WARMEN's 'Japanese Hospitality' Lands On Finnish Chart

"Japanese Hospitality", the fourth album from CHILDREN OF BODOM keyboardist Janne Wirman's WARMEN project, has entered the Finnish chart at position No. 36.

"Japanese Hospitality" was released via Spinefarm Records. The 10-song effort includes two cover versions — "Separate Ways", originally recorded by JOURNEY, and "Black Cat" by JANET JACKSON, featuring a guest appearance by the Finnish pop/rock queen Jonna Kosonen. In addition, Japanese fans get WARMEN's rendition of ROXETTE's "Fading Like A Flower" as a bonus track. Other guest musicians that appear on the CD include Alexi Laiho (CHILDREN OF BODOM), Pasi Rantanen (ex-THUNDERSTONE), Timo Kotipelto (STRATOVARIUS) and Marko Vaara.

Check out the "Japanese Hospitality" e-card at this location.

Interviewed in January, WARMEN guitarist and Janne's brother Antti Wirman revealed that the album would be heavier than the band's previous output, with more aggressive guitar riffs. There are just two instrumental tracks, and every song has a different singer. According to Antti, the new WARMEN album is the group's strongest effort to date because it has "the best songs, best vocalists and the best sounds."

WARMEN's third full-length album, "Accept the Fact", was released in July 2005 via Spinefarm Records. The follow-up to 2002's "Beyond Abilities" included guest appearances by CHILDREN OF BODOM frontman Alexi Laiho and STRATOVARIUS singer Timo Kotipelto.

Kosonen, who was previously a member of the multiplatinum-selling Finnish female pop duo NYLON BEAT, had contributed her vocals to CHILDREN OF BODOM's cover version of the BRITNEY SPEARS smash "Oops, I Did It Again" (which appeared on the "In Your Face" single), and was also one of the guest musicians on "Accept the Fact".