Children Of Bodom - Relentless Reckless Forever review
| Band: | Children Of Bodom |
| Album: | Relentless Reckless Forever |
| Style: | Extreme power metal |
| Release date: | March 08, 2011 |
| Guest review by: | Windrider |
01. Not My Funeral
02. Shovel Knockout
03. Roundtrip To Hell And Back
04. Pussyfoot Miss Suicide
05. Relentless Reckless Forever
06. Ugly
07. Cry Of The Nihilist
08. Was It Worth It?
09. Northpole Throwdown
10. Party All The Time [Eddie Murphy cover] [iTunes bonus]
11. Angels Don't Kill [Live at Bloodstock] [Japanese bonus]
12. Every Time I Die [Live at Bloodstock] [Japanese bonus]
[Digipak Edition Bonus DVD]
+ Was It Worth It? music video
+ Making of Was It Worth It?
+ Angels Don't Kill - Live at Bloodstock
+ Everytime I Die - Live at Bloodstock
+ The Rockhouse Method with Alexi Laiho - DVD trailer
+ The Rockhouse Method with Alexi Laiho - instructional DVD excerpt
Even before this album was released and before anyone could have heard a sound of it, quite everyone knew that this will not become an album worth a 10. Children Of Bodom have changed too much to return to the old awesome tunes. The band stated before the release of it that Relentless Reckless Forever would happen to be the best Bodom album ever. Blah blah the same shit a band always cries out for marketing, but in this case it even sounded ridiculous. I admit that I was one of those who decided not to spend money on this record. But now I am glad that I am not that firm with my principles in some cases! Expecting some Blooddrunk shit with only more party atmosphere it was a real surprise to me when I first listened to it.
Relentless Reckless Forever starts off very cool with the opener and best song "Not My Funeral." From the first seconds it's clear that Children Of Bodom have not created a new Follow The Reaper, but Blooddrunk also lies in the past. The transition during the last two albums is over and Alexi Laiho has found a new masterplan for his band. It keeps this thrashy sound (resembling Megadeth sometimes) and adds some really catchy and harmonious melodies to it. It all happens to be better planned and thought out. Having already mentioned the opener I think it is also a good example of the new lyrics that the songs are dealing with. It is definitely not the "was there / done that" stories but something worth to print in the booklet and read, which could not be claimed of most other Bodom albums.
So why is this album very good? To get this point you must understand and accept that Children Of Bodom are now a new band playing new music. Now relax and listen to the songs. Passages from harsh and edged thrash riffs become soft chords that underline melodies and arpeggios by both keyboard and lead guitar. The yet even darker voice of Alexi adds an atmosphere to it which could best be described as anything in between drunk party and talented metal feeling. It is mainly the composition of fore- and background elements that makes this. The only problem is that one has to obey to the music and let his mood be controlled by it, which some experts unfortunately have unlearned during years. The best example for that on Relentless Reckless Forever is the chorus of my second favourite song, "Pussyfoot Miss Suicide." Maybe the dumbest song title ever with the best party chorus ever.
I already can hear the voices "blah bad album blah too high rating blah dead band blah." The 2000s are over and your beloved band has changed for eight years now. Relax and listen, this record ain't bad as long as you wake up and stop putting a once good bands down, which don't fit the new music.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 9 |
| Songwriting: | 7 |
| Originality: | 7 |
| Production: | 9 |
Written by Windrider | 21.06.2011
Guest review disclaimer:
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
Rating:
5.0
5.0
|
Rating: 5.0 |
Imagine a man walking down the road, traveling right down the middle, never wavering, never stopping. Maybe it's dark out, a slight echo to his footsteps. All of a sudden, the man stops. His ears perk up for a second, shrugs it off and keeps right on walking. That is about as close as Children Of Bodom are on this record to returning to their classic sound. Read more ›› |
Comments
| Milena gloom cookie Staff Posts: 4603  |
You wrote the review which I wanted to write, and our opinions pretty much match  for me, it was catchy and fun as shit, didn''t drag. Maybe a song or two I didn't like but it entertained me. The boys have always had a punkish attitude to them, and you can clearly see they just wanna have some fun now.'The only problem is that one has to obey to the music and let his mood be controlled by it, which some experts unfortunately have unlearned during years.' I hate that shit too. If you don't put the CD in the player and not expect to hear anything at least half decent, chances are you WON'T. I hate those 'tr00' metalheads who listen to something only to pick it apart later. The music is there to immerse you (shit, let me know if I used that verb right). (edit: Now I see you're the guy who wrote many of the reviews I enjoyed reading, keep up the good work. Also, still no hateful comments? Wow, just wow  )
---- 7.0 means the album is good
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| Cuca Beludo Account deleted |
Cuca Beludo
Account deleted
Some bands change and become better (Iron Maiden), some still be awesome (Children Of Bodom) and there's the ones who become bad (Bathory). I think it all depends on the musicas taste of the listener. Some peoples listened too much an early work of the band, and when the guys try to write and sing other things, anyone begin to blame then, again, it's all depends of the musical taste of the listener. Oh, and a very good review, man  Keep up the good work 
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| Daniell _爱情_ Elite Posts: 6100  |
Written by [user id=114505] on 21.06.2011 at 17:38 Let me correct that for you Some bands change and become better (Bathory), some still be awesome (Iron Maiden) and there's the ones who become bad (Children of Bodom). Although I do admit that this album isn't too bad
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| Cuca Beludo Account deleted |
Cuca Beludo
Account deleted Written by Daniell on 21.06.2011 at 17:47 Are you crazy? Bathory changed and become bad!! Requiem and Octagon is bad, not because it's don't have anything with the other viking albuns, but Post - Hardcore don't fit Quorthon voice, although "Destroyer Of The Worlds" is quite good. Iron maiden: Bruce is better than Paul. Again, the older albuns are damn good. Children of Bodom: Well, don't know much 'bout then... As i said before, it all depends on the musical taste 
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| Troy Killjoy perfunctionist Staff Posts: 21306  |
Did someone just say CoB have gotten better with time.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18374  |
Written by Daniell on 21.06.2011 at 17:47 Written by [user id=114505] on 21.06.2011 at 18:16 There seems to be a misunderstanding here. It's a common knowledge that Requiem and Octagon kind of sucks ass... But by the looks of your first comment I believe that he got the feeling (I got that feeling as well) that you said "Bathory was better when they played only black metal bu they went bad when they went to do viking stuff"... Unless Daniell really thinks Octagon and Requiem are good.. in that case I don't know what to say.
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| DjentDude Posts: 36 |
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| Grody2themax Posts: 240  |
I really liked some of the riffs on this album actually, which was a surprise for me. Some of it reminded me of Roope's old band Stone, and I love stone haha. Overall, it was a solid album and I don't think the bands intentions were to make us shit our pants, but to just have fun with it. Like you said, the foreground elements really add to this album and give it a nice atmosphere. Although, even though I used to really like this band, I guess my musical tastes have changed a bit since and I can't get too into it.
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| Troy Killjoy perfunctionist Staff Posts: 21306 |
Written by Grody2themax on 22.06.2011 at 08:09 So CoB are like Anthrax post-State of Euphoria.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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| Milena gloom cookie Staff Posts: 4603 |
Written by Troy Killjoy on 22.06.2011 at 14:05 I have that same impression
---- 7.0 means the album is good
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| Sword_Chant Posts: 717 |
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| Milena gloom cookie Staff Posts: 4603 |
Written by Sword_Chant on 22.06.2011 at 21:52 I think that's just a production thing. Harsh vocals generally sound all alike, and a person who has a nice technique can almost always pull them off. And Alexi's been doing that for years, so you can assume there's nothing wrong with his voice right now
---- 7.0 means the album is good
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| Doc G. Full Grown Hoser Staff Posts: 9718  |
Quote: See, that's the problem, in all actuality they really aren't. To me they sound like a band still trying to appeal to the same crowd they did 8 years ago, but are just coming up flat because they fail to realize that crowd has grown and matured, they haven't. Sure, there it is an improvement from Blooddrunk, but they could have done that playing with their feet. The review just seems like an over reaction to the fact that this was slightly better.
---- "I got a lot of really good ideas, problem is, most of them suck." - George Carlin
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| Troy Killjoy perfunctionist Staff Posts: 21306 |
Written by Doc G. on 23.06.2011 at 23:50 My thoughts exactly.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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| berserkLP Posts: 4  |
I have to admit first that I am not the biggest fan of CoB but they do produce some classic songs every now and then. For me the album was just more of the same and nothing to write home about. I didn't even manage to get through the whole album the first five songs bored me so much. Sometimes I feel they care more about showing off their guitar skills than playing with passion and making music that makes me want to get up and headbang. I missed having a song like "Deadnight Warrior" or "Needled 24/7" and the songs seemed to merge into one after a while.
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| AngelofDeth Cyborg Raptor Posts: 1183  |
Written by Milena on 21.06.2011 at 10:06 Yes 'tr00' metalheads are annoying for not likeing something because it doesnt fit a certain standard but 'fanboys' are just as bad for liking something just because a certain band made it. If this album didnt have Children of Bodom slathered over the cover i garuntee half the people that like this album wouldnt even give it a second look. So most of the people who do like this album and 'let your mood be controlled by it' are just as guilty as the 'tr00' kids b.c you only like it because its made by CoB. It usually takes a few spins to truly take an album out of context of a bands previous work(which happened to me with with Turisas' SUaS. I didnt like it at first but once i seperated it from VW i liked it) but when you do that with this album, it still sounds like shit. The problem is that this album simply doesnt sound good. Its watered down, terrible mixing and alexi's guitar sounds out of tune half the dam album. I dont hate this album b/c its not 'tr00', i dont like this album cuz it sounds BAD.
---- pewpew.. gotcha
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| Troy Killjoy perfunctionist Staff Posts: 21306 |
Written by AngelofDeth on 14.03.2012 at 01:02 Agreed. I listen to enough music that is "untrue"; I don't have to worry about tarnishing my image by listening to CoB. If I liked the music, I wouldn't lie about it. And I certainly don't "spoil" the potential to enjoy it because of the band name on the album cover. I think every album has a chance to wow me. With the exception of Venom. I gave up on them officially.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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| Milena gloom cookie Staff Posts: 4603 |
Written by AngelofDeth on 14.03.2012 at 01:02 I didn't talk about you in specific, but if you feel offended by my post (almost a year ago, lol), I'm guessing being called a "true" metalhead is your number one pet peeve. I never listened to CoB extensively back when I was 16 or so, when people usually do that. Out of them I've got a couple of nice memories and some catchy songs. This album currently sits at around 6.5-7 in my personal ratings... it was about a 7.5-8 when it first got out but I've heard a lot of better things since then which put it into perspective. I've gotten a lot more spins of it than Blooddrunk, and I personally don't think it's that bad at all, it's just average to good at times. I've never considered this band to be any source of genius, just a source of pretty solos and similar sonically sparkly things. They're good for short term fun - Follow The Reaper, I believe, I've rated with a nine but I usually don't listen to it as a full album any more. You said a lot of people wouldn't give this a second look if the name on the cover weren't CoB, but a lot of the people wouldn't hate this with a passion if it weren't CoB. I DID hear a lot of good things that made my ratings more evenly spread out, but I've also heard a lot of REALLY cringe-worthy things. The kind where you can't even finish a listen. EVEN IN MY FAVE EVER GENRES. So I honestly don't think this is bad at all. Again, you might really find this cringe-worthy regardless of the name on the cover, I am not talking about you. Just saying that some people are a bit polar when all they do is either extremely praise or harshly criticize releases that are ALL average. Just a bit of perspective. AGAIN, this is just my opinion. But in order to say "dude, this is crap" you need to know what crap is. And then you call whatever you want crap; Images and Words, or The Gallery, or Elegy for all I care.
---- 7.0 means the album is good
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18374 |
People still care about this band? 
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| AngelofDeth Cyborg Raptor Posts: 1183 |
Written by Milena on 14.03.2012 at 01:18 yes that is true and i think that hate is a lil unneccesary and overdramatic also. Written by Milena on 14.03.2012 at 01:18 anyway i wasnt trying to be aggressive or seem pissed, just trying to state why alot of people dont like this album regardless of the CoB name.
---- pewpew.. gotcha
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| Milena gloom cookie Staff Posts: 4603 |
Written by AngelofDeth on 14.03.2012 at 08:59 Just because my post was long doesn't mean I thought you were aggressive. Anyway, like Mr.Doctor above stated, it's pretty pointless to discuss this album now, I haven't played it since April last year and I'm sure it was even longer for you
---- 7.0 means the album is good
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| R'Vannith ghedengi Elite Posts: 3099  |
Written by X-Ray Rod on 14.03.2012 at 01:24  What if I told you they still have a massive fanbase?
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