Review / Multiple Authors
Children of Bodom
Hate Crew Deathroll

Century Media (2003) — Shane, Sean, Zed

Children of Bodom – Hate Crew Deathroll cover artwork
Children of Bodom – Hate Crew Deathroll — Century Media, 2003

This album is definitely one of the "odd men out" on this site. That is a good thing though. Sometimes you need a change of pace. The cheesy orchestra keyboard hits can get to you sometimes. The guitar work is fucking amazing. Constant double bass through the record. The vocals aren't all that bad either. Sometimes they can sound pretty bad but they are tolerable most the time. After listening to this I know I want to play Maniac Mansion really bad...

When I first heard I was going to be reviewing this album, I automatically assumed I would hate it. My metal tastes hardly expand past a few Iron Maiden and Judas Priest records. While the lyrics and vocals are a little hard to get into for me, they aren't hard to get past. The guitar work involved some amazing metal riffs that you'd have to be Wes from AN not to end up playing air guitar. The keyboard work helps to give the songs an almost videogame soundtrack feel. This is fun stuff in the very least.

So metal it has its own element on the periodic table! You can quote me on that B') I'm not familiar with metal enough to differentiate death metal, black metal, and cash money metal from each other, but I can tell this is good metal. Already I've used the word metal seven times in this review, and that probably means something if you know what I mean! The finger tapping solos that are used on this are so metallic and high that they sound like they came from a Nintendo game. There's more chugging than a frat party at Chico, which is a LOT! The vocals bother me at times, but they are only there 50% of the time. The horror intro to "Triple Corpse" was a nice change of pace, and the synthesizer adds some fun sounds. If you like metal at all, check this out. Even if you don't like metal, check this out.

8.0 / 10Zed

Children of Bodom – Hate Crew Deathroll cover artwork
Children of Bodom – Hate Crew Deathroll — Century Media, 2003

Related news

Children of Bodom release 15th Anniversary DVD/CD

Posted in Bands on March 22, 2012

Children Of Bodom recording new album

Posted in Records on August 5, 2010

Children Of Bodom Recording New LP

Posted in Records on June 15, 2010

Average score across three writers

7.3 / 10 — Shane, Sean, Zed • February 25, 2004

Recently-posted album reviews

Ace Enders

Posture Syndrome
Pure Noise (2025)

If the name Ace Enders sounds familiar, it should. He’s been the voice behind The Early November, one of Drive-Thru Records’ cornerstone emo bands in the early 2000s. While that scene exploded, Ace carved his own path with that band, as well as solo experiments under the name I Can Make a Mess, and the occasional record as Ace Enders … Read more

Summer Blue

Self Titled EP
New Morality Zine (2025)

You may not be familiar with the band Summer Blue, but that’s your issue. If you do know the San Jose, CA based band, then you know how enjoyable they are to listen to. For some background for the newcomers, the band started in 2022 as a side project between friends already orbiting the Bay Area DIY and indie scenes. … Read more

Relay For Death

Mutual Consuming
Helen Scarsdale Agency (2025)

At a time when experimental artists are constantly churning out new music, it is curious to find some that take their time. Rachel and Roxann Spikula might not be the most prolific creatives, but when they make an appearance, it is worth paying attention. The twin sisters have performed in Towering Heroic Dudes and Boyzone, but it is their own … Read more