Finnish heavy metal music is no stranger to controversy. And while Lordi, one of Finland's most notorious hellraising bands, who regularly blow up meat, wield chain saws and wear gaudy costumes on stage, will be sadly absent from "Finnish Music Days in Tokyo," the music showcase, taking place May 24 to 25, will be hosting three of their equally hard-rockin' compatriots -- Pain Confessor, Amoral and Norther. The bands line up as part of the event's metal night in Ebisu on May 24.

The two-day event is not all about metal. Highlighting the breadth of the current scene in Finland, pop, rock, hip-hop and DJ acts will be performing as part of the pop and rock night in Shibuya on May 25.

Headlining the metal night is Norther, a band that in their early days were introduced to the cherished Helsinki rock warehouse and rehearsal space, Lepakko, by Alexander Khoppals from Children of Bodom, a band with whom Norther share a tendency toward the melodic side of death metal.

Don Johnson Big Band will be one of the biggest attractions at the pop and rock showcase, having recently topped the singles and album charts in their homeland. Utilizing beatbox rhythms and sampling, DJBB are an inventive mix of hip-hop, jazz, funk and trip-hop.

Also playing are Private Line and Mummypowder, and there will be a DJ set by Slow.

The "Finnish Music Days in Tokyo" metal showcase takes place May 24 at Liquid Room, 3-16-6 Higashi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (7 p.m.).

The pop and rock showcase takes place May 25 at Duo Music Exchange, 2-14-8 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo.

Tickets for both events are 4,000 yen plus payment for one drink (tel. [03] 5466-0777).