Dead at 41.
Alexi Laiho picked up the guitar after seeing the clip for Steve Vai’s “For the Love of God” on MTV. And along with Zakk Wylde, Jake E. Lee, Randy Rhoads, Dimebag, Yngwie Malmsteen and Paul Gilbert, these are the guitarists he looked up to.
I’m not a fan of the extreme vocals but the music always had me interested. Steve Vai on his Twitter tribute to Alexi credits him for introducing a brand of “hi octane, intense Metal at its most brutal and beautiful.”
Laiho and Vai even shared a Guitar World cover together.
Extreme melodic death metal is not the o everyone’s liking so here are a few selections in which the riffs and the lead breaks showcase his talent.
“Punch Me I Bleed” from the “Are You Dead Yet?” album released in 2005. The riffs remind me of the Pantera groove metal and the lead breaks from Alexi showcase his ability.
“Angels Don’t Kill” from the “Hate Crew Deathroll” album is like a traditional metal cut in the music department. But the solo is a must listen.
“Triple Corpse Hammer-blow” is also from the “Hate Crew Deathroll” album and it has a solo section that came from “Over The Mountain”.
“Not My Funeral” from the “Relentless Revkless Forever” album released in 2011 is one my favourite solos. Go to the 3.30 mark to hear it.
To me, he’s basically an 80s guitar hero in the 2000’s and he will be missed.
Check out this ESP Guitars 2 minute short on YouTube. If you haven’t heard his riffs and leads, you will hear em on this video and some cool stories.
Did you notice the style and look of his guitars.
Or this from the EMG YouTube site.
Another guitar hero gone too soon.
Rest In Peace.
destroyerofharmony 
Never heard of him but his play seems cool in the clip. I wish guttural vocals never became a thing so I could enjoy more of these bands.
The music for me was good and technical and different that it became easier to bypass the guttural vocals.
Indeed, Angels Don’t Kill is my favorite CoB track and Hate Crew Deathroll their best album, mainly because it’s more melodic and borrows from traditional metal.
Alexi was probably the most technical and skilled player ever hailed from Finland. BTW, his former bandmate Roope Latvala, ex-Children of Bodom and ex-Stone guitarist is no slouch either.
Here is rare interview in Finnish rock magazine Soundi from 1998
https://www.soundi.fi/jutut/mitka-olivat-nuoren-alexi-laihon-levysuosikit-arkistojuttu-vuodelta-1998-saattaa-yllattaa/ (click the article image to see Alexi’s top 10 favorites)
To see WASP at the top of that list is excellent. One of my favorites.
I need to check out some Darkthrone as he’s mentioned a few albums there from em.
Yes 100 percent in agreement with you on Roope.
Alexi and Roppe shredding like there is no tomorrow
Nice video.
So sad that Alexi won’t grace us with some more shred.
I hate playing up between the 19th fret and 22nd fret on the guitar, it’s uncomfortable for me, but these two guys just shred away in that register and make it look so easy.