CHILDREN OF BODOM: Bodom-Bing, Seeing Stars In NJ

CHILDREN OF BODOM's second night of a short tour that is essentially devoted to Canada and the western portion of the US, going all the way to Hawaii! Interesting to see what was in the setlist and what’s been left out, this time around. The Finns crammed 90%+ under drinking aged kids into central Jersey’s Starland Ballroom, a non-descript brick edifice hidden outside New Brunswick. Saturday night in a depressed economy? Not judging from the over-filled (paid!) parking lot, spilling into the VFW hall next door. Still, this was the most intimate venue Bodom has played in the Philly-NYC corridor. In fact, it’s the smallest room I’ve seen them in since their debut at the Milwaukee Metalfest, in 2000.

With a “COBHC” logo etched/burned out of sheet metal, the five triumphantly took the stage, following a pair of touring partners (SKELETONWITCH and BLACK DAHLIA MURDER), plus an opener. Those pressed against the barricade sought short blasts of water to keep them going. It was a barrier frenzy from the get-go, photographers (myself included) had to dodge human missiles launching themselves over the wall. After ‘Hellhounds On My Tail’ frontman/guitarist Alexi Laiho referenced his last trip to the area (actually about an hour south, in Philadelphia, this past May), where he was unable to perform, due to his shoulder injury (see story here). No lingering signs of incapacitation here, as Laiho often held/played the guitar upright throughout the night. ‘Silent Night, Bodom Night’ was up next.

‘Hate Me’ followed, which is probably a better choice for a New Jersey state song than either BON JOVI or SPRINGSTEEN (check the lyrics if unfamiliar). ‘Follow The Reaper’ was bathed in green strobes and flashing red lights. While it sounds like a bad Christmas display, I got flashbacks of artwork from albums by The Cramps. Go figure. The between song interludes seemed a little long, then again, probably still getting the set in working order. Whenever needed, keyboardist Janne Warman tinkled the ivories or provided an atmospheric fill. Speaking of Warman (the guy with a collection of brassieres draped in front of his keyboards), he was given a chance to shine, kicking off ‘Lake Bodom’ (which segued seamlessly into ‘Bodom After Midnight’).

With little to do during the initial bars of ‘Are You Dead Yet’, Warman wandered to center stage to retrieve a baseball cap lobbed onstage. Donning the trophy, he returned to his post as the fans thrust arms skyward during the titular chorus. Newer material continued to come to the fore, in the form of ‘Blooddrunk’, ‘Angels Don’t Kill’ and ‘In Your Face’. Spotlighted in white during spoken introductions, Laiho was at the front of the stage, surrounded by a pill-box of monitors on three sides, as Roope Latvala (guitar) and Henkka Seppälä (bass) do yoman work, without much fanfare. ‘Downfall’ was an old-school return, prior to the encore of ‘Everytime I Die’ (also off Hatebreeder) and the concluding ‘Hate Crew Deathroll’.

A variety of merch was available, including the 17-track Skeletons In The Closet CD, as well as Warmen’s latest import (Japanese Hospitality) and a host of new shirt designs. The band is in fine form and if the tour stops nearby, check it out.

A BraveWords.com Photo Gallery can be found here.