Something Wild
Children of Bodom · 1997
44 min · 9 tracks · melodic death metal
Thunderous guitar riffs intertwine with symphonic elements, creating a dynamic and aggressive soundscape that defines melodic death metal.
Top tracks — play these first
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Deadnight Warrior Start here — This opening track showcases the band's blend of speed and melody, featuring intricate guitar work and anthemic choruses that set the tone for the album.
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In the Shadows — With its haunting melodies and powerful vocals, this track exemplifies Children of Bodom's ability to combine darkness with catchy hooks, making it a fan favorite.
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Lake Bodom — The title track draws on local folklore while delivering relentless energy through complex rhythms and aggressive solos, highlighting the band's lyrical inspiration.
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Children of Bodom — This song encapsulates the band's identity with its fierce instrumentation and thematic elements that resonate with their signature style, becoming emblematic of their sound.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines aggressive riffs with symphonic elements, establishing a strong identity within melodic death metal.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a high-energy track that features rapid guitar solos and aggressive drumming, setting a fast pace for the first half.
- The use of keyboards adds a symphonic layer to the guitar-driven sound, particularly evident in tracks like 'Lake Bodom' and 'Children of Bodom'.
- The final track, 'Mass Hypnosis', closes the album with an extended instrumental section that gradually builds intensity before fading out.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic peaks and valleys
- captivating melodic intensity
- immersive in-order listening
- ferocious energy bursts
- emotional crescendos throughout
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of instant gratification
- prefer short standalone tracks
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Debut album that established their reputation in melodic death metal.
- Career context
- Released as Children of Bodom's debut album, 'Something Wild' marked their emergence in the melodic death metal scene. At this point in their career, they were fresh from forming in 1993 and had already garnered attention within the Finnish metal community, setting the stage for their rapid ascent to international recognition.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Insomnium· Dark Tranquillity· Amon Amarth
Tracklist
- 1 Deadnight Warrior Start here 3:22
- 2 In the Shadows 6:01
- 3 Red Light in My Eyes, Part 1 4:28
- 4 Red Light in My Eyes, Part 2 3:50
- 5 Lake Bodom 4:01
- 6 The Nail 6:17
- 7 Touch Like Angel of Death / [unknown] 7:20
- 8 Children of Bodom 5:10
- 9 Mass Hypnosis 4:07
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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