Here is an old interview with Alexi 'Wildchild' Laiho and Alexander 'Ale' Kuoppala.
(Taken from 'Suomi Finland Perkle' No. 3/97)
Children of Bodom from Espoo, Finland, published recently their first long play called 'Something Wild'. Music from CD is so original and made with quality so I took the boys (players are around 18 yrs old) front of me to interrogate them. The band played their first bigger gig in Lepakko (Helsinki), warming up to Dimmu Borgir, doing their job really exemplarily. CoB has already done showcase-gig with HIM (another finish band) and Xysma. They are going to play also in Cred-O-Rama 2 in December 97. I heard that Nuclear Blast has taken the band in distribution, and march-april CoB is touring with Hypocrisy and Covenant in Europe. The interwiev is made in noisy and voicy bar in Mannerheimintie, Helsinki.
SFP: Your band came in to metal scene with one bang, and we haven't heard about you before. How did Spinefarm records found you?
Alexi: We had recorded the LP already and it was ment to be published on another recordlabel. Thy Serpent's (Alexi's second band) Sami called about it to EWO, who was intrested about it and contacted us. We fished mixing in the end of July, So everything has happened suprisingly fast.
SFP: Playing works really exemplaringly on CD. 'cos of your age I think you're "super gifted" or studying music long time?
Alexi: Well, we have studied music. Some have been in Oulunkylä and some have taken lessons. Myself, I have played guitar for eight years, and others have been playing a long time too.
SFP: How has your music style developed? Your black-metalish sound has been connected to classical themes, teuton-heavy, Stone-stylish riffs and also Yngvie Malmsteen stylish playing. How would you describe your music?
Alexi: I have been fan to black metal when I was younger, bands like Beherit, Dark Throne, Tormentor and of course Venom. Nowadays everyone of us listen mostly heavy of 80's, classical music is listned also much. - Old heavy, Manowar is the hardest band ever.
Ale: Yes, I think Dimmu [Borgir] is only a good new black-metal band, Stone is going to be allways the best domestic (finnish) band.
Alexi: I haven't ever said that our music is black metal, and I won't say it now. If someone wants to call it that way, I don't mind. Our music is going to change allways so I call it only metal.
SFP: Is there any songs on LP, which are near your heart?
Alexi: Well, 'Deadnight Warrior' is a good ass kickin' piece, but my personal favorit is the last one, 'Touch Like Angel Of Death'.
Ale: Same here.
SFP: You're also playing in 'Thy Serpent', When did you join the band?
Alexi: In same time, when we went to Spine couple of months ago. They were looking for a lead guitarist, and they had got our record from our common friend. Both are different music, so why not!
SFP: How did you end up with the name 'Children of Bodom'? (Story from 60's, when unknown man slaughtered a group of camping youngs at Lake Bodom, murder isn't solved today). Are you from near that lake?
Alexi: That way, not exactly there. Well, I've been there, that story is that kind of story, which were listened with horror when we were kids, and most scary is, that's true!
SFP: How is your gig situation? Future seems bright!
Alexi: Today we're training intensively. We got Welldone to book our gigs and they got many things coming, so let's see. Hope we can make as many gigs as possible!
Thanks to Olli for the translation!!!