GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Angels Don't Kill Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom · 2000s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
ESP Alexi Laiho Signature (likely ESP Alexi-600 or custom shop variant, 24-fret, alder body, maple neck, ebony fretboard)
Pickups
EMG HZ H4 (passive humbucker, bridge position)
Amp
Lee Jackson GP-1000 preamp into Marshall JCM800 power amp (studio recording era), likely into Marshall 1960B 4x12 cabinet
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2002-2003 (Hate Crew Deathroll album sessions). Gear confirmed for this era by multiple interviews and rig rundowns, but no direct photo from the session. Live rigs often used different amps (ENGL, Peavey), but studio was Lee Jackson GP-1000 + Marshall JCM800. No evidence of additional pedals for the riff tone except possible noise gate. No time-based or modulation effects audible in riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids4
Bass5.5
Gain9
Reverb0
Treble7.5
Presence6.5
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- scooped mids
- aggressive palm muting
- high-gain saturation
- chunky low end
- razor-sharp treble
- articulate pick attack
- modern metal clarity
- minimal ambience
- focused and dry
Notes & Caveats
- No direct studio photo or official rig rundown for 'Angels Don't Kill' session; gear and settings inferred from era-correct interviews, forum consensus, and genre/amp norms.
- No specific numeric amp settings found for this song; settings estimated based on typical Lee Jackson GP-1000 + JCM800 metal tones and forum comments about 'tons of treble, low mids, bass at about 6'.
- No evidence of pedals or effects used in the riff section; no delay, chorus, flanger, or reverb audible in the main riff.
- Pickup model (EMG HZ H4) confirmed for Alexi's main ESP signature guitar of this era; no evidence of active EMG or other pickup used on this track.
- If more accurate studio documentation emerges, update settings and gear accordingly.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Children of Bodom's 'Angels Don't Kill' features a very saturated, modern metal tone with tight low end, slightly scooped but not hollow mids, and bright, aggressive attack—typical of Alexi Laiho's ESP + EMG pickups into a Peavey 5150/6505 or Marshall with high gain, moderate bass, and boosted treble/presence. The production is very dry with little to no reverb, matching early 2000s Finnish melodic death metal conventions.