Lost Society’s Samy Elbanna stepped in to fill Alexi Laiho’s role in Children of Bodom following the legendary guitarist’s death. He recently addressed questions about the band’s future in an interview with Louder Sound.
Elbanna’s comments came in response to speculation about whether this iteration of Children of Bodom would continue performing together.
When asked directly about the future of this version of Bodom and whether he would like to play more shows with the band, Elbanna provided an honest assessment of the situation.
“Honestly, I don’t know,” Elbanna said. “We only talked about these two shows, and the priority was to make them as special as possible.”
The guitarist went on to express his personal connection to the material, regardless of future performances.
“I even said to the guys, ‘I’m going to be playing these songs anyway after these shows, because I fucking love these songs,'” he continued. “I played them for most of my life and that’s not going to change.”
Elbanna also reflected on the positive reception the performances received from audiences.
“The reception to the two nights was so great that I don’t know what else to think about at this point,” he said.
The comments suggest that while no concrete plans have been made for additional shows, the door remains open depending on how the situation develops.
These tribute performances marked a significant moment for the Finnish metal community. They came over five years after the tragic loss of the band’s founding member.
Blabbermouth reported that Alexi Laiho died in December 2020 at the age of 41, leaving behind a massive void in the metal world. The guitarist and vocalist had been the driving force behind Children of Bodom since the band’s formation in 1993. He helped establish them as one of Finland’s most successful metal exports.
The two tribute shows Elbanna referenced took place on February 26 and 27, 2026, at Helsinki’s iconic Tavastia Club. AFM Records noted that the first show sold out so quickly that organizers added a second date to meet demand. These “A Celebration of Music” concerts represented the first time Children of Bodom members had performed together since Laiho’s passing.
The performances featured classic Children of Bodom tracks including “Living Dead Beat,” “Sixpounder,” “Bodom Beach Terror,” and “Silent Night, Bodom Night.” Louder Sound confirmed that the shows marked the band’s first live performances in seven years, making them particularly emotional for both the musicians and fans in attendance.
Elbanna’s involvement in these tribute shows highlighted his deep connection to Children of Bodom’s music through his work with Lost Society. The choice to have him fill Laiho’s role demonstrated the respect he had earned within Finland’s metal scene and his ability to honor the legacy of one of metal’s most influential guitarists.
