Who doesn't know CHILDREN OF BODOM, the Finnish maniacs that managed to amaze the Metal scene with their incredible combination of melodic Power Metal, Thrash Metal breaks and harsh Black Metal vocals? I personally met these guys with their 2001 Follow The Reaper album and have been digging into their career since then. A new COB album was definitely not a problem for me, since I would more than gladly listen to it for many times until my speakers melt from Finland second more ass kicking act (sorry but ROTTEN SOUND will always be in my heart).

Everyone was impatiently waiting for the band's next step, and the Finnish madmen decided to offer a brand new album full of all the classic stuff a COB fan could ask for. After 11 years of hard work, kick ass releases and endless touring, the band releases its sixth full-length album, proving that is was more than a matter of pure luck that they ended up being one of the most well known Metal acts of the 21st century.

It has been a week that I am listening to this album and I can see that COB are starting to make a slight dive regarding their music. I can't say that Blooddrunk is a bad album, not at all! After all I don't believe that this band could release an album that would be something less than good. It is just that it sounds a bit weaker from their previous releases. I believe that it doesn't have this macho attitude the previous releases had. I see less passion in Blooddrunk and I just hope that Laiho's KYLAHULLUT Punk project is not absorbing the creativity he always put on COB.

Anyway, Blooddrunk contains every classic COB element that made the Metal fans adore this Finnish act. If you are searching for Laiho's classic frenzy riffing that combines neoclassical guitar work with Thrash Metal outbreaks, you have come to the right place. His vocals are still the ones that make the microphone bleed and the rest of the band is incredible as always. Double bass drumming, nice breaks, catchy riffing, amazing guitar leads and insane keyboards by a band that has always kept its distinctive sound.

The fact is that the Finnish madmen are starting to face an inspirational gap (or something like that) and I hope this doesn't last for long. I hope Laiho and his mates will return with a much stronger album that will be able to match the gloriousness of their earlier stuff. You can invest on Blooddrunk without having the fear of it being a pile of shit. It is really good, but it is not as good as it should be.