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On disc: Warmen



- The Unknown Solidier - Claudia Ehrhardt - 8 stars
- Beyond Abilities - Claudia Ehrhardt - 9 stars
- Beyond Abilities - Roberto Palmitesta - 9 stars


www.myspace.com/jannewarmenproject







Beyond Abilities

Beyond Abilities
(Spinefarm - 2002)


If you are a keyboard player or you just love the sound of this instrument, then you are going to love this album from Children Of Bodom's virtuoso keyboard player Janne Warman considered by many as one of the fastest players in the world right now, who bring us an album full of strength, speed, arrangements and progressive and classical influences. This album also has all the elements of a good melodic power metal album should have a powerful rhythm section with fast drumming by Mirka Rantanen, solid bass playing that sometimes take the lead with astonishing solos by Lauri Porra, lots of catchy riffs and great guitar solos played by Janne's brother Antti and Sami Virtanen, vocals well performed by guest singers Timo Kotipelto (Stratovarius) who adds his quality and charismatic high registers, Kimberly Goss (Sinergy) with her aggressive feeling and Pasy Nykänen performing a kind of deep throat voice in a kind of rap style and of course the main character inside the album is the acrobatic and virtuoso keyboard playing of Janne Warman, that not only is shaped by solos as fast as the light, there are also great rhythm melodies and diverse atmospheric work on his style, but his weak point is his sound which is a little bit cold and even flat sometimes due to his digital equipment. Thus, he should try to combine his sound by using different kinds of keyboards.
All tracks are great and only five of them have vocals, all the rest are instrumental. There is an interesting version of Heart's Alone performed by Kimberly Goss on vocals where Warman do a delicate work with the piano. My favorites are the opening track Beyond Abilities where Warman goes far beyond abilities with his keyboard , Hidden is very melodic and here Kimberly Goss stole the show with her voice full of personality and aggressive feeling, Dawn is the heaviest song in the album with riffs filled with strength and Finale that is very atmospheric and shows all the potential of Warman to compose and play progressive stuff.
Highly recommended for those who love power metal and progressive stuff and of course for those keyboard lovers.


8 stars

Roberto Palmitesta
 

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Beyond Abilities

Beyond Abilities
(Spinefarm - 2002)


Some might remember their debut release Unknown Soldier from 2000, but many more will know the mainman Janne Warman for his work with melodic death metal shooting stars Children Of Bodom. The quintet present this time melodic power metal and offer a larger variety than on the debut. Unknown Soldier was more a hard rock album which reminded me of Rainbow and Artension.
Unusual is that this band has no singer! But it ain't an instrumental album! Again Janne Warman could get some known singers to help out on some songs. Again Sinergy's Kimberly Goss joint Janne & co. for Hidden and a fantastic version of Heart's Alone which is presented in a heavier, but still very emotional version. On two tracks Stratovarius frontman Timo Kotipelto sang (Spark & Singer's Choice), beside that Pasi Nykönen of Throne Of Chaos sings Dawn.
It seems that Janne Warman was right to take his time and to record on the Warmen Production Studios which gave them more freedom to work as they would have some­where else. The mixing was done by none else than the mighty sound magician Mikko Karmila at the famous Finnvox Studios.
Beyond Abilities is the masterpiece of the young Finnish keyboarder so far and it seems that there is more to come.... The 22-year old Janne is making his way to the top with Warmen. Even if some might not like instrumental music, but this is different! Listen to the vocal tracks as well as to some instrumentals.... Alone, Spark, Dawn and Salieri Strikes Back (instrumental).


9 stars

Claudia Ehrhardt
 

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The Unknown Soldier

The Unknown Soldier
(Spinefarm - 2000)


When I took a first look at the bio I saw the name Children Of Bodom and expected something like that... But I learnt that I was totally wrong when I listend to the album of Janne Warman! This is not a real instrumental album, even if most tracks are instrumentals... Janne found a few Finnish musicians for his project and guests like Jari Kainulainen (Stratovarius), Roope Latvala (Waltari / Sinergy) and Kimberly Goss (Sinergy). And this guests may give a hint what kind of music is presented.... Let's call it a mixture of progressive power metal and technical hard rock like Spinefarm Records bio says..... And I agree! The songs remind of Stratovarius, Artension and Rainbow..... Perhaps with a little Yngwie Malmsteen touch...
Check out: Devil's Mistress (sung by Kimberly) and Hopeless Optimism (instrumental)!


8 stars

Claudia Ehrhardt
 

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           ©2008-2010 by Claudia Ehrhardt • E-Mail: contact@ice-vajal.com


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