Paint the Sky with Blood
{{Short description|2021 EP by Bodom After Midnight}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Paint the Sky with Blood
| type = ep
| artist = Bodom After Midnight
| cover = Bodom After Midnight Paint The Sky With Blood cover.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{start date|2021|04|23|df=y}}
| recorded = November 2020
| studio = Finnvox, iStudio (Helsinki, Finland)
| genre = Melodic death metal
| length = 14:53
| label = Napalm, Ward
| producer = Joonas Parkkonen
| prev_title = Hexed (as Children of Bodom)
| prev_year = 2019
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc =
}}
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = Blabbermouth.net
| rev1score = 7.5/10{{cite web|last=Roche | first=Jason|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/cdreviews/paint-the-sky-with-blood/|title=Review: Bodom After Midnight – Paint the Sky with Blood|website=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=27 April 2021}}
| rev2 = Kerrang!
| rev2score = 4/5{{cite web|last=Law | first=Sam|url=https://www.kerrang.com/reviews/ep-review-bodom-after-midnight-paint-the-sky-with-blood/|title=EP review: Bodom After Midnight – Paint the Sky with Blood|work=Kerrang!|date=22 April 2021|access-date=26 April 2021}}
| rev3 = Metal Hammer
| rev3score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Lawson | first=Dom|url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/bodom-after-midnight-paint-the-sky-with-blood-ep-review|title=Bodom After Midnight's Paint the Sky with Blood EP Is the Farewell Alexi Laiho Deserves|website=Metal Hammer|date=19 April 2021|access-date=26 April 2021}}
}}
Paint the Sky with Blood is the only EP by Finnish melodic death metal band Bodom After Midnight, the short-lived follow-up project to Children of Bodom, released on 23 April 2021 through Napalm Records.{{cite web|url=https://label.napalmrecords.com/images/bands/bodomaftermidnight/Bodom_After_Midnight_Info.pdf|title=Paint the Sky with Blood - An Homage and Final Salute to Three Decades of Explosive Metal|publisher=Napalm Records|access-date=26 April 2021|format=pdf}}
The EP consists of three songs recorded in November 2020 before frontman Alexi Laiho's death the following month, when the band was about to enter the process of writing and recording material for the follow-up, the debut full-length album originally set for late 2021 release.{{cite web|first=Axl|last=Rosenberg|url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2021/02/10/alexi-laihos-bodom-after-midnight-to-release-ep-in-april/|title=Alexi Laiho's Bodom After Midnight to Release EP in April|website=MetalSucks|date=10 February 2021|access-date=26 April 2021}} In February 2021, it was announced the EP would be released as planned. As no more songs were written and the remaining members decided to not continue without Laiho, this is the sole release by the band.{{cite web|first=Graham|last=Hartmann|url=https://loudwire.com/alexi-laiho-happy-excited-about-future-bodom-after-midnight-guitarist-interview/|title=Alexi Laiho Was 'Very Happy + Excited' Says Bodom Guitarist|website=Loudwire|date=2 April 2021|access-date=26 April 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/alexi-laihos-bodom-after-midnight-has-no-leftover-material-there-was-no-more-songs-written/|title=Alexi Laiho's Bodom After Midnight Has No Leftover Material: 'There Was No More Songs Written'|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=9 April 2021|access-date=26 April 2021}} The music video for the title song "Paint the Sky with Blood", which was filmed 10 days before Laiho's death,{{cite web|first=Lauri|last=Kujanpää|url=https://www.voice.fi/musiikki/a-204918|title=Bodom After Midnightin jäsenet muistelevat Alexi Laihoa: 'Lojaali ystävä ja vaativa bändiliideri'|website=Voice.fi|date=25 April 2021|access-date=26 April 2021|language=fi}} was released on 30 March 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scgnSjvwoJ8|title=Bodom After Midnight - Paint the Sky with Blood (Official Video)|via=YouTube|date=30 March 2021|access-date=26 April 2021}}
The EP was released as CD, 10" vinyl and digital download. A total of eight different vinyl versions were available, most of which are limited editions.{{cite web|url=https://napalmrecords.com/english/bodom-after-midnight|title=Bodom After Midnight|publisher=Napalm Records|access-date=26 April 2021}} The Japanese CD edition, released through Ward Records, includes a bonus DVD featuring the music video of "Paint the Sky with Blood".{{cite web|url=https://wardrecords.com/products/detail5928.html|title=ボドムアフター ミッドナイト/ペイント ザ スカイ ウィズ ブラッド (EP+日本盤限定DVD)|publisher=Ward Records|access-date=26 April 2021|language=ja}}
Reception
The EP received generally favorable reviews from critics.
Dom Lawson of Metal Hammer gave the EP 4 out of 5 stars, praising the energy and intensity of the songwriting and performances, as well as the production that adds "grandiloquent sonic swell" topping previous efforts in Laiho's catalogue. Similarly, Metal Storm praised the input of Toivonen and Väyrynen in its review, concluding Bodom After Midnight has "more weight behind its rhythm section" than Children of Bodom, "replacing some of that frenzied lawlessness with coordination, balance, and a full-bodied sound."{{cite web|url=http://www.metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=16804|title=Bodom After Midnight – Paint the Sky with Blood Review |website=Metal Storm|date=15 April 2021|access-date=27 April 2021}}
Nick Terry of Decibel magazine compared the material to Laiho's earlier work with Children of Bodom, judging the EP to be "neither a disgrace nor a high point" of his career, noting that "[Children of Bodom] fans will surely appreciate [the songs] as the bonus that they are."{{cite web|last=Terry | first=Nick|url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2021/04/21/ep-review-bodom-after-midnight-paint-the-sky-with-blood/|title=EP review: Bodom After Midnight – Paint the Sky with Blood|work=Decibel|date=21 April 2021|access-date=27 April 2021}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Paint the Sky with Blood track listing
| title1 = Paint the Sky with Blood
| writer1 = Alexi Laiho
| length1 = 4:26
| title2 = Payback's a Bitch
| writer2 = Alexi Laiho
| length2 = 4:06
| title3 = Where Dead Angels Lie
| note3 = Dissection cover
| writer3 = Jon Nödtveidt
| length3 = 6:21
| total_length = 14:53
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Japanese edition bonus DVD
| title1 = Paint the Sky with Blood
| note1 = music video
| length1 = 4:39
}}
Personnel
Bodom After Midnight
- Alexi Laiho – vocals, guitar
- Daniel Freyberg – guitar
- Mitja Toivonen – bass
- Waltteri Väyrynen – drums
Additional musicians
- Vili Itäpelto – keyboards
Production
- Joonas Parkkonen – producer, engineering
- Mikko Karmila – mixing
- Mika Jussila – mastering
- Travis Smith – artwork
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for Paint the Sky with Blood ! scope="col"| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"| Peak |
|
! scope="row"| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista){{cite web|url=https://www.ifpi.fi/lista/singlet/2021/17/|title=Singlet 17/2021|publisher=Musiikkituottajat|language=fi|access-date=2 May 2021}} | 13 |
| {{album chart|Oricon|39|date=2021-05-03|rowheader=true|access-date=28 April 2021}} |