Chaos theory. The notion that all things are interlinked and the smallest event can determine a massive one.

That a hummingbird flapping its wings in Bolivia can cause a hurricane in Germany. That a seemingly unimportant choice in Ashton Kutcher’s childhood started a chain of events that meant The Butterfly Effect star would be talking to a CGI sexy pizza slice in an advert for chewing gum decades later.

Was it in awe of this mind-blowing outlook on the universe that Finnish melodic metal band Children Of Bodom named their latest album I Worship Chaos? Not exactly.

“I don’t actually know what Alex [Laiho, chief songwriter] is talking about in the title,” admits bassist Henkka T Seppälä. “I was thinking about it recently – ‘I wonder what he means by this? What the philosophy is behind chaos? Can you worship it?’”

Seppälä (the middle initial T is for his nickname ‘Torso’ and his surname is Finnish for ‘blacksmith’) joined his schoolmates in Children Of Bodom in 1996, when they were called Inearthed. He replaced the previous bassist, who moved with his family to the US. Could a decision by the parents of someone he didn’t know have changed Seppälä’s life forever?

“It’s a hard one,” he says. “Something you’d have to really think about. I don’t know who knows.”

I Worship Chaos is Children Of Bodom’s ninth studio album and is touted as being “blood-knuckled but incredibly fun” by Laiho, who adds: “Put your shades and helmets on, it will get very dark and it might hurt.” The album is being heralded as a return to form; gloomy, heavy and progressive.

“This time it seems like the all of us, the whole band, are more excited about it than we have been for the last ten years,” says Seppälä. “There’s something fresh about it, but I don’t know what it is. Everybody’s super happy. We were all into it more than we have been for a long time. We’re always happy with the stuff, but when something’s better it’s easier to say, ‘This is better than other ones.’”

Approaching two decades since their debut, Something Wild, Children Of Bodom are one of their home nation’s best-selling acts of all time.Still, there have been some not-so-good albums, one or two less well-received releases. Seppälä is grateful the fans have stuck with them.

“Metal fans, they are very loyal,” he says. “They support their band. Even if they do a couple of really bad albums, they still go to the live shows. The shittier the new album a band does, the better older ones sound, and that’s always good for the live shows!”

Having learnt from their past mistakes, Children Of Bodom are no longer resting on their laurels.

“We never went back – we always went places we’d never been before and tried to do something new. From the first album on,” says Seppälä. “If we went back and did everything like we did in the ’90s, it wouldn’t be us. I always felt doing music as a career is a process, a process that is progressing. It’s very vital to have new things to keep the flame alive. I don’t like to go back – it would be devolution. We prefer to evolve, not go backwards.”

In the early days, the band members earned something of a reputation for their heavy drinking and rock star antics.Their rider once included a litre of Jameson, a litre of Jack Daniel’s, seven bottles of vodka, four of Bacardi and five big cases of beer.

“We’ve mellowed,” says Seppälä. “There was a lot of partying – 14 days straight sometimes. But you have to think about your health. You have to be in good shape to play a good show. We are older also – we just cannot take it anymore, not like we did back in the day!”

As they near legendary status among metal fans the world over, Children Of Bodom join one of the genre’s founding fathers, Megadeth, on a four-date tour of Australia this October.

“I’m really excited about Australia,” says Seppälä. “It’s so far away, but everyone loves Australia. It’s hard to understand until you actually go there and feel the vibe and see the nature and the cities – then you know Australia is one of the nicest places to be.”

As his own band matures, Seppälä is looking to the future, hoping to replicate Megadeth’s enduring popularity.

“It just happened,” says Seppälä. “I never even dreamt that we would be around this long. We had a three-record deal. I was like, ‘Wow – if we make three records it’s going to be amazing.’ And now, after nine albums, all the wildest dreams have come true.

“[Megadeth] show it’s possible to play that long. Metallica and Judas Priest too, those bands are still around. More important than enduring is that you’re proud of what you do and enjoy being onstage. I still have that buzz onstage. Always when I get onstage I get that feeling, I cherish it. I hope it will last.”

Catch them live if you can. Who knows – going to that particular gig on that particular night could change the course of your life forever. Right, Henkka?

“That’s a big one. Wow. That’s really deep!”

I Worship Chaos is out Friday October 2 through Nuclear Blast.ChildrenOf Bodom support Megadeth at the Hordern PaviliononSunday October 18.

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