Children of Bodom - Follow The Reaper (2000)

Hatebreeder is for me personally one of the best albums by Children of Bodom. Follow the Reaper is the other one. They're both very similar and yet different albums at the same time. Follow the Reaper has a more 'modern' sound and better production to it. But it is as melodic and a tad more agressive.
The album starts with two smashing songs, the title track and Bodom After Midnight. The latter one has a very cool drum intro. Both tracks are extremely energetic with phenomenal guitar work and headbangable riffs that make the blood pump. The tone for the rest of the album is set.
There's not a single boring moment on here. The songs vary in tempo without really losing the momentum of the album as a whole. That's something that did occur in later releases (e.g. Angels Don't Kill, Dead Man's Hand on You). Every Time I DIe and Children of Decadence are two great examples of how these tracks sound different without losing the listener's attention. The agressiveness of the first two songs now make place for even more melody and atmosphere. And it works perfectly.
The solo battles between Alexi and Janne (lead guitars and keyboards respectively) are always a treat for the ear. My personal favourites are the extreme fast part in Mask of Sanity right after the breakdown, and of course the end of Kissing The Shadows. What a perfect way to close out the album!
The version I'm basing this review on has two interesting bonus tracks. The first one being the single version of Hate Me! that has an alternate solo. The second song is a cover of W.A.S.P.'s Hellion. I always find the covers done by COB very curious, especially if they're covers of bands I also am really in to.
There are things to say about the artwork as well. It gives this album an extra dimension. It actually looks like the Reaper is inviting you to follow him. The words that come up in me when looking at the artwork are motionless and cold. Kinda like death. This type of artwork would disappear on later albums, only to return on 2013's Halo of Blood.
Hatebreeder and Follow the Reaper are a duology that form the (unfortunately) early pinnacle of Children of Bodom's discography. Some could argue that Hate Crew Deathroll also belongs in this list. To me however, that albums is some kind of hybrid of Follow the Reaper and Are You Dead Yet?. Which is nice, considering the latter is my third favourite COB album, but Hate Crew is not in the same league as Follow the Reaper.
To conclude: a similar album as Hatebreeder and Follow the Reaper will never be made again. Is that a bad thing? No, it makes these two more special, more unique. The albums following this one weren't bad either. But the magic there is to find here will not return in COB's discography. And that's okay, it can stay right where it is.