CHILDREN OF BODOM Bassist Checks In From The Road

Bassist Henkka Seppälä (a.k.a. Henkka T. Blacksmith) of the Finnish metal band CHILDREN OF BODOM has issued the following update from the band's current European tour with SLIPKNOT and MACHINE HEAD:

"We started this leg in Finland. And of course, the first shows on tours are always the most difficult. So it was a shame it happened to be our hometown. Techical problems (always happens with first shows) affected our sound and lights. But we tried our best to kick ass. Tampere was also bad for us 'cos most of the people were still outside when we started playing. But ever since, things have gotten better, and in Oslo things were already really good.

"We've played for big crowds. It is sometimes really challenging to get people excited, first band, early night, big cold hall and so on. Choosing seven songs for setlist is also very difficult thing. It is also very nice to be back touring in central Europe. Feels like it's been ages when were here last time.

"For me, the best shows have been so far maybe Paris and Oslo. And, of course, the intense sweaty headliner in Hamburg in between. That day a friend of mine took me to thw St. Pauli game. It was awesome. After the second show in Paris, we saw SOILWORK show next door! It's great to see Peter [Wichers, SOILWORK guitarist] back in business. They were tight!

"Big thing for us was to play the very first COB show in Denmark. That was exciting and crowd was treating us well there too!

"In Amsterdam I went to see a national game, Holland - Sweden, at the famous Ajax stadium. It was awesome to see that legendary place. Litmanen.

"We've had good times with the other bands. Everybody's treating us well.

"Tonight we have another headliner, in Saarbrucken, southwest Germany. It's been snowing here."

CHILDREN OF BODOM will release a new single, "Smile Pretty For The Devil", in the UK on December 1 to coincide with the first date on the band's run of UK shows with SLIPKNOT and MACHINE HEAD. The third single from BODOM's internationally successful "Blooddrunk" album will be available on three-track CD, with the accompanying video plus POISON cover "Talk Dirty To Me" also featured. This release (strictly limited to 1,000 numbered copies) will come in a poster bag and will ONLY be on sale at two Zavvi stores in London and Manchester where CHILDREN OF BODOM are now confirmed for in-store appearances.

Signing sessions:

Dec. 01 - Zavvi, 14-16 Oxford Street, London W1D 1AR
Dec. 09 - Zavvi, Arndale Centre, Unit MSU1, New Cannon Street, Manchester M4 3AJ

Also available at the in-stores will be picture-disc versions of CHILDREN OF BODOM's debut outing, "Something Wild", plus blood-red vinyl copies of the "Blooddrunk" album itself, both very limited in quantity; however, anyone wishing to attend the London or Manchester events will need to contact the respective Zavvi store upfront in order to collect a wristband, as numbers for the signings will have to restricted due to the band's early soundcheck times.

CHILDREN OF BODOM's new album, "Blooddrunk", landed at position No. 22 on The Billboard 200 chart after selling over 19,000 copies in its first week of release.