Maximum Metal Rating Legend

CHILDREN OF BODOM – Trashed, Lost & Strung Out – Century Media 2005 reviewed by: 1evil1

Track Listing 1.Trashed, Lost & Strung Out 2.Knuckleduster 3.Bed Of Nails 4.She Is Beautiful

EP’s are funny things you either love them or hate them. Most people seem to think they are a waste of money. I on the other hand really enjoy them. They help keep a band in the forefront of the music scene and in the fans memory. Where as if you only release a CD every 4 or 5 years fans begin to wonder and forget, especially for the smaller bands. Usually what you can get out of a good EP is a track from a forth coming album, a non-album track, a cover tune or two, and now bands are including bonuses such as videos, live clips and desktop themes for your computer. So really for less than $10 it’s a great deal. Anyways, I could go on and on but let’s get back to the topic at hand.

Children Of Bodom have graced us with ‘Trashed, Lost & Strung Out’ to start out 2005, an enhanced 4 track EP that also features new guitarist Rope Latvala. The opening title track is good but really it’s almost an alternate version of ‘Needled 24/7’ with so many similarities throughout you almost forget it’s a new track. ‘Knuckleduster’ is a track showcasing the promise in the highly anticipated full length coming in 2005. Straight forward tear your seat apart metal here but nothing groundbreaking. Reminiscent somewhat of ‘Hatecrew Deathroll’ but definitely a stride ahead. Favorite track here ‘Bed Of Nails’ which is a cover of an Alice Cooper song but man what a fantastic job by Children Of Bodom. They were able to capture the essence of the original and top it off with a blend of that signature CoB sound compounded with some straight out heaviness for the last 30 seconds. Onto the next cover here ‘She Is Beautiful’ by Andrew WK, now here is where I have to draw the line. Covers are usually done as an homage, which I can see when you cover a very influential person such as Alice but Andrew WK? Really what has this guy contributed to metal? NOTHING! He is a bore producing crappy hyped up gut wrenching glam metal. Why not a Nasty Savage cover or something off the wall that we may have forgotten.

This EP contains an enhanced bonus feature for the video for the title track which was done very well. A behind the scenes clip of CoB preparing to make this single and some footage of their hometown Helsinki. Any fan of CoB will not mind sinking their $10 into this one.


Children OF Bodom are:
Jaska J-COB Raatikainen – Drums
Janne Jameson Warman – Keyboards
Alexi Wildchild Laiho – Vocals / Lead Guitar
Henkka Blacksmith – Bass
Rope UKK Latvala - Guitars


-1evil1 02.04.05