Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom was formed in the spring of 1993, when guitarist Alexi Laiho (Sinergy, Kylähullut, ex-Impaled Nazarene, Thy Serpent, Norther) and drummer Jaska Raatikainen (Virtuocity) decided to form a death metal band under the moniker "Inearthed". They recruited bassist Samuli Miettinen and recorded their first demo "Implosion of Heaven" in 1994. Shortly after, the band added guitarist Alexander Kuoppala (Norther) and keyboardist Jani Pirisjoki Pera. Later, Miettinen and Pirisjoki left the band and Henkka Seppäla (bass) and Janne Warman (keyboards; Warmen) joined in.
With their money, the band recorded their debut album "Something Wild" in 1997, merging elements of speed, death and power metal. The album Spinefarm Records has impressed so much that they decided to sign the band. Inearthed changed its name to Children of Bodom (named after a well-known mass murder that occurred at Lake Bodom just outside of Helsinki in 1960), in order to leave their previous contract with a Belgian label. Children of Bodom has obtained a licensing agreement with the Nuclear Blast deal to manage output to the rest of Europe.
Alexander left the band in July 2003, leaving fans in shock as the band had said that it would close if one of its members left. Alessio, but said that "Children of Bodom is not ready to die yet fucked!" As they entered Alessio Sinergy's fellow guitarist, Roope Latvala (Walhalla, ex-Stone, To / Die / For, Waltari). After the judgement Europe, Children of Bodom began to take North America with their first North American tour with Dimmu Borgir at the end of 2003.