Band Origin: Finland
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Release Date: 2000
Album downloads only available to members
Album Info / Review
Recorded at Abyss Studios with the legendary Peter Tägtgren, Follow the Reaper traded the thin, raw hiss of their debut for a lush, icy atmosphere. The production is crystalline; it sounds like it was tracked inside a cathedral made of glass.
The Sonic DNA
The “Mozart-with-a-Mohawk” Leads: The interplay between Alexi’s guitar and Janne Wirman’s keys here is the stuff of legend. They weren’t just playing alongside each other; they were finishing each other’s sentences. The solos are long, sweeping, and heavily influenced by classical violin concertos.
The Power-Death Hybrid: This is the peak of the “Bodom sound.” It has the grit and vocal snarl of death metal, but the heart and soaring choruses of European power metal. It’s aggressive, but it never forgets to be “catchy.”
The Horror Aesthetic: From the Exorcist samples to the hooded Reaper on the cover, the album leans into a 1980s slasher-film vibe. It’s theatrical, slightly campy, and incredibly fun.
The Grimoire of Tracks
“Follow the Reaper”: The title track sets the stage with a sinister keyboard melody and a relentless gallop. It’s a mission statement: “We are here to shred, and we aren’t taking prisoners.”
“Bodom After Midnight”: A fan favorite for a reason. It features one of the most iconic “call and response” sections between the guitars and keys, anchored by a groove that makes it impossible not to headbang.
“Children of Decadence”: This is Alexi’s neoclassical obsession firing on all cylinders. The opening riff is pure high-drama, and the mid-section is a masterclass in how to use melody to build tension.
“Everytime I Die”: The album’s moody masterpiece. It showed a different side of the band—slower, more atmospheric, and deeply melancholic. It’s the “ballad” of the record, if a ballad can involve gravel-throated screaming and a crushing bridge.
“Mask of Sanity”: A high-speed thrasher that contains some of the most intricate finger-work on the album. It’s breathless and brilliant.
The Review: Perfection in a Blue Case
In 2026, Follow the Reaper is held up as the gold standard for “Melodeath.” While other bands were trying to be “tough,” Bodom was being “vibrant.”
The Production:
Tägtgren’s touch at Abyss gave the band a massive, cavernous sound that perfectly complemented the “cold” themes of the lyrics. The drums have a satisfying snap, and the layers of keyboards are mixed in a way that makes them feel like a second lead guitar rather than a backing pad. It’s a “pretty” sounding metal record, but it never loses its teeth.
The Verdict:
There is a specific joy in this album—the sound of five guys who know they are the best in the world at what they do, and they’re having a blast doing it. It’s not as “street” as their later work, and it’s not as raw as their debut. It is simply the perfect distillation of Alexi Laiho’s vision: a world where Yngwie Malmsteen and Dissection finally sat down to write a record together.
Final Thought: This is the soundtrack to a midnight skate session on a frozen lake. It’s elegant, dangerous, and utterly addictive. If you only own one Children of Bodom record, this is the one that deserves the shelf space.
