Formation and early years (19931997) The band was founded in 1993 by guitarist Alexi "Wildchild" Laiho and drummer Jaska Raatikainen under the name of IneartheD. Both musicians had known each other since early childhood and had shared an interest in heavy metal, especially death metal groups, such as Entombed, and Obituary. Bassist Samuli Miettinen completed the initial line-up of the band. IneartheD recorded its first demo, titled Implosion of Heaven, during August of the same year. Children of Bodom is a Finnish heavy metal from Espoo, Finland, formed in 1993. As of 2009, the band consists of guitarist and vocalist Alexi Laiho, guitarist Roope Latvala, keyboardist Janne Wirman, bassist Henkka Seppälä, and drummer Jaska Raatikainen. There is some contention regarding the band's genre classification, but in general the band's musical style has been described as a cross between melodic death metal[1] and power metal[2]. The band's name is derived from the Lake Bodom murders! .[3] The lyrics of Children of Bodom's songs are in English and are most often concerned with the subjects of death, personal struggles, war and the Lake Bodom murders. Recent albums have seen a shift to more antagonistic lyrics (songs such as "You're Better Off Dead" and "Hate Me") and a more straight-forward heavy metal style.
