Following the dissolution of the legendary melodic death metal act CHILDREN OF BODOM in 2019, keyboard maestro Janne Wirman redirected his focus, embarking on a new journey at university to become an architect. Yet, fate had other plans. His WARMEN bandmates (Jyri Helko and Antti Wirman) thought it was a mistake to let such talent lie dormant. Thus, WARMEN‘s resurgence to the Helsinki metal scene came to fruition, like a phoenix rising from the ashes. With a brand new lineup, featuring Seppo Tarvainen on drums and Petri Lindroos on guitar and vocals, WARMEN add a new dimension to the band’s soundscape and completely change direction in sound. The band is ready to unveil their latest creation, “Here For None,” scheduled for release via Reaper Entertainment on August 18th, 2023.
If I were the listen to WARMEN‘s “Here For None” in the background while doing something else, I would have probably thought it is CHILDREN OF BODOM. The unmistakable resonance of Janne‘s keyboard artistry plays a pivotal role in this, naturally evoking a sense of familiarity. However, there is something in the music that does give it that little bit of Helsinki’s early 2000s melodeath scene. Upon dedicating genuine attention to the nuances, a treasure trove of intricacies unveils itself: the more progressive bass lines of Jyri Helko, Antti Wirman‘s tasteful guitars infusing some thrash and groove metal at times, and Petri Lindroos ever just being nobody other than himself – although even he can’t occasionally resist honoring his late friend, Alexi Laiho – jee-jee-jee is not far off from jau-jau-jau. In essence, WARMEN don’t seek to emulate; they resolutely remain authentic to their own identity. They are, however, honoring Janne Wirman‘s legacy as one of the key players in introducing keyboards into extreme music.
The album kicks off with a quintessentially Janne Wirman keyboard introduction in “Warmen Are Here For None”; a signature sound that is instantly recognizable. This short-spanned intro gives way to an uplifting melodic death metal anthem, which serves as a powerful and energetic introduction, heralding the start of a new chapter for the band. Being the first song the band wrote since their absence from the scene, it’s pretty clear to see why they thought it was worth continuing the project, “The Driving Force” lives up to its name, pushing the album forward with its groove-infused slower tempo. The song showcases an impressive guitar/keyboard duet towards its climax.
A track that could have found its place on CHILDREN OF BODOM‘s “I Worship Chaos” album is undoubtedly “A World of Pain.” This song drives the tempo up again and offers a crystal-clear demonstration of Seppo Tarvainen‘s impeccable drumming prowess – an addition that has enriched the band. In “Too Much, Too Late,” an enchanting melody is subtly woven into the intricate layers of the chorus. Despite its subtlety, this melody infuses the chorus with an added dimension and makes it without a doubt one of the stand-out moments on the album.
Among the highlights, “Night Terrors” emerges with a keyboard melody at its forefront, which offers a captivating motif that reoccurs throughout the song. The song has a commanding bridge that introduces a bit of a slower passage with very tasteful bass lines before the guitar and keyboard solos kick in. “Hell On Four Wheels” starts with pure chaos: a thrashy riff, a screeching guitar, Petri Lindroos making all sorts of hellish sounds. The chaos makes way for a catchy riff and a fast-paced verse. The song builds up to a bad-ass ’90s-styled riff until it launches into the chorus.
After all the intensity, “The End of the Line” has a more mellow, straightforward attitude, and offers a little respite. “Death’s On Its Way” provides listeners with some more variety as it heavily draws inspiration from SLAYER. Just by listening to the intro, you instantly get thrown back to the glory days of that band, yet, in essence, it’s still a melodic death metal track despite its thrash metal influences. The album is heading towards its ending with “The Cold Unknown,” which is a little bit slower. It’s spiced up with some guitar soloing here and there and a powerful chorus with great keyboard melodies. The final song of “Here For None” is an ULTRAVOX cover, “Dancing With Tears In My Eyes,” transformed into a perfect melodeath anthem! Admittedly, I wasn’t familiar with the original song – I did look it up though for this review – but its clear ’80s influences made it somewhat of a lighter, poppier song to end the album with, and altogether a fun listening experience!
With “Here for None,” WARMEN re-enter the realm of melodic death metal, riding a wave of nostalgia that’s destined to be heard. This album will evoke lots of emotions, particularly among fans who’ve been patiently awaiting some form of a CHILDREN OF BODOM or NORTHER revival, reminiscent of melodic death metal’s earlier days. If you were yearning for a Finnish counterpart to what Swedish outfit THE HALO EFFECT is currently doing with revitalizing Gothenburg-styled metal, then WARMEN effortlessly quenches your Helsinki-centric thirst. Adding to its allure, the album boasts a very crisp production quality, where all its elements are well-balanced. With each track, WARMEN artfully navigate a diverse rollercoaster ride of an album, ensuring that “Here for None” not only stands as a worthy listening experience but also a testament to the band’s enduring legacy.
Tracklist
- Warmen Are Here For None
- The Driving Force
- A World of Pain
- Too Much, Too Late
- Night Terrors
- Hell On Four Wheels
- The End of the Line
- Death’s On Its Way
- The Cold Unknown
- Dancing With Tears In My Eyes
Lineup
Janne Wirman – Keyboards Petri Lindroos – Vocals
Antti Wirman – Guitar
Jyri Helko – Bass
Seppo Tarvainen – Drums
Label
Reaper Entertainment
