Napalm Records have announced the signing of guitar virtuoso Ryoji Shinomoto, best known for his work with Japanese Samurai Metal band RYUJIN. This marks the exciting lead-up to the release of his debut solo album and collection of CHILDREN OF BODOM covers, Children of Bushido, out April 8, 2025. In tribute to late metal legend Alexi Laiho, the exclusively digital album will be released on what would have been his 46th birthday, and fulfills a lifelong musical dream for Shinomoto.
Hailing from Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, which shares a strikingly similar climate to Finland, Shinomoto has always felt a deep connection to CHILDREN OF BODOM. He first encountered their music as a teenager, and their sound has since been a lasting influence. Children of Bushido seamlessly blends the worlds of western metal and traditional Japanese instrumentation, two seemingly different worlds united in powerful and unmistakable harmony. Children of Bushido is a love letter to Alexi Laiho’s brand of death metal and CHILDREN OF BODOM, reimagined through the lens of Samurai Metal.
With his first single, Ryoji Shinomoto reimagines CHILDREN OF BODOM’s “Lake Bodom” with a fierce Samurai Metal twist, accompanied by an official playthrough video – out today. The fury of death metal is transformed into a frenzied yet almost joyous katana massacre, infused with a powerful symphonic edge.
Shinomoto comments on “Lake Bodom”: “This song is from CHILDREN OF BODOM’s first album Something Wild and is very popular in Japan. I remember back in high school, I saw Alexi teaching the intro in a Japanese guitar magazine, and I practiced it like crazy.
“For my arrangement, I gave it a ‘Samurai Metal’ twist—blending shamisen, traditional Japanese flutes, and a heavier orchestral arrangement to create a more symphonic feel. I also adapted the guitar solos and obbligatos by replacing the original scales with hirajoshi and other traditional Japanese scales, making them more in line with the kind of solos I play in RYUJIN. There’s even a little homage to the traditional Japanese song ‘Sakura’ hidden in one part of the solo.”
Children of Bushido delivers a fiery fusion of CHILDREN OF BODOM’s aggressive yet melodic approach with the majestic aesthetics of Samurai and zen music. Shown in tracks like “Downfall”, with its melancholic melodies and complex rhythms, the song evokes deep emotion, while Shinomoto breathes new life into CHILDREN OF BODOM classics like “Living Dead Beat”. Blending Laiho’s raw energy with eastern mysticism, he reinvents these works with thundering wadaiko drum rhythms and lightning-fast riffs, creating a bold and electrifying reinterpretation. The rebellious lyrics, combined with this unique sonic fusion, serve as a fitting musical homage, crafting a breathtaking symphonic landscape.
Children of Bushido is not only a tribute to Alexi Laiho and CHILDREN OF BODOM—it represents a bold artistic evolution for Ryoji Shinomoto, a celebration of western metal traditions, and a fascinating glimpse into the rich musical heritage of Japan.
Children of Bushido track listing:
1. Lake Bodom
2. Living Dead Beat
3. Mask of Sanity
4. Hate Me!
5. Silent Night Bodom Night
6. Follow The Reaper
7. Bodom After Midnight
8. Needled 24/7
9. Downfall
Source: metaladdicts.com
