Brian Transeau

In 2004, he did a very popular "last night of summer" concert at BT Tower (named for British Telecom, not Transeau). Children of Bodom's symbol is the Grim Reaper, and they often refer to themselves as the Hate Crew. Also of note, unlike many artists working in electronica, Transeau frequently performs his music live on-stage. Roope successfully finished the world tour and took part in the recording of the Trashed, Lost & Strungout single. Ever since then, he has been playing regularly with Children of Bodom and seems to have assumed a permanent position in the line-up that will record the band's upcoming album. In recent years he has also moved into film scoring including Go (1999), Under Suspicion (2000), Driven (2001), The Fast and the Furious (2001), and Monster (2003). This formation was introduced in Moscow on the 16th of August. He also provided vocals on the DJ Tiësto single "Love Comes Again". Alexi's bandmate from Sinergy, Roope Latvala (founding member of Stone, one of the bands which started the heavy metal movement in Finland) then replaced him as a session player, until a more permanent solution could be found.

2003 saw the release of Emotional Technology featuring more vocal tracks than usual, including six with vocals by Transeau. This tour had many sold-out concerts and was a defining point in their career, but it was also accompanied by an unexpected annoucement: Alexander decided to quit the band for personal reasons, giving no warning and right in the middle of the tour. BT's 1999 album Movement in Still Life continued his experimentation outside of the trance genre he helped to define, though an interesting dichotomy emerged between his more adventurous work and the more structured, commercially viable tracks. With their rapidly increasing success, Children of Bodom recorded another album, and their first complete world tour began in 2003 and lasted until late 2004. While Ima was comprised solely of the "progressive" sound, 1997's ESCM was more experimental (although it still produced several big records for the electronic dance music scene). The band gave this album the name of Follow the Reaper and recording sessions took place between August and September of 2000; the album saw a worldwide release in early 2001. However, unlike so many artists of the trance genre, BT has lost neither his momentum nor his edge. The band wrote eight new songs for the album, and while on the studio, decided to add an extra track, which was hastly composed and whose lyrics were improvised by Alexi; that track would eventually receive the name of Kissing the Shadows.

Instantly popular, BT's 1996 album Ima helped shape the future of the burgeoning progressive house scene as it merged with, and later came to define, the trance music style. For their next release, the band decided to make use of Peter Tägtgren's Abyss studio in Sweden, instead of the Finnish ASTIA studio from Anssi Kippo, in which they had recorded all of their previous releases, including the demos from IneartheD. Transeau's music was not very well received in the United States during the early 1990s, and he moved temporarily to Europe where his music was discovered by Sasha, a British DJ who introduced BT's music into the club circuit. With only two albums recorded previously, the band managed to play a technically flawless concert, seamlessly reproducing and at times improving on their songs. Born in Maryland, and classically trained from the age of thirteen, he attended Berklee School of Music in Boston for one year before dropping out and moving to Los Angeles, then back to Washington, DC. In one of these shows, the album Tokyo Warhearts was recorded. Brian Transeau (born October 4, 1971) is a musician who records under the stage name BT. In late 1999, Children of Bodom was finally able to tour with Janne on the keyboards. The success of the Downfall single and of the Hatebreeder album allowed them to make three shows in Japan with the veterans from In Flames and with Sinergy.

BT - Twisted Textures (2002). The band showcased the song Towards Dead End for the first time during this tour. BT - Breakz from the Nu Skool (2002). Alexi's then-girlfriend Kimberly Goss (from Sinergy and ex-Dimmu Borgir and Therion) played with them this time around. Need for Speed: Underground (2003). Their second tour happened in September of the same year, but once more Janne was not able to play with them. Stealth (2005). He was replaced by Erna Siikavirta - a female pianist who is a friend of the band's and who curently plays with the teatrical band Lordi - for the duration of the tour.

The Underclassman (2005). They played together with Hypocrisy and a few other bands such as Covenant and Agathodaimon, but suffered from the absence of Janne, who was busy finishing his studies. Monster (2003). Children of Bodom's first tour happened in February of 1998. Zoolander (removed his name, uncredited) (2001). The video directed by Mika Lindberg had a slim budget of €1000, but managed to convey the band's style well through the use of simple scenery, in which they play at night, in the cold. The Fast and the Furious (2001). Something Wild was officially released in November of 1997, and for promotional purposes the band recoeded a music video of the song Deadnight Warrior.

Driven (2001). However, their success was such that the Nuclear Blast label approached them with a contract for an European release; the deal started in the following year. Under Suspicion (2000). With the intention of promoting the upcoming release of Something Wild, the band opened one of the shows from the black metal band Dimmu Borgir. Go (1999). In late 2004, Finnish police arrested the survivor, who is the main suspect of commiting the crime. Wild Colour, "Dreams". The murders have remained one of the most widely-discussed cases in Scandinavian history and remained unsolved for more than fourty years.

Shiva, "Freedom". There was a lone survivor, who has lived a relatively normal life afterwards. Seal, "I'm Alive". The story of the Lake Bodom murders goes as follows: on the night of June the 4th of 1960, three teenagers were murdered while on a camping trip to the lake. Diana Ross, "Take Me Higher". A long list of possible names involving the word Bodom was then made, and they settled with Children of Bodom. Mike Oldfield, "Let There Be Light". When they stumbled upon Lake Bodom, they realised it was a name with impact; one which had an interesting story behind it.

Billie Ray Martin, "Space Oasis". The answer to that problem came as the bandmen looked for good names in their local phone book. Billie Ray Martin, "Imitation of Life/Running Around Town" (1996). For the band to be able to sign with Spinefarm Records, they were forced to change their name, since the contract with the Belgian label had already been signed under the name of IneartheD. Madonna, "Drowned World/Substitute For Love" (1998). The later deal was much more interesting for the band, since the Belgian label was offering them close to no help, to the point where they would have to distribute and sell the album themselves. Sarah McLachlan, "I Love You" (1999). Their debut - Something Wild - was supposed to be released by a small Belgian label, but Sami Tenetz (from Thy Serpent) got hold of a copy of their album through the hands of Alexander shortly after IneartheD signed this contract, and sent it to Spinefarm Records' boss, who immediately got interested in signing them for a country-wide release.

Lenny Kravitz, "If You Can't Say No" (1998). Janne was the component that was missing for IneartheD to assume the style that would later characterize Children of Bodom. With him, the band successfully recorded their first album in the year of 1997 and got a professional deal from it. Grace, "It's Not Over Yet". So he was fired from the band - albeit not in a hostile manner - and a friend of Jaska's, a talented pianist called Janne "Warman" Wirman, assumed the position of keyboard player. Gipsy Kings, "La Rumba De Nicolas" (1996). Alexi wanted to make use of the keyboards more effectively this time around, and Pirisjoki just wasn't fit for the task anymore. Paul Van Dyk, "Forbidden Fruit" (1996). As a last resort, the band decided to record an independent album, funding all of the production costs themselves, a daring move considering that none of them had much money to begin with.

DJ Rap, "Bad Girl" (1998). It was a harsh time, in which - despite all of their efforts - their music got no exposure and they only managed to play at small events. Depeche Mode, "It's No Good" (1997). This new demo didn't impress record labels much more than the previous ones had, and no label took interest in the young Finnish band. Deep Dish, "Stranded" (1997). With this new line-up, IneartheD recorded their third demo, named Shining. Crystal Method, "Keep Hope Alive" (1997). The person chosen for that role was Jani Pirisjoki.

Dina Carrol, "Run To You" (1997). For some time, Alexi and Jaska played and recorded the keyboard sections of IneartheD's songs separately and later mixed the keyboard track with the other instruments, but in 1996 they felt the need of adding a musician to specialize in keyboards. Cabana, "Bailando Con Lobos". When the band was about to record their second demo, Alexander was invited to join them and soon became an active member of the band. B-Tribe, "Nanita (A Spanish Lullaby)". Jaska played a French horn in a local big band at the time, and one day - during rehearsal - he met Alexander Kuoppala, who was a trumpet player and also a good guitarist. Tori Amos, "Amos Putting the Damage On" (1997). From then on, Henkka also started doubling as the band's backing vocalist.

Tori Amos, "Talula" (1996). Despite the slight age difference, they got along well and soon Hennka became the band's new bass player. 10 Years In the Life (2003) - "Best of" album. In junior high, Alexi and Jaska got to know Henkka "Blacksmith" Seppälä, who was one year younger than them. R&R (Rare & Remixed) (2001) - A collection of BT's remix work. Alexi, who previously only composed the melodies of the songs, assumed the role of the band's lyricist. Emotional Technology (2003). His last contribution to IneartheD were the lyirics of the songs from their second demo, Ubiguitous Absence of Remission.

Movement in Still Life (1999, 2000). Samuli was the main composer of the band's lyrics for the two years he took part of IneartheD, but in 1995 his family moved to the USA and there was no way for him to continue in the band. ESCM (1997). The band recorded its first demo - entitled Implosion of Heaven - on that same year. Ima (1995). Having known each other since childhood and sharing the same interest for heavy/death metal bands such as Stone, Entombed and Obituary, they formed the original line-up of the band that would later become Children of Bodom together with bassist Samuli Miettinen. "Somnambulist (Simply Being Loved)" (2003). The band was founded in 1993 by guitarist Alexi "Wildchild" Laiho and drummer Jaska Raatikainen under the name of IneartheD.

"Dreaming" (2000). Children of Bodom is a Finnish band from the small town of Espoo which is one of the precursors of the melodic death metal style. "Never Gonna Come Back Down" (2000). Waiting, by King Diamond. "Fibonacci Sequence" (2000). Somebody Put Something In My Drink, by Ramones. "Mercury and Solace" (1999). Silent Scream, by Slayer.

"Godspeed" (1999). Shot In the Dark, by Ozzy Osbourne. "Believer" (1999). K. "Shineaway" (1997). She Is Beautiful, by Andrew W. "Remember" (1997). Rebell Yell, by Billy Idol.

"Love, Peace & Grease" (1997). No Commands, by Stone. "Flaming June" (1997). Mass Hypnosis, by Sepultura. "Quark" (1997). Latomeri, by Klamydia. "Divinity" (1996). Hellion, by W.A.S.P.

"Blue Skies" featuring Tori Amos (1996). Don't Stop at the Top, by Scorpions. "Loving You More" featuring Vincent Covello (1995). Bed of Nails, by Alice Cooper. "Embracing the Sunshine". Aces High, by Iron Maiden. "Relativity" (1993). Trashed, Lost & Strungout (2004).

"Moment of Truth" (1993). You're Better Off Dead! (2002). Hate Me! (2000). Downfall (1998). Children of Bodom (1997).

Shining (Demo, 1996). Ubiquitous Absence of Remission (Demo, 1995). Implosion of Heaven (Demo, 1994). Hate Crew Deathroll (2003).

Follow the Reaper (2001). Tokyo Warhearts (Live CD, 1999). Hatebreeder (1999). Something Wild (1997).

Samuli Miettinen - Bass. Jani Pirisjoki - Keyboards. Alexander Kuoppala - Rhythm guitar. Jaska Raatikainen - Drums.

Henkka Seppälä - 5-string bass. Janne Viljami Wirman - Keyboards. Roope Latvala - Rhythm guitar. Alexi Laiho - Vocals, lead guitar.