Artist: Children of Bodom Album: Halo of Blood

Year: 2013
Duration: 41:43

Halo of Blood: A Critical Review of Children of Bodom's Seventh Studio Album

Children of Bodom is a Finnish heavy metal band that was formed in 1993. The band has made a name for itself thanks to its intense and intricate guitar work, solos, and keyboards. Since its inception, Children of Bodom has released eleven studio albums, and each album has its unique style. The band's seventh studio album, Halo of Blood, was released in 2013, and it was met with mixed reactions from fans and critics. In this article, we will review Halo of Blood, discuss the album's musical genre, highlight the best songs of the album, and examine the album's strengths and weaknesses.

Musical Genre

Halo of Blood can be categorized as a melodic death metal album. It features fast-paced riffs, solos, and double bass drums, which are the hallmarks of this metal sub-genre. The album's melodies tend to be more intricate and melodic than other death metal albums. This tends to be a signature feature of Children of Bodom's music, as the band has always incorporated elements of rock and classical music into its metal sound.

Best Songs of the Album

The album kicks off with the track Waste of Skin, which is a speed metal song that sets the tone for the rest of the record. The second track, Halo of Blood, is a slower song that combines elements of death metal and power ballads. One of the standout tracks of the album is Scream for Silence, which features a driving riff, fast solos, and a memorable chorus.

The most Innovative Parts

Halo of Blood shows the band exploring new sounds and styles, such as the use of clean vocals in Dead Man's Hand on You. The use of acoustic guitars in Dead Man's Hand on You and All Twisted adds an emotional touch to the album. The guitar duels between the band's founder, Alexi Laiho and co-guitarist Roope Latvala, are a highlight of the album.

A Critic to the Album

A Critic to the Album

Despite these strengths, Halo of Blood has its weaknesses. The album's slower tracks tend to drag on a bit too much, and the album's production could have been better. The guitars, drums, and keyboards often sound muddy, which detracts from the album's overall sound. The album also misses the mark when it comes to producing memorable hooks, which are often a hallmark of the band's music.

Halo of Blood is a solid album that shows Children of Bodom's growth and exploration of new sounds and styles. While some of the album's tracks tend to drag on, the album has standout tracks that are worth listening to. The guitar duels are fantastic, and the incorporation of clean vocals and acoustic guitars adds an emotional touch to the album. The album's production could have been better, and the album lacks memorable hooks. Nonetheless, if you love melodic death metal, Halo of Blood is worth checking out.