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Mr. Laiho and his posse of not-so-fancy Fins’ latest release got a fair preview a few months or so ago with the MCD featuring the track You’re Better off Dead. This song showcased a heavier sense of songwriting, along with an extended solo of keyboard blips. Now that Hate Crew Deathroll has finally managed to get itself distributed to the metal masses, it is safe to say that most of the songs follow suit. This is still a pure Children of Bodom record, right down to the laughable lyrical content regarding youthful rebellion. "Fuck you! We’ll fight til’ the last hit, and we sure as hell ain’t taking no shit!" Ok guys…at least they have fun with what they do. Despite showcasing some slower and more punishing guitar work, this is at the same time the most lighthearted record from Children of Bodom yet.

Even if you absolutely despise this band and in machine like fashion mindlessly respond in any related message board thread by posting "Children of Boredom", "Children of Bumdumb" or whatever, I say listen to at least the opening track Needled 24/7. It is mercilessly catchy and definitely one song that I would say defines what is great about the Children of Bodom sound.

But what I find to be not so great are those keyboards. In the past they didn’t have any real weight on a song, they were just in the background and sounded funny. But when you first go through this disc, you’ll be anticipating one of Alexi’s trademark solos but instead get the ghost of your old 8-bit Nintendo system beeping in your ear. Not even the decent cover of Slayer’s Silent Scream is safe! But the fact that they are obviously fans of American Psycho (they use a sample from the film prior to Angel’s Don’t Kill and had a song on the last album called Mask of Sanity, also related to that story) almost makes up for it. Next time I just hope they stray from letting the keyboard take the lead in a song.

I can’t see this one winning over new fans really, but if you "get" Children of Bodom then you’ll enjoy gobbling this one up.