What do you get when you blend Slayer, Pantera, early In Flames, Closer, At the Gates, the entire Florida Death Metal scene, and Keith Emerson of ELP? Well, not exactly Children of Bodom, but you get the idea. These guys have been around and influential in their own right for almost two decades, and on their 2015 release, "I Worship Chaos," they sound like a veteran melodic Death Metal band comfortable in their own skins, smiling with genuine fun amidst their dark, horror-soaked world, and unconcerned whatsoever with what you think of them.

Children of Bodom's legions will embrace this as another fine chapter to further their legacy. These Finnish dudes have always injected an American Redneck-style defiance into their sound, and that's as present as ever here. What really works for me on the album are the mature, inspired, strategically-placed riffs and ambient textures behind the abrasive vocals and lead melodies.

The overall package consists of two instant classics, two or three solid songs, and the rest. The classics would be ‘My Bodom (I Am the Only One)’ and ‘Hold Your Tongue’, the latter of which features an infectious, mesmerizing kaleidoscopic verse riff. Otherwise, ‘I Hurt’ and ‘Widdershins’ - - especially the closing 1:40 of ‘Widdershins’ are definitely worthy.