The final concert of CHILDREN OF BODOM, held on December 15, 2019, at the Black Box in Helsinki Ice Hall, Helsinki, Finland, is set to see the light of day as a live album titled “A Chapter Called… Children Of Bodom (Final Show In Helsinki Ice Hall 2019)”
This live album will be released on December 15, 2023, through Spinefarm, with the full support and blessing of the late CHILDREN OF BODOM frontman, Alexi Laiho‘s estate.
This concert album marks the culmination of the legendary band’s career, which originated in Espoo, Finland, back in 1993 under the moniker INEARTHED. Over the course of their illustrious journey, CHILDREN OF BODOM delivered ten studio albums, two live albums, two EPs, two compilation albums, and one DVD. The final lineup of the group at the time of their disbandment in 2019 featured Alexi Laiho (lead guitar, lead vocals), Jaska Raatikainen (drums), Henkka Seppälä (bass), Janne Wirman (keyboard), and Daniel Freyberg (rhythm guitar).
Freyberg said: “It’s great to have that final show transformed into a live album. For those who attended, it’s a time travel back to that moment. And for those who didn’t, it’s an opportunity to experience how the chapter called CHILDREN OF BODOM was closed.”
Seppälä stated: “Needless to say that this night was very special. When ‘In Your Face’ started, the reality hit me and I had to turn away from the audience ’cause I actually started crying. But the beauty is that the memories and Alexi‘s music will live forever!”
Wirman said: “It felt surreal to be on that stage in Helsinki Ice Hall as I knew that I was probably not gonna play with the guys ever again nor get to perform for the amazing fans anymore. It felt sad but also somewhat relieving. It is great that the last show and its emotional rollercoaster can now be enjoyed by everyone who couldn’t make it to the show.”
Raatikainen added: “When I got on the stage, I felt calm, probably because I no longer felt the need to prove anything but to enjoy the music and the presence of all the fans. I was just so grateful to have been a part of all this, knowing that our music wouldn’t disappear even if we never ever played together again.”
“A Chapter Called… Children Of Bodom (Final Show In Helsinki Ice Hall 2019)” track listing:
01. Under The Grass And Clover
02. Platitudes And Barren Words
03. In Your Face
04. Shovel Knockout
05. Bodom Beach Terror
06. Everytime I Die
07. Halo Of Blood
08. Are You Dead Yet?
09. Blooddrunk
10. I Worship Chaos
11. Angels Don’t Kill
12. Follow The Reaper
13. Deadnight Warrior
14. Needled 24/7
15. Hate Me
16. Hate Crew Deathroll
17. Lake Bodom
18. Downfall
Tragically, Alexi Laiho passed away in December 2020 due to alcohol-induced degeneration of the liver and pancreas connective tissue. His system also contained a mix of painkillers, opioids, and insomnia medication. Leading up to his untimely passing, Alexi had been grappling with long-term health issues. In December 2021, nearly a year following his tragic departure, Alexi‘s ashes were laid to rest at the Malmi Cemetery, a substantial burial ground located in the Malmi district of Helsinki, Finland.
CHILDREN OF BODOM was founded by Alexi Laiho and drummer Jaska Raatikainen in 1993, and the band gained international acclaim as one of Finland’s most renowned metal acts right up until their emotional farewell concert in December 2019. In 2020, Alexi assembled BODOM AFTER MIDNIGHT, which recorded three songs and produced a posthumously released music video.
Beyond CHILDREN OF BODOM, Alexi Laiho lent his talent to various projects and bands, including WARMEN, SINERGY, KYLÄHULLUT, and THE LOCAL BAND. He received numerous accolades, including a Metal Hammer Golden God award and other international honors. Notably, he led a group of one hundred guitar players in the composition “100 Guitars From Hell,” performed at the Helsinki Festival in 2015.
It’s important to note that Alexi Laiho‘s struggles with addiction began to significantly impact CHILDREN OF BODOM in 2008 during their support act role on a SLIPKNOT tour.
Despite his initial promise not to drink on the road, he experienced a relapse in 2016, causing tension within the band and concerns about his declining income. Laiho also filed an application in 2019 to register the CHILDREN OF BODOM name under his control, causing strife among his bandmates who viewed it as an attempt to appropriate the band’s name and brand, which had been managed by the group’s limited liability company. During a tour in Russia in October 2019, Laiho‘s struggles with alcohol resurfaced, echoing patterns from the past.
Alexi‘s sister Anna Laiho has said that the three surviving members of CHILDREN OF BODOM “have the full support of our family.”
