CHILDREN OF BODOM: Trashed, Lost & Strungout

CHILDREN OF BODOM: Blooddrunk (Live)

ALEXEI LAIHO: Guitar Lesson

CHILDREN OF BODOM: Hellhounds On My Trail

CHILDREN OF BODOM: Downfall

“Blooddrunk” is a 2008 single by Finnish melodic death metal band Children of Bodom, taken from their 2008 album Blooddrunk. The lyrics focus upon “self-destructive behaviour”, and being addicted to hurting yourself. Written solely by Children of Bodom frontman Alexi Laiho, the song was generally well received by critics.

Directed by Sandra Marschner and produced by Katapult Filmproduktion, the accompanying music video was filmed at former Nazi barracks in Krampnitz situated near Berlin. The film is set in an abandoned ghost town; Laiho described the area as “a really creepy looking environment”. “Blooddrunk” debuted at number one on the Finnish singles charts in its first week of release, and remained in the top twenty of the Finnish singles chart for six weeks following its release.

According to Children of Bodom frontman Alexi Laiho, “Blooddrunk” concerns “self-destructive behaviour”,  and “being addicted to spilling your own blood”.  Laiho felt that he had hurt himself “more than ever” over the course of a two year period (between 2005-2007), and arrived at the conclusion that he was addicted to hurting himself “so bad”.  When discussing the track in interviews, Laiho has made reference to the fact that he self-harmed in the past.   However, Laiho has noted that the song isn’t “necessarily just about cutting yourself but about other things you do to yourself and you don’t know why”.

One interviewer commented that the phrase “blood drunk” appears in the 2007 movie 300, although Laiho stated that he heard the phrase prior to watching the film.   “I think it’s just some sort of expression and it fits, you know?”, Laiho observed.

Blooddrunk” is 4 minutes 5 seconds long.   A keyboard opens the track, described by IGN critic Jim Kaz as a “gothic” “flourish”.  ( The track then “degenerates” into a set of “muscular” riffs, ) riffs that Kaz dubbed “frenetic”.   The chorus then enters, hailed by PopMatters critic Adrien Begrand as “effective”.  Begrand also commented that “Blooddrunk” is “chugging”.

Keyboardist Janne Wirman noted that “Blooddrunk” is the first song since the group’s debut album (1997’s Something Wild) to feature a triplet, and felt the track was “really fresh musically” for that reason.

In December 2007, Children of Bodom travelled to Berlin, Germany in order to film two music videos – for the songs “Blooddrunk” and “Hellhounds On My Trail” respectively – in support of sixth studio album Blooddrunk. Both videos were directed by Sandra Marschner, and produced by Katapult Filmproduktion.[8] “Blooddrunk”’s music video was filmed at former Nazi barracks in Krampnitz near Berlin, an area where the Russian army was stationed prior to the reunification of Germany.

Set in an abandoned “hellhole” ghost town, Laiho described the area as “a really creepy looking environment”. Laiho went on to comment that “no one has lived there for years”.

On February 18, the music video premiered on both the internet and Finnish television.

“Blooddrunk” was released on February 27, 2008 by Spinefarm Records in Finland. In its first week of release, the single debuted at number one on the Finnish singles chart. “Blooddrunk” stayed in that position for one week, and remained in the top twenty of the Finnish singles chart for six weeks following its release.[13] On March 3, the single was issued in the rest of Europe. On that same day, What Records issued three limited-edition versions of the single in the United Kingdom; an enhanced CD single, a 7″ vinyl single, and a 12″ vinyl single picture disc. The single’s enhanced CD version featured a cover of Billy Idol’s “Rebel Yell”, and the music video for “Blooddrunk”. Limited to 1,000 copies worldwide, the 7″ vinyl version included a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Lookin’ Out My Back Door” as its B-side. The single’s limited 12″ vinyl picture disc release was distributed with 666 numbered copies, and 1,000 copies overall. A reinterpretation of Stone’s “No Command” comprised the B-side, and all purchased copies came with a sticker.

Critics were generally positive when reviewing “Blooddrunk”. PopMatters critic Adrien Begrand felt the track was “certain to become a live favorite”.

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CHILDREN OF BODOM: Trashed, Lost & Strungout

CHILDREN OF BODOM: Blooddrunk

CHILDREN OF BODOM: Blooddrunk (Live)

ALEXEI LAIHO: Guitar Lesson

CHILDREN OF BODOM: Hellhounds On My Trail

Children Of Bodom took a train after Wacken to film the third promotional video for Blooddrunk. The choice of the song was maybe a bit surprising – the first track the band composed for the album, Smile Pretty For The Devil – as it was never played live before the on-going US tour. Sandra Marschner & Katapult Filmproduktion led the band to a landfill in Germany where the video takes place. This relatively low budgeted video has no fancy plots, just a few mummies fooling around and nice looking effects. 

Alexi comments on the Headbanger’s Blog: “Smile Pretty for the Devil is definitely my favorite COB video in a long time because the setting is completely different that anything we’ve ever done. Having shot almost every video in a big hall before, this one has a new, fresh atmosphere in it. And this time, trying something different didn’t backfire, which is always a risk.” 

Director Sandra Marschner adds: “For “Smile Pretty For The Devil,” the open cast mine was a perfect location. With the band standing in a big and wide open space, it could be anywhere, anytime. Children of Bodom reached the set sitting in the shovel of a construction vehicle! But they were not alone in the sandpit. Two mummies were woken up by the performance (”Five times I’ve died it’s all the same”)! The cast was totally wrapped in gauze bandages, so it was not possible for them to go to the toilet for hours (but who knows, the bandages were sand-colored, yellow…). While shooting with haze and clouds of smoke it must have looked like a big fire, because five fire engines came to our location! Then we were shooting with sand explosions, which are very loud. With firing the bombs, everyone was shrugging a bit except Roope – he showed no reaction at all. Cool boy!”

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