Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
The legacy of Finnish melodic death metal pioneers Children Of Bodom will be celebrated in “Children of Bodom – Hate Crew: A Visual History”, a 240-page hardcover by Timo Isoaho. Scheduled for April 8, 2027, the book combines photographs, archival material, backstage memories and previously unpublished imagery. Finnish and English editions are planned, following Isoaho’s earlier official history of the group.
The English-language edition will be accessible solely via the official Children Of Bodom Hate Crew store, which is managed by the German independent record label Reaper Entertainment.
Reaper Entertainment oversees the band’s official online store and is accountable for the global direct-to-consumer distribution of the English edition through this platform. The official U.S. store is set to commence pre-orders for the books in the coming days.
Upcoming shows:
Lineup 2026:
Henkka Blacksmith – Bass
Janne Warman – Keyboards
Jaska Raatikainen – Drums
Alexander Kuoppala – Guitars
Samy Elbanna – Guitars & Vocals
Guitarist Alexi “Wildchild” Laiho and drummer Jaska Raatikainen established the ensemble Children Of Bodom in 1993, originally naming it Inearthed. Their longstanding acquaintance, originating in childhood, fostered a mutual enthusiasm for heavy metal, particularly death metal.
Bassist Samuli Miettinen was integral to the initial formation of the band. In August of the same year, Inearthed produced its inaugural demo, titled “Implosion of Heaven”.
During his tenure with Inearthed, Miettinen served as the principal lyricist for a duration of two years. However, his family’s relocation to the United States in 1995 precluded his continued involvement with the band, culminating in his final contributions to the lyrics of their second demo, “Ubiquitous Absence of Remission”.
This demo marked the first collaboration with producer Anssi Kippo at Astia Studios in Lappeenranta, Finland. Additionally, it was during this period that keyboards were introduced into the band’s compositions for the first time.
To facilitate this incorporation, Laiho and Raatikainen recorded the keyboard parts separately and subsequently blended the tracks with the other instrumental elements. Consequently, Laiho transitioned from solely composing melodies to assuming the role of the band’s lyricist.
