bands influencing the composer.
- The composer's preferance and taste of music changing by itself, the band thinking they've discovered better music.
- The band is just unable to do what they did in the past.
- Changes in band chemistry altogether affecting the musical style, including Alexander's departure.
- Other?
This phenomena is something that's heavily mystifying fans of several bands, not just COB. I could make a list of the ones known to me personally, but I'll throw one card on the table by a famous metal band, who actually complained about label/management manipulating their musical direction at the point they started becoming succesful: Hypocrisy. This is stated in the documentary of the new live DVD, and how the composer didn't want anything to do with the whole thing at this point.
I'm trying to write this neutral. I think the entirity is a mess of everything, the reasons, and also the musical change, nothing is black and white, but something is always closer to the truth.
COB's view on the change is known to be they simply want to evolve and do something different always, they're just more experienced now, and this is the kind of music they want to do now, and they could do the old shit anyday if they wanted. These are straight quotations, and I certainly have my opinions on them.
But I want to wrap up people's opinion on a poll. First of all the widely understood old and new Children Of Bodom ranges from the first albums until Hate Crew Deathroll and beyond - the controversial bit is whether Hate Crew Deathroll as an album belongs to the old or the new category (I myself think it started the new direction). The band's first three albums were each considerably different, but the general view is after that it's been more similar.And another matter that needs to be reminded is a lot of fans go out saying they changed because Alexander left the band - but forget he was still with them during the Hate Crew Deathroll period, which in my opinion tramples the theory (in case he would ever have such huge influence in the music/chemistry in the first place as a rhythm guitarist...)
This change that's occurring in COB's music since the last decade or so is something we see happening with a lot of bands once they make their financial breakthru. That's something that divides the possibilities roughly onto two options: either the management/label steps in at that point and starts to steer the music into the supposed 'pop' direction (like choosing Was It Worth It? to be the single of the new album, which was confirmed to be the label's choice instead of Shovel Knockout - as well as hiring an (American) producer for the album) - or it's about the band no longer carrying that personality in their music that made them sound different. With inexperience comes personality and with experience comes firm and secure musical output, and somewhere in between usually is the band's "peak moment" when there's a good blend of experience and personality to make their most memorable package, as opposed to having much personality but lack of experience, or much experience but lack of personality.
I won't specualate with my opinions yet... we have speculated several times before whether you liked the changed and what is your favourite album yada yada, but this is about why did the change happen. I divided the poll possibility to only two possible motivators. Money, and change of musical taste. And I'd like people to further elaborate whether it was about:
Money:
- Management / label interrupting with musical development in hopes of more sales.
- The band itself consciously or subconsciously making music suitable to opening the market to US which happened with Hate Crew Deathroll.
- Other?
Music taste:
- The other touring bands influencing the composer.
- The composer's preferance and taste of music changing by itself, the band thinking they've discovered better music.
- The band is just unable to do what they did in the past.
- Changes in band chemistry altogether affecting the musical style, including Alexander's departure.
- Other?
This phenomena is something that's heavily mystifying fans of several bands, not just COB. I could make a list of the ones known to me personally, but I'll throw one card on the table by a famous metal band, who actually complained about label/management manipulating their musical direction at the point they started becoming succesful: Hypocrisy. This is stated in the documentary of the new live DVD, and how the composer didn't want anything to do with the whole thing at this point.
I'm trying to write this neutral. I think the entirity is a mess of everything, the reasons, and also the musical change, nothing is black and white, but something is always closer to the truth.
COB's view on the change is known to be they simply want to evolve and do something different always, they're just more experienced now, and this is the kind of music they want to do now, and they could do the old shit anyday if they wanted. These are straight quotations, and I certainly have my opinions on them.
