Testament setlist:

(Intro)For The Glory Of...
Over The Wall
Into The Pit
The New Order
Perilous Nation
More Than Meets The Eye
Henchman Ride
D.N.R. (Do Not Resuscitate)
3 Days In Darkness (Extended)
Formation of Damnation


Children of Bodom setlist:

Follow the Reaper
Smile Pretty for the Devil
Silent Night, Bodom Night
Living Dead Beat
Hellhounds on My Trail
Sixpounder
Blooddrunk
Angels Don't Kill
Children of Decadence
Chokehold (Cocked N' Loaded)
Hate Me!
Bed of Razors
In Your Face
Hate Crew Deathroll
Everytime I Die
*Don't Stop Believin (Journey snippet)
Downfall

I have yet to understand why bands such as Bodom (I know its not always up to the band who they tour with) who clearly have a grasp on first and foremost being songwriters, combining heavy and melodic elements into the music, bring out on tour these noisey melodicless songless extreme bands like Between the Buried and Me and The Black Dahlia Murder? Really it just makes the package less appealing. Thankfully Testament served as direct support for tonight’s show.

Testament I have previously reviewed a few times for this recent tour in support of their latest album “The Formation of Damnation” so I don’t plan on saying much here. Their inclusion acted as an excellent compliment to Bodom’s almost neoclassical style of extreme metal serving up crushing thrash riffs with classy twin guitar leads and Alex Skolnick’s soloing prowess providing the platform for vocalist Chuck Billy to devastate his audience with powerful blows. And judging by the crowd’s reaction Testament were an anticipated and welcomed addition to the package.

Finland’s Children of Bodom have become regulars touring the States by now visiting our shores at least twice in support of each of their last three releases “Hate Crew Deathroll”, “Are You Dead Yet” and the latest “Blooddrunk”. With their stop at the Hammerstein, the boys played the album’s lead off blazer “Hellhounds On My Trail”, “Smile Pretty For The Devil”, and the title track. The rest of the set included regular staples like “Hate Me”, “Silent Night Bodom Night, closer “Downfall” which I am tired of, “Sixpounder”, and slower paced crunchers “Angels Don’t Kill” and “Every Time I Die”. For a change, “Bed of Razors”, one of my favorites off “Hatebreeder”, was thrown in and a nice inclusion. I hope it stays for a while.

Part of their charm, spirit and at times humorous approach to making music, Children are known for doing covers (they even did one by Britney Spears) and tonight a snippet of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin” saw the crowd singing along with frontman/lead guitarist Alexi’s raspy delivery of the hard rocking classic.