HARDWARES

Once a pretty capable Children Of Bodom clone, Japanese bashers Blood Stain Child have gone through a startling and welcome transformation on Idolator, their third album. Produced by Tue Madsen, Idolator at first seems intent on cashing in on the In Flames/Soilwork death-to-clean-and-back-again vocals trend, but BSC sport the brutal and brazen thrash edge that both bands have more or less abandoned in recent years. The band has also put more emphasis on the electronic/trance elements that have been a staple since BSC's inception, and with the exception of the out of place dance club oriented 'Nuclear Trance' they serve the band well. Fans of Mnemic, Raunchy, old In Flames and the latest Callenish Circle album (Pitch.Black.Effects) would do well to check this out, but it has to be said that if you can't handle technotronics you'll become increasingly turned off the longer Idolator spins. Fave tracks of the moment include the In Flames inspired 'Hyper Sonic', 'Embrace Me', the Soilwork-ish 'Final Sky', 'Ag 20', and the oddball first single, 'Truth' (there's a video for this one at www.bloodstainchild.com). Idolator closes with a barn-burning cover of Luna Sea's 'True Blue', a tribute to Japan's old guard by the new.