Children Of Bodom frontman Alexi Laiho recently spoke with Music Radar about the band's latest album, I Worship Chaos, and his influences. An excerpt from the interview is available below:

Q: Looking back, as far as the neoclassical side of your lead playing is concerned, how did you master the techniques behind playing fast runs with such precision?

Laiho: “It takes a lot of practice for sure, but sitting down with a metronome doesn’t kill the rock ’n’ roll vibe like some people think. You have to get the techniques down and then you can actually start playing. It’s a necessity before you do the main thing. The rest is up to you, the rock ’n’ roll vibe will come from your personality. It can be aggressive or laid back or everything in between rolled into one. There are unlimited possibilities. I’ve always dug the whole '80s guitar vibe, guys like George Lynch… that’s what I grew up with. That’s in my heart and blood, but there’s more to me than just that.”

Q: Being such an accomplished guitar player, what techniques have really challenged you in recent years? Is it hard to find challenges when you get to a certain point?

Laiho: “This might surprise some people, but I’ve been on a huge Lindsey Buckingham trip recently and listening to his playing in Fleetwood Mac. I always thought there were two guitar players playing together, but it was just him doing all that Travis picking stuff. That’s how good he is! I thought, ‘You fucking asshole, how is that possible?’

“So that’s actually something I’m still working on right now and, dude, it’s hard. Like a whole different sport. In many ways, it was the same drive I felt when I first saw someone sweep picking… I had no choice but to try and master it! If you keep your eyes open and observe, there’s always something out there to learn.”

Go to this location for the complete interview.

Following a trip on the high seas as part of the 70,000 Tons of Metal Cruise (February 4th - 8th), Children Of Bodom will start a headline run of North America on February 9th in Tampa, FL, which will run through February 19th in Austin, TX. The following night February 20th, Children Of Bodom will join up with Megadeth, Suicidal Tendencies and Havok in Houston, TX as part of the Dystopia World Tour.

In addition to the shows with Megadeth, COB will also play select headline dates. Havok will provide direct support to COB on their headline dates.  A complete list of all shows can be found below. Tickets for the headline shows will go on sale this Friday at 10 AM, local time. Tickets for the shows with Megadeth are on sale now.

COB headline dates:

February
9 - Tampa, FL - Orpheum
10 - Jacksonville, FL - 1904
11 - Birmingham, AL - Saturn
12 - Nashville, TN - Exit/In
13 - Memphis, TN - New Daisy Theatre
15 - St. Louis, MO - The Ready Room
16 - Lawrence, KS - The Granada
18 - Corpus Christi, TX - House of Rock
19 - Austin, TX - Scoot Inn

Tour dates with Megadeth, Suicidal Tendencies and Havok:

February
20 - Dallas, TX - South Side Ballroom
21 - Houston, TX - Bayou Music Center
23 - Denver, CO - The Fillmore Auditorium
24 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex
26 - Las Vegas, NV - The Pearl
27 - Phoenix, AZ - Comerica Theatre
28 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Palladium
29 - San Francisco, CA - The Warfield

March
5 - Penticton, BC - South Okanagan Events Centre
6 - Calgary, AB - Grey Eagle Resort
8 - Dawson Creek, BC - Encana Events Centre
9 - Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place
10 - Moose Jaw, SK - Mosaic Place
13 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom
15 - Niagara Falls, NY - The Rapids Theatre
16 - New York, NY - Terminal 5
17 - New York, NY - Terminal 5
19 - Bethlehem, PA - Sands Bethlehem Event Center
20 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
21 - Boston, MA - House Of Blues
23 - Bangor, ME - Cross Insurance Center
24 - Quebec, QC - Centre Videotron
26 - Sioux Falls, SD - Badlands Pawn