Follow The Reaper (Children Of Bodom Cover) - A Salute To Alexi Laiho

At the end of 2020 we lost a true Metal Titan and undisputed Guitar Hero who took the stages of this world by storm with crushing attitude and musical finesse. Our own Jonas assembled a bunch of friends to pay tribute to the Music of Alexi Laiho and Children Of Bodom. Here’s to the Wildchild - gone but never forgotten!
Vocals - Melissa Bonny (‪@AdInfinitumOfficial‬ // ‪@TheDarkSideoftheMoonOfficial‬ )
Hurdy Gurdy - Michalina Malisz (Eluveitie)
Guitar - Jonas Wolf (Eluveitie // ‪@ILLUMISHADE‬ // ‪@funhalen4450‬ )
Guitar - Teemu Mäntysaari (‪@WintersunJari‬ // Smackbound)
Keys - Vili Itäpelto (Smackbound)
Bass - Rob Van Der Loo (‪@epica‬)
Drums - Jocke Wallgren (‪@AmonAmarthOfficial‬)
Video - Jens De Vos
Mix - Bob Briessinck (Breeze Inc Studio)
Written by Alexi Laiho

[@TankTheTech]

Words cannot express how happy and excited I am to see a tribute to Alexi from all of these artists.

[@Draztikus]

I guess this saves me the trouble of asking you if you've seen this :p

[@guillaumejacques-pouliot8088]

Absolutely! Still hard to believe that he's gone.

[@adilakif0061]

What are the others?

[@99defense]

Can we expect a reaction someday soon, Tank?

[@s4hhgg]

Absolute legends they are !

[@teemu_mantysaari]

This was a really fun project to do with so many awesome musicians involved! ❤️ Bobom and Alexi's playing have been an important inspiration for me since I first heard them in 1999 so it's great getting to pay a little tribute! 🤘

[@ziemianaokrago8352]

Glad to see you finally update your KZbin :D

[@StringsGuitarShop]

🙌🏻🙌🏻🔥

[@philigran4852]

You are such an idol! Would you mind sharing how long it took you to master the solo?

[@Pater_Robert]

Amazing guitar playing sir!

[@NeeceLoneWolf]

♥️ you Teemu

[@tcs3073]

"I was only (21) 41 when I died." Great salute to Alexi. Hope to see more songs in the future. Thanks.

[@monstercadaver]

Your eyes are full of hate, forty-one. That's good. Hate keeps a man alive, its gives him strength.

[@k7j007]

Im always stoked when I see new videos of people still showing love to Alexi and COB. I first heard Bodom when I was 13-14 years old back in 2000. Today I am 35 and Alexi has been my favorite musician since I first heard him play. It's so great seeing really high quality Bodom covers but this one is definitely a different animal than most others. All of you are highly accomplished and respected musicians. To see musicians at this level get together to salute and honor Alexi is amazing. His music and guitar playing not only earned him the love and respect of his fans all around the world. He also earned the respect of his fellow musicians/peers. I'm still bummed he's no longer with us, but holy shit, that guy left the world one kick ass body of work to enjoy for the rest of time. Seeing a cover like this just helps solidify Alexi's legendary status for his contributions to music and guitar playing

[@euphoreonz]

I still jam bodom every day, it's the one band where it never gets old to play for me

[@stillmetal760rider5]

@@euphoreonz Bodom has been my favorite band for soo long, Bodom will never be out of rotation for me...It's too musically genius and amazing to not be heard...

[@Sinthoras_96]

There is a mask of sanity full Band cover on KZbin. Check it out. It's insanely good. I mean this one here is great too but that mask of sanity one.. They sound 100% like Bodom.

[@euphoreonz]

@@Sinthoras_96 the frosttide one? Yeah, it's great!

[@Sinthoras_96]

@@euphoreonz yeah exactly. From the channel "ofdarknessandlight"

[@aleejacopo]

Alexi totally deserves this, great idea guys.

[@funnyberries4017]

I agree! He had such a hard run at life. He got kicked out of his own band right before he died. Poor guy. He did so many great things musically.

[@euphoreonz]

@@funnyberries4017 blah, it didn't happen like that. The guys clarified it in an interview a few weeks ago. It was 100% Alexi's decision. His hard life was him not taking care of himself above all else.

[@funnyberries4017]

@@euphoreonz phew I'm happy to hear it

[@TxCknot]

Indeed!!

[@hawkeye3378]

HOLY SHIT. This is the greatest cover of this song to date! Absolutely incredible group of musicians making Alexi proud

[@euphoreonz]

then you listen to the original and realise how flat this sounds

[@samdobie6748]

​@@euphoreonz Doesn't sound flat to me

[@nicolatesla7483]

rest in peace wildchild😢🥀 awesome cover guys🔥🙏🏻 cobhc forever🤘🏽

[@skyreaper3453]

Alexi's (and Bodom's) music will continue to live on thanks to you beautiful artists, awesome job! ❤

[@vintersphrost]

Holy Shit, this is great! we met Alexi on Graspop Festival back in 2007, when we had our first appearance at graspop w/eluveitie

[@apolloniusbeitsman5444]

Small world... Seeing COB at Graspop in 2007 was my first concert ever!

[@darkehorse71]

And Teemu is now in Megadeth. This song was at a break neck pace from start to finish and the Hurdy Gurdy was really cool. Great job with this tribute! RIP Alexi.

[@ZoeSZX]

Очень красиво! Спасибо! Порадовали! Очень боялся, что со смертью Лайхо его наследие пропадет, забудется, растворится....но вы доказываете мне обратное. Я очень любил это музыканта, и сам разучивал Бодомские композиции с удовольствием, но после его ухода садиться за инструмент стало очень грустно. Царствие небесное тебе, Алексей.

[@juanortiz9123]

Thanks a lot people! Alexi would be proud! \m/

[@mxjosh2000]

Sensational... That was a perfect performance & a Pitch Perfect Tribute to the Great Man. The outpouring from every side of the Metal Community, Both from Professionals & the Fans and from every subgenre imaginable, has been beautiful and they've all made it Loud & Clear that Alexi Laiho will never forgotten. RIP Alexi & I hope you're enjoying the show from wherever you may be watching from

[@magicchessreplays8203]

Thank you for not adding/removing anything. This is amazing

[@tkh5571]

perfect guitar tone and amazing vocals

[@HasanMansur9]

Absolutely killed it. Apex & Epic !!

[@Founworld]

Melissa Bonny is FUCKING AWESOME ! RIP Alexis Laiho, we miss your awesome music ! Very nice cover ! Thank you !

[@wolvie90]

So many bands that I adore to no end, yet the can't reach the magic of Follow The Reaper, possibly the best "extreme" metal album ever produced. This is a textbook example of how immaculate skill might not translate to actual results. It's a damn fucking shame he drunk his life away but Follow The Reaper is still one of the best metal albums ever made.

[@SymbolicBodom]

What an amazing tribute to the One & Only, Alexi Laiho !! Great performance by everyone. Congrats !!!! Follow The Reaper is by far my favorite Bodom album, and this song is the icing on the cake. I play this song on guitar and I am yet to master the solo. Watching Teemu (The Grand Master) perfecting it is so satisfying... Thanks once again, and may your soul rest in peace, Eternal Legend !

[@gruncho2004]

I have no words. Absolutly the power of metal.

[@ryze9153]

Metal makes people feel good, at least it does for me and ironically, metalheads are some of the nicest people lol.

[@BattleBok]

...and although he died, it was as if our love for metal multiplied! ❤💥🖤

[@wayneguiry1244]

I’m a die hard Bodom fan have been for 22 years and it takes a lot to impress me…. But that was fucking awesome 👏🏻

[@Revan2540]

RIP Alexi. What a legend have you been. You music will live for you.

[@dalehamby4250]

Now the king of heavy metal can sit on his thrown with ease knowing that his legacy will continue through his fans

[@Michael-zt8rk]

That guitar solo is fucking nuts 😂😂😂😂 Amazing work!

[@LCmaxime]

Damn ! That's cool ! As a teenager I listened to Children of Bodom sooo much ! And now, as a huge Melisaa and Eluveitie fan and hurdy player, I can appreciate that at so many levels... Thanks guys !

[@alexanderedp]

Amazing cover guys!! loved it you should make at least one more! really enjoyed it

[@joeresch4537]

awesome job Teemu!

[@salamanderpete]

That's some super group right there!! What a kick ass performance! 🤘🏻

[@robertos633]

So cute, it keeps the COB/Alexi essence, thanx

[@BrazilianJiuJitsu-p1k]

Guitar solo is perfect 🤩

[@SuperMaytin]

holy shit this is awesome, I discovered Eluveitie thru Children Of Bodom. What an epic way to remember Alexi. RIP

[@k7j007]

Me too! I bet there are a few Eluveitie fans out there that were introduced to the band because they were Bodom fans

[@PatrickSuiver]

Wow! You nailed it. Every instrument is on point. The Tone and your playing is amazing. Really enjoyed watching it. RIP ALEXI 😢

[@sp00kyd0ll]

HOOOOOLY SH*T!!! ❤️😍🤘🏻 Is this the most epic CoB cover ever made or what?? Those growls.... Hats off to everyone, Whis is awesome, and I'm sure there's a Wildchild in heaven smiling for this! ✨

[@euphoreonz]

nah, the frosttide mask of sanity cover is far better than this.

[@baini92]

Amazing performance by everyone. Melissa keeps impressing me with her amazing voice, and that bass looks so fantastic 😍

[@michaelgrahamwongacutemadness]

I like how they split the solos it makes sense since there’s two of them

[@billtbodger]

Brilliant version and a fitting tribute to a massive personality on the metal scene, Alexi Laiho would be proud

[@TKAM88]

Alexi would more than approve. Holy shit that was perfect.

[@bimmyfrizzo3988]

Excellent tribute guys. We lost a true metal titan and it still saddens me to this day! RIP alexi laiho and thank you for giving us a truly unique style of death and power metal combined.

[@morty_mcfly]

This cover is... A-W-E-S-O-M-E. I love the original one since the eponymous CoB's album is out, but you guys make it soooo powerful, I freakin' love it ! Thank you :)

[@toni.tapola]

Wow, you all 😮! This was phenomenal 😀🤘👏👏👏, considering how much I appreciate the original! Special thanks to *Melissa,* from whom I learned of this Salute. Alas, I slept past the Premiere, and its now 5½ hours later 😅! This goes to a playlist 😁.

[@Alexandros.Mograine]

Its not even christmas but im just here remembering Laiho :)

[@harrybol8914]

such a flaaaawless solo!! Awesome work!

[@alexzadiko3817]

This si very beautiful. A great tribute to Alexi Laiho.

[@ArchonLicht]

Very nice indeed

[@StuRedman]

Whoa. After Twilight Of The Thundergod another cover from Melissa where she fully unleashes her inner demon. Mel, you really should do more stuff like this. 🔥🤘🔥🤘🔥

[@LCmaxime]

Word !

[@stevengarrett2587]

I love this cover. And I think the quality of today's recordings show how far a remaster of the old albums would have gone...

[@ВикторПелих-и7э]

Да, Мелисса Бони на высоте, впрочем как и всегда. Респект!!!

[@francovers1708]

Thank you guys for this !!! Alexi deserved

[@adriengourgousse8821]

It s just outstanding❤❤

[@NightwishArena]

Jösses (=Geez in Finnish)...those vocals are insane! And all the other musicians also. Great to see more sick solos from Teemu. I love their "Run for cover" stuff.

[@theotadros2040]

Seriously I didn't know her but she's fucking great.

[@Jonny7986]

That she is. Been a fan of her since i first heard her. Melissa Bonny is great vocalist.

[@antoliimayra1356]

Thank you so much for making a tribute to Alexi. Keep his memory alive. Good work

[@xJs1200x]

Umm. Yes. More Please. That was freaking amazing.

[@raidenwolfsonata3042]

Great tribute, guys. We miss ya, Alexi. Sweet rests, where ever you have gone.

[@yannickguitar1539]

Stunning.

[@immortal1981]

gooose bumps from beginning to the end. :)

[@DennisAH]

That was AWESOME!

[@OSLP]

Thank you all, so much.

[@horscategorie]

RIP Alexi. Perfect tribute.

[@fireplay6546]

I wish Alexi was alive and could see this... You all did great

[@cloudxen]

I saw and met you guys in Vegas on the 15 Year Anniversary Door when I was probably 18 and had a chance to meet Alexi just before their set started. I was holding him off from doing his entrance but he wasn’t miffed at all and it is one of the shows I’ll remember forever because of that experience.

[@Mexicutioner0516]

This is beyond amazing! You guys crushed this. Alexi would be proud. Such a massive loss to the world of music and metal. RIP Alexi! 🤘🏻

[@mandrew21000]

Very well done. You guys have done Alexi Laiho proud!! Cheers from Canada!!

[@leonshreds]

Awesome!

[@sasnos8426]

Awesome tribute! RIP and cheers, Wildchild!

[@yegorzarubin91]

Just happy to see Michalina and Melissa in same video :)

[@katsumotoamaya6540]

Great!

[@emilwilddude92]

Alexi is the main reason why I play guitar too! Thank you, Wild Child, I miss you, brother

[@musictest9999]

wow best bodom cover i've ever heard. alexi would be so proud RIP 😢

[@montanamcgee7846]

This is so awesome. The guitars are literally perfect

[@yarirusslainen8118]

Great, thanks, guys! And more. We need more badass rememberance of Bodom golden age and Alexi!

[@thomasbgpaintart3120]

Such a team!!! Wow!!!

[@nicko2202]

Brilliant work from so many talented artists- this song has a phenomenal amount of power and energy behind it just like the original band!

[@MrDollarRoxx]

Not surprised in the slightest that Teemu lowkey sounded like Alexi. Ridiculous guitar player!

[@bartoszmajchrzak2225]

Thanks guys, it's nice too hear same old song refreshed like this. Great salut to my biggest guitar idol, real fkin guitar hero of my times. I hope there's another world where we'll meet again.

[@DildoHelicopter]

its crazy what alexi made. this song is what got me into bodom. and to this day it is my fav song. it inhabits all of the aspects of a classic bodom song. so unique

[@dkny9604]

Great cover. Still reminds me of how we’ll never see him on stage again 😔

[@RichardRG86]

Yeah, I'll miss Alexi forever 😭

[@bocatampere]

Respect 🙏🏻🔥❤️🤘🇫🇮

[@MetalJody1990]

Excellent performance! When I saw Teemu, I just knew this was gonna be so good

[@mkwriath]

I think its great when so many musicians from different bands can come together in tribute of a fallen one........ Thank you for sharing

[@mirkobagni]

Awesome tribute to Alexi

[@folkmetalmiss]

Everyone did so well!! Teeeeemu!! Melting faces as usual on guitar 😉

[@sonofthunder-fb3cm]

Rip Alexi 🌹 forever our wildchild

[@achillesamusic]

Thank you for doing this guys, as someone said he was the Randy Rhoads of his era His contribution should never be forgotten!

[@Maxime_L91]

90% sure Zakk Wylde said that.

[@hughsammy4278]

Awesome, Melissa Bonny just makes any cover she appears in awesome.

[@winDfried0866]

Whatever Melissa puts her voice on turns to gold ❤

[@stilli7269]

You have produced a jewel. I can't thank you enough.

[@KristianVirtanen]

Cool 🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@andreasnilsson7711]

Damn. I'm out of words. This brings back so many memories. Great cover. Cheers!

[@Manoval]

🖤

[@rickshawkapoor4003]

I dare say Alexi , if he were alive, would be emphatically impressed with this as You'd be so much impressed to see someone doing your stuff so well .

[@JOpethNYC]

RIP Alexi 🖤🤘 This was great!

[@antoninjanku3358]

Teemu rocks! Great performance from all!

[@TrulyStucker]

he looks like he hadn't slept for a few days, very tired.. still a flawless awesome performance as always

[@BannedByGOD]

Bravo alof da vi je 👏

[@WolePhoenix]

Melissa Bonny 🔥

[@julioathra2045]

Bela homenagem... Alexi Laiho Forever

[@Deadknight67]

Melissa Bonny ❣

[@CedM79]

Amazing cover! I love the inclusion of the hurdy-gurdy :). Alexi has been a massive influence for me as well.

[@marekmiklos4398]

Absolutelz estonishing!!! Thank you for this, Alexi will be always a hero for me, as he was during my university age!

[@michaelpelzar8841]

Teemu Mäntysaari is playing in Megadeth now