Children of Bodom Family Tree
This is a project aimed at making it easy to see who inspired the bands you love or even hate. For this I try not to use any influences that the band don’t claim themselves. There will be a focus on predecessors but successors will be added as they site the band. These trees become more and more interactive as new bands are added, allowing you to click any band that has a tree and jump to it.
We want our lists to be better. If you know something that belongs on this list, let us know. When in doubt we will leave it out, so we need reliable sources.
Children of Bodom is considered a melodic death metal band although their style of melodic death is quite unique. They inspired other bands that would also play in their vain. The heart of the band, the recently passed guitarist/vocalist Alexi Laiho. Alexi became a guitar hero to many in a time when guitar heroes were few and far between. No other members of the band have been giving writing credits to a significant degree with only a few songs being co-written along side Alexi.
Paul Gilbert
Alexi said that much of his influences come from his older sister. some of this were glam bands like Mötley Crüe, Skid Row, and Poison. This includes black metal but he didn’t name specific bands.
Alexi saw Suicidal Tendencies at a festival when he was young and said it had a big impact on him.
For new bands Alexi was a fan of he named, In Flames, Dimmu Borgir (he said opening form them was big for Bodom) and Hypocrisy. He also was a fan of Stone Sour; he said he’s not a huge fan of newer music but was a fan of their Come What(ever) May album. He said the guitars in particular had and old school hard rock style. He also said he was a big fan of NIN and Billy Idol.
Alexi said he tries to listen to everything and absorb ideas from what he hears including 80’s and 90’s pop.
Alexi was a big fan of Andrew W. K. and said it always puts a smile on his face when he’s having a bad day.
Alexi started playing violin at age 7 and switched to guitar around 11.
Bands influenced by Children of Bodom!
As this project advances, bands will be added here… there are many!
Sources:
https://loudwire.com/children-of-bodom-alexi-laiho-early-influences-changing-industry/
https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/alexi-laiho-on-writing-riffs-imitating-yngwie-and-children-of-bodoms-new-album-hexed
https://guitar.com/features/alexi-laiho-soundtrack-of-my-life/
https://www.metal-rules.com/interviews/ChildrenOfBodom-Sept2003.htm
https://www.metal-rules.com/interviews/Cob-Hatecrew.htm
https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/Interview_Children_of_Bodoms_Alexi_Laiho_%E2%80%93_Fast_and_Slow?page=2