Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom at 2007’s Masters of Rock.
Background information
Also
known as
IneartheD
Origin
Espoo, Finland
Genre(s)
Melodic death metal, power metal
Years
active
1993 onward
Label(s)
Nuclear Blast, Spinefarm, Century
Media
Associated
acts
Sinergy, Kylähullut, Warmen,
Gashouse Garden, Stone, Timo
Rautiainen, Nightwish, Norther,
Megadeth
Website
www.cobhc.com
Members
Alexi Laiho
Roope Latvala
Janne Wirman
Henkka Seppälä
Jaska Raatikainen
Former members
Alexander Kuoppala
Jani Pirisjoki
Samuli Miettinen
Erna Siikavirta
Kimberly Goss
Children of Bodom is a Finnish heavy metal
band from Espoo, Finland, formed in 1993.
As of 2009, the band consists of guitarist and
vocalist Alexi Laiho, guitarist Roope Latvala,
keyboardist Janne Wirman, bassist Henkka
Seppälä, and drummer Jaska Raatikainen.
There is some contention regarding the
band’s genre classification, however in gen-
eral the band’s musical style has been de-
scribed as melodic death metal[1] [2]. The
band’s name is derived from the Lake Bodom
murders.[3]
The lyrics of Children of Bodom’s songs
are written in English and are most often
concerned with the subjects of death, person-
al struggles, war and the Lake Bodom
murders. Recent albums have seen a shift to
more antagonistic
lyrics (songs such as
"You’re Better Off Dead" and "Hate Me") and
a more straight-forward heavy metal style.
Band history
Formation and early years
(1993–1997)
The band was founded in 1993 by guitarist
Alexi "Wildchild" Laiho and drummer Jaska
Raatikainen under the name of IneartheD.
Both musicians had known each other since
early childhood and had shared an interest in
heavy metal, especially death metal groups,
such as Entombed, and Obituary. Bassist
Samuli Miettinen completed the initial line-
up of the band. IneartheD recorded its first
demo, titled Implosion of Heaven, during
August of the same year.
Samuli was the main composer of the
band’s lyrics for the two years that he took
part in IneartheD, but his family moved to
the United States in