Finnish metallers Children Of Bodom (aka COB) are set to release their ninth studio album, I Worship Chaos, worldwide on October 2nd via Nuclear Blast Records. The artwork was created by Finnish artist Tuomas Korpi.

COB frontman, guitarist, and mastermind Alexi Laiho commented on the new album: “We are close to putting the finishing touches on the new COB record I Worship Chaos and as much fun (but most importantly raw, literally bloody knuckled hard work) it has been making it, I’m more than happy and even more anxious to share this chaos with the rest of the world.  So people, put your shades and helmets on, it will get very dark and it might hurt, in a perfect COB fashion of course!”

Returning to Finland’s Danger Johnny Studios (located at a top secret, undisclosed location in Helsinki) to record I Worship Chaos, the album was produced by COB and Mikko Karmila, who worked with the band on their earlier albums Halo Of Blood, Hatebreeder, Follow the Reaper and Hate Crew Deathroll. The album was mixed and mastered at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland.

Tracklisting:

“IHurt”
“My Bodom (I Am The Only One)”
“Morrigan”
“Horns”
“Prayer For The Afflicted”
“I Worship Chaos”
“Hold Your Tongue”
“Suicide Bomber”
“All for Nothing”
“Widdershins”

*The deluxe version of I Worship Chaos will include bonus tracks.

Children Of Bodom recently announced they have parted ways with long-time guitarist Roope Latvala. It was an amicable spilt with no bad blood between them. The band issued the following statement:

“Dear COB Hatecrew, We need to share something with you at this point. Our friend, brother, and a guitar player for 12 years, Roope, is no longer with the band. As we parted ways with no bad blood, we wish him nothing but the best and thank him for allowing us to share the last 12 years of our lives with him.

Hope you know that this will not affect the upcoming shows or the new album as we recorded it as a four piece and it is already mixed, mastered, heavy as shit and ready to go! Enough said, See you soon!”

With a summer tour due to kick off on June 4th, Children Of Bodom have tapped Warmen guitarist Antti Wirman - the brother of COB keyboardist Janne - to replace Latvala for the road trip. He made his live debut with the band on May 30th at a private performance at Nosturi in Helsinki, Finland.

Janne Wirman has since commented on conscripting his younger brother:

"We wanted to go with someone close to the band we can count on and who can nail these songs. Antti was the obvious choice."

Children Of Bodom’s summer tour schedule is as follows:

June

4 - Sweden Rock Festival - Solvesborg, Sweden
6 - Laulurinne - Joensuu, Finland (with Nightwish)
11 - Club A2 - St. Petersburg, Russia
12 - Ray Just Arena - Moscow, Russia
13 - Premio - Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
15 -  Tele Club - Ekaterinburg, Russia
19 - Hellfest - Clisson, France
20 - Den Atelier, Luxembourg
21 - Graspop Metal Meeting - Dessel, Belgium
26 - Rock am Härtsfeldsee - Dischingen, Germany

July

17 - Resurrection Fest - Viveiro, Spain
31 - Ratinan Stadion - Tampere, Finland (with Nightwish)