Napalm Records is proud to announce 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 on April 8th, 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. “Lake Bodom” is now available on all streaming services worldwide!
Ryoji Shinomoto 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”.
Watch the official playthrough video for “Lake Bodom” below.
“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.
Ryoji Shinomoto say about the album:
“Alexi Laiho — an extraordinary rock star, guitar hero, and composer (Children Of Bodom, Bodom After Midnight) — passed away in 2020. His influence was immense, not just in the west but also in Japan. Anyone who sees me now as a lead guitarist and vocalist in a metal band can easily understand how much he impacted my musical journey.
Last year, when I released Raijin & Fujin with Matt from Trivium, I came across a comment on Napalm’s video calling it ‘Children of Bushido’. That sparked an idea — what if I played COB’s music in Ryujin’s signature Samurai Metal style?
I envisioned replacing the synthesizers with shamisen, koto, and traditional flutes, adding taiko drums to create an even more symphonic sound. I also thought about transforming the harmonic minor and pentatonic scales into unique Japanese scales, like Hira-choshi, which I often use in Ryujin’s music. The songs I chose for this album are the very same ones I played on stage as a student, long before Ryujin — back when my band was still called Gyze, and even before that, when we were known as Suicide Heaven, performing as a COB cover band.
Alexi’s music continues to live on, even in Japan, far from Finland. Children Of Bushido is a testament to that”.
Pre-save the digital version of “Children of Bushido” here.
“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.
Tracklist:
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
Line-up:
Guitar, Vocals, Shamisen, Erhu, Dragon Flute, Koto, Taiko Drums & Orchestration
Weblinks:
www.facebook.com/ryujinbandjp
www.instagram.com/ryojishinomoto
