Halo of Blood

Last updated

Halo of Blood
HaloOfBlood.jpg
Studio album by
Released29 May 2013 (Japan)
RecordedDecember 2012 February 2013
Studio
  • Danger Johnny Studios, Helsinki, Finland [1]
  • Petrax Studios, Hollola, Finland
  • Beyond Abilities Studios (keyboards)
Genre Melodic death metal [2]
Length41:40
Label Nuclear Blast, Marquee Inc.
Producer
Children of Bodom chronology
Holiday at Lake Bodom (15 Years of Wasted Youth)
(2012)
Halo of Blood
(2013)
I Worship Chaos
(2015)
Singles from Halo of Blood
  1. "Transference"
    Released: 24 April 2013
  2. "Halo of Blood"
    Released: 20 May 2013

Halo of Blood is the eighth studio album by Finnish melodic death metal band Children of Bodom. [3] It was released on 7 June 2013 in Europe [4] [5] and 11 June in North America on Nuclear Blast Records. [3] In Japan, the album was released by Marquee Inc. on 29 May 2013. [6] This would be the last album with guitarist Roope Latvala before he was kicked out of the band in May 2015.

Contents

Production

Drummer Jaska Raatikainen posted on Facebook that the band has accumulated a number of songs for a new album. Raatikainen described the new material as dark and "also little [sic] 'black' [metal]-ish." [6] In an interview before the band's first show in India, keyboardist Janne Wirman revealed that the band currently had four songs written, with plans to enter the studio at the end of 2012. Wirman predicted a release around April or May 2013. [7] In mid November 2012, it was announced that the band had started recording demos of new material. [8]

In January 2013, it was revealed that frontman/guitarist Alexi Laiho was finishing writing lyrics, and that recording would commence in February. Two song titles were also revealed. [9] On 19 March 2013, the album's title was announced as Halo of Blood, and a track listing and cover artwork were revealed.

Some resources mention Swede Peter Tägtgren as the album's producer.[ citation needed ] However, according to Children of Bodom's Janne Wirman, "Peter was there just to produce the vocals" and the album was actually produced by Mikko Karmila and the band. [10]

Cover Art

The album cover depicts the reaper standing on the frozen surface of Lake Bodom, with dead bodies trapped beneath the ice.

Critical reception

The album received mostly positive reviews, with an aggregated score of 66/100 on Metacritic, indicating favorable reviews. It was considered a return to form for the band, garnering a warmer reception from fans than their previous three albums.

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 66/100 [11]
Review scores
SourceRating
About Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [12]
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [13]
Kerrang Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [14]
Loudwire Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [15]
New Noise Magazine Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [16]
PopMatters Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [17]
Revolver Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [18]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Alexi Laiho

No.TitleLength
1."Waste of Skin"4:16
2."Halo of Blood"3:12
3."Scream for Silence"4:09
4."Transference"3:58
5."Bodom Blue Moon (The Second Coming)"4:14
6."Your Days Are Numbered"3:40
7."Dead Man's Hand on You"4:58
8."Damaged Beyond Repair"4:20
9."All Twisted"4:51
10."One Bottle and a Knee Deep"4:02
Total length:41:40
Limited edition bonus track
No.TitleLength
11."Sleeping in My Car" (Roxette cover)3:19
Total length:44:59
Japanese edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
11."Crazy Nights" (Loudness cover)4:25
12."Sleeping in My Car" (Roxette cover)3:19
Total length:49:24

Personnel

Children of Bodom
Production

Charts

Chart (2013)Peak
position
Austrian Albums Chart [19] 28
Finnish Albums Chart [20] 2
French Albums Chart [21] 109
German Albums Chart [22] 18
Japanese Albums Chart [23] 16
Hungarian Albums Chart [24] 10
Swedish Albums Chart [25] 26
Swiss Albums Chart [26] 24
US Billboard 200 [27] 54
US Hard Rock Albums [28] 7

Related Research Articles

Sinergy was a Finnish/Swedish heavy metal band started in 1997 by American musician Kimberly Goss. The idea for a "balls-out female-fronted metal band" was first formed when Kimberly Goss of Dimmu Borgir met Jesper Strömblad of In Flames whilst on tour in 1997.

<i>Something Wild</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Children of Bodom

Something Wild is the debut studio album by Finnish melodic death metal band Children of Bodom, released in 1997 in Finland, and in 1998 worldwide. Upon release, the album was met with universal acclaim. In 2020, it was named one of the 20 best metal albums of 1997 by Metal Hammer magazine.

<i>Hatebreeder</i> 1999 studio album by Children of Bodom

Hatebreeder is the second studio album by Finnish melodic death metal band Children of Bodom. The deluxe edition was released in 2005 with bonus material. It was also re-released in 2008.

<i>Hate Crew Deathroll</i> 2003 studio album by Children of Bodom

Hate Crew Deathroll is the fourth studio album by Finnish melodic death metal band Children of Bodom, released in 2003 under the Century Media label. It is the final Children of Bodom album to be recorded with all five original members, as their original rhythm guitarist, Alexander Kuoppala, would leave the band in 2003. It was successful both in Europe and the USA, which is demonstrated by the appearance of the "Needled 24/7" music video on MTV2's Headbangers Ball. "Needled 24/7" also featured on the heavy metal documentary Metal: A Headbanger's Journey and the 2012 horror comedy video game Lollipop Chainsaw.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexi Laiho</span> Finnish musician (1979–2020)

Alexi Laiho was a Finnish guitarist, composer, and vocalist. He was best known as the lead guitarist, lead vocalist and founding member of the melodic death metal band Children of Bodom, and was also the guitarist for Sinergy, the Local Band, Kylähullut, and Bodom After Midnight, which formed just prior to his death. Laiho had previously played with Thy Serpent and Impaled Nazarene on occasion, as well as Warmen and Hypocrisy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warmen</span> Finnish heavy metal band

Warmen is a Finnish heavy metal band assembled by keyboardist Janne "Warman" Wirman. Wirman has played with Children of Bodom from 1997 until their disbandment in 2019, and in 2000 created a musical project focused on instrumental work, which would only have guest singers on a few selected songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janne Wirman</span> Finnish musician

Janne Viljami "Warman" Wirman is a Finnish musician; he is the former keyboardist for the Finnish melodic death metal band Children of Bodom from 1997 to 2019 and currently keyboardist and founding member of Warmen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaska Raatikainen</span> Finnish drummer (born 1979)

Jaska Raatikainen is a Finnish musician, he is best known as the former drummer and co-founder of the melodic death metal band Children of Bodom from 1993 until his departure in 2019. He is currently in the project called Mercury Circle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Carpenter (Nightwish song)</span> 1997 single by Nightwish

"The Carpenter" is the debut single by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, the only from their debut album, Angels Fall First. This is the only Nightwish single to feature lead vocals by both Tarja Turunen and Tuomas Holopainen. It was performed live for the first time in over twenty years with Floor Jansen and Troy Donockley in 2018 during the Decades: World Tour.

<i>Trashed, Lost & Strungout</i> 2004 EP by Children of Bodom

Trashed, Lost & Strungout is a single and an EP released by the Finnish melodic death metal band Children of Bodom on Spinefarm Records. It was released on 25 October 2004. Unlike most EPs, it was released on CD and DVD. The CD includes 3 other songs and the DVD includes the single and 9 other songs. This track has also appeared in Children of Bodom's album Are You Dead Yet?.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Children of Bodom discography</span>

The discography of Children of Bodom, a five-piece melodic death metal band from Espoo, Finland. Throughout their career, the band has been known to incorporate many different musical styles, leading critics and fans to label them as everything from melodic death metal and black metal to thrash metal, progressive metal and even power metal. The band's final line-up before they officially disbanded in 2019 included the founders Alexi Laiho and Jaska Raatikainen (drums) along with Henkka Seppälä, Janne Wirman (keyboards) and Daniel Freyberg. Children of Bodom have released ten studio albums, two live albums, one compilation album, seven singles, two EPs and two split singles. Moreover, in the period 1994–1996 they released three demos under their old moniker, IneartheD. This list includes the material released as IneartheD.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downfall (Children of Bodom song)</span> 1998 single by Children of Bodom

"Downfall" is a single taken from the studio album Hatebreeder by Finnish melodic death metal band Children of Bodom. The song, originally called "Forevermore", was written by the lead vocalist Alexi Laiho. The video of "Downfall" was directed by Mika Lindberg. Side B contains the cover track "No Commands" by fellow Finnish band Stone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blooddrunk (song)</span> 2008 single by Children of Bodom

"Blooddrunk" is a 2008 single by Finnish melodic death metal band Children of Bodom, taken from their 2008 album Blooddrunk. The lyrics focus upon "self-destructive behaviour", and being addicted to hurting yourself. Written solely by Children of Bodom frontman Alexi Laiho, the song was generally well received by critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Children of Bodom</span> Finnish melodic death metal band

Children of Bodom was a Finnish melodic death metal band from Espoo. Formed in 1993 as Inearthed, the final line-up of the group upon their split in 2019 consisted of frontman Alexi Laiho, drummer Jaska Raatikainen, bassist Henkka Seppälä, keyboardist Janne Wirman and rhythm guitarist Daniel Freyberg. The band released ten studio albums, three live albums, two EPs, two compilation albums and one DVD.

<i>Skeletons in the Closet</i> (Children of Bodom album) 2009 compilation album by Children of Bodom

Skeletons in the Closet is the second compilation album by Finnish melodic death metal band Children of Bodom, released on 22 September 2009 through Spinefarm Records. It consists of various covers of songs, most of which have been released on other releases such as B-sides on Children of Bodom's singles. The album only contains four unreleased covers for the songs "Hell Is for Children", "Antisocial", "War Inside My Head", and "Waiting", but the previously released songs are remixed and new details can be heard. The Japanese edition is pressed in SHM-CD format.

<i>Holiday at Lake Bodom (15 Years of Wasted Youth)</i> 2012 compilation album by Children of Bodom

Holiday at Lake Bodom is the third compilation album by Finnish melodic death metal band Children of Bodom, featuring one song from Something Wild, three from Hatebreeder, three from Follow the Reaper, four from Hate Crew Deathroll, four from Are You Dead Yet?, one from Blooddrunk, two from Relentless Reckless Forever, and two previously unreleased cover songs. The DVD portion of the package includes "candid touring and backstage footage from around the world", plus the music video for "Shovel Knockout". The album was released on 22 May 2012.

<i>I Worship Chaos</i> 2015 studio album by Children of Bodom

I Worship Chaos is the ninth studio album by Finnish melodic death metal band Children of Bodom. It was released on 2 October 2015. It is the first album since 2005's Are You Dead Yet not to feature guitarist Roope Latvala due to his firing from the band in May 2015, making this the band's first album as a four-piece group with Alexi Laiho handling all guitar duties.

<i>Hexed</i> (album) 2019 album by Finnish band Children of Bodom

Hexed is the tenth and final studio album by Finnish melodic death metal band Children of Bodom. It was released on 8 March 2019.

<i>Paint the Sky with Blood</i> 2021 EP by Bodom After Midnight

Paint the Sky with Blood is the only EP by Finnish melodic death metal band Bodom After Midnight, the short-lived follow-up project to Children of Bodom, released on 23 April 2021 through Napalm Records.

The following lists events that happened during 1979 in Finland.

References

  1. "Children of Bodom: Video Update From The Studio - Feb. 22, 2013". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  2. Daniele Cicero. "Children Of Bodom - Halo of Blood". Metallized (in Italian). Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  3. 1 2 Kelly, Neil (19 June 2013). "Children of Bodom: Halo of Blood". PopMatters .
  4. Official Facebook post
  5. Halo of Blood page on the official Nuclearblast website
  6. 1 2 "Children of Bodom Froontman (sic) Interviewed In India (Video) - Oct. 19, 2012". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  7. Makhija, Sahil. "Headbanger's Kitchen (Uncooked) - Episode 3 - Janne Wirman (Children of Bodom)". Headbanger's Kitchen Official Youtube channel. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  8. "Children of Bodom Demoing New Material - Nov. 16, 2012". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  9. "Children of Bodom Frontman Reveals First Details Of Upcoming Album - Jan. 23, 2013". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  10. Noizr Official Youtube channel. "Interview: CHILDREN OF BODOM's Janne Wirman on Touring, New Album, and "Stranger Things" — Noizr" . Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  11. "Halo of Blood Reviews". Metacritic.com. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  12. Lyons, Todd (12 June 2013). "Children Of Bodom - Halo Of Blood Review". About.com. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  13. Heaney, Gregory (12 June 2013). "Halo of Blood". Allmusic. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  14. "Halo of Blood Reviews". Kerrang.
  15. Hartmann, Graham (11 June 2013). "Children of Bodom, 'Halo of Blood' - Album Review". Loudwire. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  16. May, Eric (5 June 2013). "Album Review: Children of Bodom – Halo of Blood – Review by Eric May". New Noise Magazine . Archived from the original on 11 June 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  17. Kelly, Neil (19 June 2013). "Children of Bodom: Halo of Blood". PopMatters. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  18. Camisasca, Paige (10 June 2013). "Review: Children of Bodom – Halo of Blood". Revolver. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  19. "AUSTRIA TOP 40 - ALBEN TOP 75". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  20. "Album Top 50". finnishcharts.com. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  21. "Actuellement n° 109 du Top Albums France". chartsinfrance.net. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  22. "HALO OF BLOOD stormed the German media control charts at position #18 in its first week!". facebook.com. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  23. "Halo of Blood - Children of Bodom" (in Japanese). oricon ME inc. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  24. "MAHASZ – Magyar Hangfelvétel-kiadók Szövetsége". mahasz.hu. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  25. "SVERIGETOPPLISTAN - ALBUMS TOP 60". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  26. "SWISS CHARTS - ALBUMS TOP 100". swisscharts.com. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  27. "Children of Bodom Chart History(Billboard 200)". billboard.com. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  28. "Children of Bodom Chart History(Hard Rock Albums)". billboard.com. Retrieved 19 May 2015.