Not Exactly A Bludgeoning By Feathers

Children of Bodom- Relentless Reckless Fever

    It has been three years since COB's last album, 2008's excellent Blooddrunk, an album that catapulted them further in to the limelight as one of contemporary metals major players. After much activity in those three years, including headlining last years Bloodstock Open Air, and yet many fans' lukewarm responses to Blooddrunk, (despite it being superior to previous releases...I will not understand some people) a new album is eagerly anticipated, and here it is.

    After the massive Blooddrunk I was expecting nothing more than a Relentless (see what I did there) assault of awesomeness, however this isn't quite the bludgeoning of anvils I was expecting, but its not exactly a bludgeoning  by feathers either. Because whilst undeniably heavy the album lacks the clinical punch that Blooddrunk sported.

    Opener Not My Funeral is a brilliant party starter and a message of intent to those critics of Alex Lahlio's wild lifestyle. The album's problem unfortunately is that most of the songs on here are not as memorable as could have hoped, whilst not bad at all, not by a long shot, many are just not the classic songs that a lot of us may have expected. There are some great highlights however, the aforementioned Not My Funeral, the title track and the excellent Pussyfoot Miss Suicide (also an early contender for the years best titled song).

    So not quite the classic album we may have expected to follow from the bands new found popularity at the top level, but a comfortable easy to handle album none the less.

[6.5/10]

Listen to: Not My Funeral, Pussyfoot Miss Suicide