Tokyo Warhearts: Live [Live] [Import]

Bodom are one of the most awesome bands to have ever graced my stereo. They have come so far from their dark black metal days of their debut album "Something Wild" to the top of the melodic death metal scene of Finland. It seems somewhat odd that Alexi Laiho and his hatecrew chose to release a live album after only 2 studio albums (Arch Enemy had at least 3 before releasing their live helping) but this does not detract from Bodom's performance in anyway, as they put on a show tighter than government spending in 1980s Great Britain.

If it weren't for the irrepresible roaring cheers of the Japanese crowd (and Japan is excellent choice of arena given the insane popularity of death metal out there), you'd be convinced this was a live album. The sound quality is utterly amazing and all 5 of the motley Finnish crew are highly on form. Alexi and Alexander's fingers have NEVER been faster! and dont even get me started on the great Janne Warman! He is without a doubt one of Metal's most talented keyboardists.

Pounding through the majority of the band's sophmore release "Hatebreeder" with 6 of 9 songs, a meager 3 of 7 tracks from debut "Something Wild" (Where the hell was Red Light In My Eyes (part I)?) and rounding off with an intro and a solo war (the unforgettable "War Of Razors"), I give this album 4 stars, falling short of the last star purely for the misfortune of being recorded before the release of the band's most sensational release "Follow The Reaper". A steep price to pay for the import, but worth every penny.

Pity the last album ("Hatecrew Deathroll") was a bit of a let down...

The intro for the gig is the famous synth–melody of the eighties, Jan Hammer's 'Crockett's Theme' from Miami Vice. A bit of a strange choice, and it doesn’t seem right when you’re expecting a band like Children of Bodom, but any false impressions are quickly moved aside as the band launch with full force into Silent Night, Bodom Night.

On record, Children of Bodom are brilliant. Alexi Laiho is a guitar playing genius, fusing widdly, over–the–top solos with their power–speed–black–death metal hybrid, whilst Janne Warman manages to keep up on keyboards, his infectious melodies sometimes complementing, otherwise driving the band along. Live, they are easily as good if not better. They are amazingly tight, and make no playing errors whatsoever.

The first thing you notice about this album is the sound quality. Sometimes live albums can suffer from bad recording which ruins the album no matter how good the band are, but here it is crystal–clear. The band blast through Lake Bodom, Warheart and the excellent Bed of Razors with ease. A special mention has to go to the track War of Razors. It's not actually a song, but Alexi showing off his fret–wanking skills a–la Zakk Wylde, but with the added twist of Janne on keyboards mimicking his playing with almost identical solos.

The next song, Deadnight Warrior is one of the album’s standout tracks, featuring some off the band’s most complex solos that Alexi effortlessly performs, whilst still putting in a sound vocal performance. Hatebreeder is one of the band’s most famous songs, and rightly so, being THE definitive headbanging song. The live setting adds even more ferocity to this number, before the song ends with — you guessed it — more widdly solos, as the band again alternate between keyboard and guitar. Touch Like an Angel of Death is then played at the excellent standard that we have come to expect, before the band round things off with near–perfect renditions of Downfall and Towards Dead End.

If you happen to come across a copy of this album, snap it up straight away. Apart from being very difficult to get hold of, it is one of the best live albums ever.