HALO OF BLOOD over North America
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CHILDREN OF BODOM, DEATH ANGEL, tyrShow review author: Alex Stojanovic Photography and editing: Navneet Johal Published: March 2, 2014 The Sound Academy Toronto, Ontario February 16, 2014 |
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Children of Bodom
Alexi Laiho - Lead vocals & lead guitars Henkka Seppala - Bass guitars & backing vocals Roope Latvala - Rhythm guitars & backing vocals Janne Wirmann - Keyboards & synthesizers Jaska Raatikainen - Drums, percussion Label: Nuclear Blast Records Website: www.cobhc.com |
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Death Angel
Mark Osegueda - Lead vocals Rob Cavestany - Lead guitars Ted Aguilar - Rhythm guitars Damien Sisson - Bass guitars Will Carroll - Drums Label: Nuclear Blast Records Website: www.deathangel.us |
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Týr
Heri Joensen - Lead vocals & guitars Gunnar H. Thomsen - Bass guitars Terji Skibenæs - Guitars Amon Djurhuus - Drums Label: Metal Blade Records Website: www.tyr.fo |
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The winter season may be frigid in Toronto this year, but that's not stopping numerous great tours from hitting our great city. One of those tours is Children Of Bodom’s Halo Of Blood North American tour, which hit the Sound Academy on a very cold Sunday night on February 16, 2014. Children Of Bodom are on tour in support of their latest studio album Halo Of Blood released in June 2013. The tour also featured special guests Death Angel and TYR. I had the opportunity of conducting a video interview with Children Of Bodom frontman Alexi Laiho in the dressing room before the show, and an audio interview with two members of TYR, and both went extremely well.
TYR were first up to hit the stage. Hailing from the Faroese Islands (a place overlooked for metal), they return to Toronto to bring their brand of folk and viking metal. Even though I am a newcomer to TYR, I felt that they put on an outstanding performance, and the band received one of the strongest crowd reactions of the night where it almost felt like a TYR headline show. The band did not even have to ask for a mosh pit, as the crowd delivered massive pits with confidence. Bay Area thrash legends Death Angel were up next. Anyone that knows me and has read my review of the recent Death Angel headline show at the Toronto Opera House, knows how much I love Death Angel. Ever since the release of their new album The Dream Calls For Blood in October 2013, the band have not slowed down on touring in promotion of the album. This is my fourth time seeing Death Angel, and they delivered probably the most energetic performance of the night. Vocalist Mark Osegueda, as always told the audience how much the band loves Toronto and delivered his eloquent speeches of inspiration in between songs. The band's eight song setlist consisted of "Left For Dead, Son Of The Morning, Claws In So Deep, Succubus, Execution, Mistress Of Pain and Ultra-Violence/Thrown To The Wolves". Every time Mark requested a mosh pit, the crowd obeyed with confidence and gave the band a result beyond their expectations. I got to hang with Mark and drummer Will Carroll at the bar close to the end of Bodom's set, which was a real treat. |
After Death Angel, came the night's headliners Children Of Bodom. The band delivered a well-balanced set of new and classic material that pleased everyone in the audience, and incorporated a track that was never played in North America, which was "Towards Dead End" from the Hatebreeder album. The band kicked off their setlist with "Sixpounder", and played classics such as "Lake Bodom", "Angels Don't Kill", "Hate Me", "Downfall", "Hate Crew Deathroll", "Bodom Beach Terror" and "Follow The Reaper", as well as three new songs "Halo Of Blood, "Scream For Silence" and "Dead Man's Hand On You". The setlist also contained the tracks "Blooddrunk", "Are You Dead Yet?" and "In Your Face". Alexi even congratulated the Canadians on their hockey win against Finland at the winter Olympics. My friend and MMK's photographer Navneet enjoyed the show as much as I did, and she definitely surprised me when she headed straight for the pit with no hesitation during "Towards Dead End". On previous tours, usually before the last song of the set, the band would tease the crowd with a short version of a cover and rant for a few minutes, but that didn't happen this time around, although I'm pretty sure a lot of people hoped they would do that because it always gives the crowd a good laugh.
In conclusion, Children Of Bodom delivered a fantastic performance and a satisfactory setlist, but one song I wish Bodom played was "Needled 24/7", being that it's my favourite Bodom song. Children Of Bodom are also one of those bands that is all about the music, rather than the visual elements. You see bands that deliver a show where the audience's concern is what the next visual tricks will be, rather than what the next song will be, and there's a disconnect, but then again, we all enjoy a show with great visuals as well. It's best when you deliver a show with just the right amount of visuals, but as long as the focus isn't taken away from the music. I don’t think anyone should be reminded to go see Children Of Bodom, because the band have one of the most loyal fanbases ever who will always show up to the shows, and always buy the albums, and because of that, their relevance will remain intact for the years to come. |
