How to Dial In "Cry of the Nihilist" by Children of Bodom - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Cry of the Nihilist"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From Relentless Reckless Forever (2011). Relentless Reckless Forever is the seventh studio album by Finnish melodic death metal band Children of Bodom, released on 8 March 2011 through Spinefarm Records, Fearless Records and Nuclear Blast. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so an ESP LTD Alexi-600 through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the rig we use for Children of Bodom's other songs from Relentless Reckless Forever, stands in. Set the amp to a saturated high-gain setting and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in D standard (D G C F A D), a whole step below standard.
Common Questions About the "Cry of the Nihilist" Tone
What guitar did Children of Bodom use on "Cry of the Nihilist"?
The guitar on "Cry of the Nihilist" (released 2011) isn't documented; the ESP LTD Alexi-600 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in D Standard (D G C F A D), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "Cry of the Nihilist" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 8.5, Bass 6, Mid 5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 7. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "Cry of the Nihilist" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Cry of the Nihilist" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Cry of the Nihilist" by Children of Bodom are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.