Halo of Blood

Halo of Blood
Studio album by
Children of Bodom
Released29 May 2013 (Japan)
RecordedDecember 2012 – February 2013
Studio
  • Danger Johnny Studios, Helsinki, Finland[1]
  • Petrax Studios, Hollola, Finland
  • Beyond Abilities Studios (keyboards)
GenreMelodic death metal[2]
Length41:40
LabelNuclear Blast, Marquee Inc.
Producer
Children of Bodom chronology
Holiday at Lake Bodom (15 Years of Wasted Youth)
(2012) 		Halo of Blood
(2013) 		I Worship Chaos
(2015)
Singles from Halo of Blood
  1. "Transference"
    Released: 24 April 2013
  2. "Halo of Blood"
    Released: 20 May 2013

Halo of Blood is the eighth studio album by Finnish melodic death metal band Children of Bodom.[3] It was released on 7 June 2013 in Europe[4][5] and 11 June in North America on Nuclear Blast Records.[3] In Japan, the album was released by Marquee Inc. on 29 May 2013.[6] This would be the last album with guitarist Roope Latvala before he was kicked out of the band in May 2015.

Production

Drummer Jaska Raatikainen posted on Facebook that the band has accumulated a number of songs for a new album. Raatikainen described the new material as dark and "also little [sic] 'black' [metal]-ish."[6] In an interview before the band's first show in India, keyboardist Janne Wirman revealed that the band currently had four songs written, with plans to enter the studio at the end of 2012. Wirman predicted a release around April or May 2013.[7] In mid November 2012, it was announced that the band had started recording demos of new material.[8]

In January 2013, it was revealed that frontman/guitarist Alexi Laiho was finishing writing lyrics, and that recording would commence in February. Two song titles were also revealed.[9] On 19 March 2013, the album's title was announced as Halo of Blood, and a track listing and cover artwork were revealed.

Some resources mention Swede Peter Tägtgren as the album's producer.[citation needed] However, according to Children of Bodom's Janne Wirman, "Peter was there just to produce the vocals" and the album was actually produced by Mikko Karmila and the band.[10]

Cover Art

The album cover depicts the reaper standing on the frozen surface of Lake Bodom, with dead bodies trapped beneath the ice.

Critical reception

The album received mostly positive reviews, with an aggregated score of 66/100 on Metacritic, indicating favorable reviews. It was considered a return to form for the band, garnering a warmer reception from fans than their previous three albums.

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic66/100[11]
Review scores
SourceRating
About[12]
AllMusic[13]
Kerrang[14]
Loudwire[15]
New Noise Magazine[16]
PopMatters[17]
Revolver[18]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Alexi Laiho

No.TitleLength
1."Waste of Skin"4:16
2."Halo of Blood"3:12
3."Scream for Silence"4:09
4."Transference"3:58
5."Bodom Blue Moon (The Second Coming)"4:14
6."Your Days Are Numbered"3:40
7."Dead Man's Hand on You"4:58
8."Damaged Beyond Repair"4:20
9."All Twisted"4:51
10."One Bottle and a Knee Deep"4:02
Total length:41:40
Limited edition bonus track
No.TitleLength
11."Sleeping in My Car" (Roxette cover)3:19
Total length:44:59
Japanese edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
11."Crazy Nights" (Loudness cover)4:25
12."Sleeping in My Car" (Roxette cover)3:19
Total length:49:24

Personnel

Children of Bodom
Production
  • Peter Tägtgren – vocal production
  • Mikko Karmila – production, engineering, mixing
  • Mika Jussila – mastering
  • Sami Saramäki – cover art

Charts

Chart (2013) Peak
position
Austrian Albums Chart[19] 28
Finnish Albums Chart[20] 2
French Albums Chart[21] 109
German Albums Chart[22] 18
Japanese Albums Chart[23] 16
Hungarian Albums Chart[24] 10
Swedish Albums Chart[25] 26
Swiss Albums Chart[26] 24
US Billboard 200[27] 54
US Hard Rock Albums[28] 7

References

  1. ^ "Children of Bodom: Video Update From The Studio - Feb. 22, 2013". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  2. ^ Daniele Cicero. "Children Of Bodom - Halo of Blood". Metallized (in Italian). Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  3. ^ a b Kelly, Neil (19 June 2013). "Children of Bodom: Halo of Blood". PopMatters.
  4. ^ Official Facebook post
  5. ^ Halo of Blood page on the official Nuclearblast website
  6. ^ a b "Children of Bodom Froontman (sic) Interviewed In India (Video) - Oct. 19, 2012". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  7. ^ Makhija, Sahil. "Headbanger's Kitchen (Uncooked) - Episode 3 - Janne Wirman (Children of Bodom)". Headbanger's Kitchen Official Youtube channel. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  8. ^ "Children of Bodom Demoing New Material - Nov. 16, 2012". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  9. ^ "Children of Bodom Frontman Reveals First Details Of Upcoming Album - Jan. 23, 2013". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  10. ^ Noizr Official Youtube channel. "Interview: CHILDREN OF BODOM's Janne Wirman on Touring, New Album, and "Stranger Things" — Noizr". Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  11. ^ "Halo of Blood Reviews". Metacritic.com. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  12. ^ Lyons, Todd (12 June 2013). "Children Of Bodom - Halo Of Blood Review". About.com. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  13. ^ Heaney, Gregory (12 June 2013). "Halo of Blood". Allmusic. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  14. ^ "Halo of Blood Reviews". Kerrang.
  15. ^ Hartmann, Graham (11 June 2013). "Children of Bodom, 'Halo of Blood' - Album Review". Loudwire. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  16. ^ May, Eric (5 June 2013). "Album Review: Children of Bodom – Halo of Blood – Review by Eric May". New Noise Magazine. Archived from the original on 11 June 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  17. ^ Kelly, Neil (19 June 2013). "Children of Bodom: Halo of Blood". PopMatters. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  18. ^ Camisasca, Paige (10 June 2013). "Review: Children of Bodom – Halo of Blood". Revolver. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  19. ^ "AUSTRIA TOP 40 - ALBEN TOP 75". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  20. ^ "Album Top 50". finnishcharts.com. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  21. ^ "Actuellement n° 109 du Top Albums France". chartsinfrance.net. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  22. ^ "HALO OF BLOOD stormed the German media control charts at position #18 in its first week!". facebook.com. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  23. ^ "Halo of Blood - Children of Bodom" (in Japanese). oricon ME inc. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  24. ^ "MAHASZ – Magyar Hangfelvétel-kiadók Szövetsége". mahasz.hu. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  25. ^ "SVERIGETOPPLISTAN - ALBUMS TOP 60". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  26. ^ "SWISS CHARTS - ALBUMS TOP 100". swisscharts.com. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  27. ^ "Children of Bodom Chart History(Billboard 200)". billboard.com. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  28. ^ "Children of Bodom Chart History(Hard Rock Albums)". billboard.com. Retrieved 19 May 2015.