Children of Bodom Family Tree

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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.

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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.

The Ramones are among the most important and first punk bands. Alexi said they were close to his heart.

The Ramones are among the most important and first punk bands. Alexi said they were close to his heart.

Sex Pistols are another among the most important and first punk bands. Alexi also said they were close to his heart.

Sex Pistols are another among the most important and first punk bands. Alexi also said they were close to his heart.

Dire Straits were a rock band from the late 70’s and 80’s. Alexi’s dad listened to them a lot and they had a big influence on him first wanting to play guitar.

Dire Straits were a rock band from the late 70’s and 80’s. Alexi’s dad listened to them a lot and they had a big influence on him first wanting to play guitar.

Yngwie Malmsteen is considered one of the best guitar players by many. Alexi said he was inspired by neo-classical and that Yngwie was the top of those players.

Yngwie Malmsteen is considered one of the best guitar players by many. Alexi said he was inspired by neo-classical and that Yngwie was the top of those players.

Twisted Sister are one of the first metal bands to have the glam image but compared to later glam bands Twisted Sister is musically much more metal. Alexi named them as a band he was into.

Twisted Sister are one of the first metal bands to have the glam image but compared to later glam bands Twisted Sister is musically much more metal. Alexi named them as a band he was into.

Steve Vai is a guitar virtuoso considered the best by many. Alexi said hearing Passion and Warfare made him obsessed with playing guitar and says Steve is still one of his favorite guitarists.

Steve Vai is a guitar virtuoso considered the best by many. Alexi said hearing Passion and Warfare made him obsessed with playing guitar and says Steve is still one of his favorite guitarists.

Ozzy was blessed to have amazing guitar players in his career. Alexi said he was influenced by Randy, Jake, and Zakk. He named No Rest for the Wicked as his favorite Ozzy album.

Ozzy was blessed to have amazing guitar players in his career. Alexi said he was influenced by Randy, Jake, and Zakk. He named No Rest for the Wicked as his favorite Ozzy album.

Mötley Crüe started as more of a metal band before becoming of a popular rock band. Alexi named them as an influence perticulary their leary stuff like Shout at the Devil.

Mötley Crüe started as more of a metal band before becoming of a popular rock band. Alexi named them as an influence perticulary their leary stuff like Shout at the Devil.

Metallica are the fathers of thrash. Alexi named them as an influence.

Metallica are the fathers of thrash. Alexi named them as an influence.

W.A.S.P. are a heavy metal / hard rock classic. Alexi said he loved them as a kid.

W.A.S.P. are a heavy metal / hard rock classic. Alexi said he loved them as a kid.

Anthrax are the only of the big four of thrash to hail from the east coast. Alexi named them as an influence.

Anthrax are the only of the big four of thrash to hail from the east coast. Alexi named them as an influence.

Slayer were the most aggressive of the West Coast Thrashers at the time. Alexi named them as an influence.

Slayer were the most aggressive of the West Coast Thrashers at the time. Alexi named them as an influence.

Sepultura brought thrash to a new level of aggression. Alexi said hearing Arise was the first time he heard harsh vocals and it lead him getting into more extreme music.

Sepultura brought thrash to a new level of aggression. Alexi said hearing Arise was the first time he heard harsh vocals and it lead him getting into more extreme music.

Obituary are one of the most classic of death metal bands. Alexi named them as an influence.

Obituary are one of the most classic of death metal bands. Alexi named them as an influence.

Kreator are one of the big bands of German thrash. Alexi said they were a vocal influence.

Kreator are one of the big bands of German thrash. Alexi said they were a vocal influence.

Skid Row were a heavy metal band that started in the glam scene but went in a heavier direction than most glam bands. Alexi said they were a band he grew up with.

Skid Row were a heavy metal band that started in the glam scene but went in a heavier direction than most glam bands. Alexi said they were a band he grew up with.

Poison is perhaps the most glam of the glam metal bands. Alexi named them as one of the bands he grew up with.

Poison is perhaps the most glam of the glam metal bands. Alexi named them as one of the bands he grew up with.

Stone were a Finnish speed/thrash band and formerly the band of Roope Latvala. Alexi said he was really into them.

Stone were a Finnish speed/thrash band and formerly the band of Roope Latvala. Alexi said he was really into them.

Paul Gilbert

Paul Gilbert was one of the top shredders of the late 80’s starting and Racer X and the more mainstream Mr. Big. Alexi named him among his main influences.

Paul Gilbert was one of the top shredders of the late 80’s starting and Racer X and the more mainstream Mr. Big. Alexi named him among his main influences.

Guns n’ Roses were the champions of hard rock in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Alexi said Slash was a big influence on him early on and that Apatite for Destruction was the perfect rock album.

Guns n’ Roses were the champions of hard rock in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Alexi said Slash was a big influence on him early on and that Apatite for Destruction was the perfect rock album.

Entombed are one of the pioneers of Swedish Death Metal. Alexi named them as an influence.

Entombed are one of the pioneers of Swedish Death Metal. Alexi named them as an influence.

Pantera were the fathers of groove metal. Alexi named Phil as a vocal influence and Dime as a main guiitar influece.

Pantera were the fathers of groove metal. Alexi named Phil as a vocal influence and Dime as a main guiitar influece.

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!

Symphonic and progressive power metal

Symphonic and progressive power metal

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