The name Janne Warman should be known to metalheads all over the world by now. His band, Children Of Bodom, has become a household name for metal fans worldwide and in 2000 the keyboard virtuoso released his first solo-album, Warmen"s Unknown Soldier, which spearheaded the emergence of technical and progressive metal from Finland. The debut consisted of eleven tracks of stunningly technical melodic hard rock in the vein of Stratovarius, Rainbow and Artension led by Janne Warman"s uncannily fluent fingers and astonishing arrangements. No rock celebrity project would be complete without guest stars: Unknown Soldier featured spots of acclaimed musicians like Jari Kainulainen (Stratovarius / bass), Roope Latvala (Waltari & Sinergy / guitars) and female vocalist Kimberly Goss (Sinergy) in addition to the band"s line up of Mirka Rantanen (Tunnelvision / Drums), Sami Virtanen (Guitars) and of course mastermind Janne Warman himself. Now, the time has arrived for Warmen to once again embark on the road they themselves paved.
With a slightly upgraded five-piece line-up, adding Lauri Porra (Tunnelvision) as steady bassist and Janne"s brother Antti Warman on guitars, Janne & Co. took full advantage of their own studio, The Warmen Productions Studio, recording the entire new album there and later on mixing the eleven new tracks at Finnvox Studios with Mikko Karmila (Stratovarius, Nightwish, Edguy, Therion, Sonata Arctica). Beyond Abilities is a superb trip into the realms of modern heavy metal and bombastic melodic speed-power metal filled with the kind masterful songwriting we"ve come to expect from this gifted guru of the keyboards. The material is even more versatile than on the successful first release, partly probably because of a bigger presence of vocals: Sinergy"s Kimberly Goss (vocals on "Hidden" and on the amazing cover version of Heart"s "Alone", also released as a CD-Single by Spinefarm Records), Timo Kotipelto of Stratovarius (vocals on "Spark" and "Singer"s Chance") and Pasi Nykänen of Throne Of Chaos (vocals on "Dawn"), all deliver stellar vocal performances, only enhancing the spellbinding effect Warmen have on their listener. Beyond Abilities is THE album for every heavy metal connoiseur who like their music challenging and entertaining. This will leave you gasping for air...
Source: http://www.spirit-of-metal.com/biographie-groupe-Warmen-id_bio-2178-l-en.html
