Playlists

New Rock and Metal from Finland

Words by Music Finland

Published 26.1.2022

The first groundbreaking Finnish rock bands paved the way for future success already back in the 1970’s, with bands like Hanoi Rocks and Wigwam inspiring numerous Finnish artists with their success.

Ever since the late 1990’s Finnish rock and heavy metal bands have been household names all over the world. From stadium sized acts like The Rasmus, Nightwish and Amorphis, to cult favorites such as Beherit and Terveet Kädet, to fresh newcomers like Blind Channel and Cyan Kicks, the list could go on endlessly. Mind you, even Barack Obama knows that Finland has the most heavy metal bands in the world per capita!

On the New rock and Metal from Finland playlist we take a look at the most exciting new releases Finland has to offer. Listen to the playlist on Apple Music or Spotify and read more about the artists below! The playlist is updated regularly.

New Rock and Metal from Finland on Apple Music

New Rock and Metal from Finland on Spotify

Cyan Kicks

Helsinki based alternative rock foursome Cyan Kicks sparked interest with their singles such as Gasoline, Satellite as well as their rocking cover of Clean Bandit’s Rockabye. Fronted by singer Susanna Aleksandra the band combines electronic sounds and pop hooks with a modern hard rock sound.

Erja Lyytinen

Back in 2003, guitarist Erja Lyytinen was the first woman to graduate from the prestigious Sibelius Academy majoring in electric guitar. These days Lyytinen has a seven album strong catalogue. She has toured around the world with the likes of Walter Trout and gained several international accolades – such as the European Blues Award – for her music.

World Without

A new player on the Finnish metal scene, World Without combines modern metal, trashy pop and hardcore vocals in their music. Their first single "I, Exorcist", released in summer 2021, was reviewed as a mixture of aggressivity, playing skills and unique musical vision. The band is formed by musicians also known from acts such as Stratovarius, For the Imperium and Kromea.

Oceanhoarse

Oceanhoarse is a heavy metal group formed by former members of Amoral, For the Imperium and Mygrain in 2018. The foursome released their debut ep "Voluntary Bends" in 2019 and played shows together with Beast in Black. Their debut album, a live offering named "The Damage is Done – Live!" saw the light of day in June 2020.

AT’s Roots & Ramblin’

AT’s Roots & Ramblin’ is a young and energetic band, who describe their music as ‘swinging rock’n’roll’. Combining influences from traditional rock’n’roll, swing, jazz, roots, country, rhythm'n'blues and big band music, the trio has gained interest in rockabilly circles around the world, including placements in global main playlists of the genre.

Korpiklaani

Since they were formed in 2003, Korpiklaani has become one of the most acclaimed groups in the genre of folk metal, with instruments like fiddles, accordions and hurdy-gurdy in the mix. After their 2018 album "Kulkija", the band has released nearly a dozen versions of their malty anthem "Beer Beer" in different languages, along other drinking songs such as "Jägermeister" and "Land of a Thousand Drinks".

Moshimoshi

Helsinki four-piece moshimoshi draws their biggest influences from the US emo scene, counting bands such as Algernon Cadwallader, Cap’n Jazz, The Mars Volta and At The Drive In as their main paragons. Their music combines melodic indie pop, mathematically precise jazz elements and punk-inspired raw emotion, best audible on vocalist Aatu Kovanen’s screamo squall. Playing together in various projects over the years has trained the quartet into a tight-knit ensemble. Moshimoshi’s debut ep “moshimoshi I”, released in early 2021, was followed by a new single “Soon” in November 2022.

VV

Ville Valo, lead singer and founder of love metal legends HIM, made a come-back with the monicker VV. In early 2020 he released the "Gothica Fennica Vol. 1." ep, which will be followed by his full-length solo debut "Neon Noir" in 2023, with singles being released through 2022. A world tour will also take place in 2023. Outside of HIM, Valo has collaborated with various other bands and artist during his career, including Agents, The 69 Eyes and Apocalyptica.

Amorphis

Progressive metal band Amorphis returned in 2018 with album Queen of Time (2018), released by Nuclear Blast. The follow-up to 2015's "Under The Red Cloud" included real strings, flutes, orchestral arrangements and even choirs and was produced by Jens Bogren while the lyrics were penned by Pekka Kainulainen. In 2021 the band has released single The Moon giving the taste of their upcoming album Halo.

Insomnium

Insomnium is a melodic death metal band, founded in 1997, in a remote town of Joensuu, beyond the great vast forests of eastern Finland. Two decades later they would be saluted as one of the spearheads of their genre, having released 8 studio albums such as "Shadows of the Dying Sun" (2014) and "Winter’s Gate" (2016) which elevated the band to the headliner status all over the globe.

Crimson Sun

Modern metal quintet Crimson Sun was originally founded in 2001, but they have been operating with their current line-up since 2011. Fronted by singer Sini Seppälä, the band combines elements from traditional heavy metal, power metal and symphonic metal – and even djent – but flourishes the songs with big, catchy and melodic choruses, as well as synthesizer patterns reminiscent of EDM music.

Stoned Statues

Stoned Statues is an alternative metal band formed in 2019. Their sound mixes metal and prog together with rock and pop elements and relies on catchy melodies. Lead singer Jenna Kosunen’s strong vocals and lyrics along with Markus Hakala's (vocals, guitar) and Allu Tanskanen's (drums) playing create a combination of metal music with punk attitude.

Kärtsy

Kärtsy Hatakka is the vocalist and bass player for the versatile Finnish band Waltari, which he founded in 1986. Kärtsy is his solo project, which he describes as follows: “In terms of musical styles, my solo career is supposed to stand for everything that the current Waltari is not. Waltari’s sound is moving towards progressive metal, so, as a solo artist, I want to impress all the other musical passions I have in my head.”

Tarja

Tarja Turunen is one of the best-known Finnish voices in the international symphonic rock scene. Soprano, composer and songwriter, she reached international fame co-founding and being for nine years the voice and image of the Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. After her Nightwish years Tarja has so far released a total of seven solo albums.

Wheel

The Helsinki-based foursome is as much inspired by Radiohead’s art rock as they are with heavy metal. This results in “an expansive and mind-melting collage of progressive rock, grunge and film score that twists and turns in ways no band have ever done before”, as Wheel describes themselves. Besides having a knack for time-defying grooves, heavyweight orchestration and dark surrealism, Wheel has also established themselves as a group unafraid to speak out, with songs touching subjects like the Syrian refugee crisis or dystopic visions on media censorship.

Bloodred Hourglass

The sound of metal quintet Bloodred Hourglass is mainly inspired by metal, but never disregarding the influences from various other musical genres. With three albums already under their belt and being well known for their relentless live performances around the world, the band has established their own signature sound.

Antivalent

Founded in 2016, Antivalent is an modern alternative rock quartet from Seinäjoki, Finland. Honouring the Nordic and Scandinavian rugged rock styles, their songs consist of clean and grunge-sounding vocal melodies, distorted guitars and hazy, echoing soundscapes. Their style of music follows in the footsteps of bands such as Disco Ensemble, Placebo and Biffy Clyro.

Getšemane

Hailing from Tampere, Finland, Getšemane plays old school Finnish progressive rock, dwelling on polyrhythmic and progressive ideas drawing from the Kalevala mythos. Their music is packed with meandering melodic lines and ethereal landscapes, never forgetting 70's hard rock.

Lost Society

Founded by frontman Samy Elbanna in 2010, while the band members were still teenagers, Lost Society are known for their fierce live energy. The band's first three albums “Fast Loud Death” (2013), “Terror Hungry” (2014) and "Braindead" (2016) represented a traditional thrash metal style in the vein of Testament, Anthrax, Kreator and early Metallica – with the mosh parts and all. In 2020 Lost Society returned with their 5th album "No Absolution" and a more modern metal approach.

Turmion Kätilöt

Turmion Kätilöt is an industrial metal band from Finland, formed in 2003 by MC Raaka Pee and Dj Vastapallo. They are known for their live show full of energy and dedication – as they do not hesitate to throw in scenes of self-mutilation or whatever comes into their minds.

Xysma

Xysma is one of the most notable pioneers of Finnish heavy music. During their active career, the band progressed swiftly from one genre to another: from primitive grind core to buzzing stoner rock, and on towards alternative rock. Today Xysma has an international cult band status, and their records have become valuable collectibles. The director Brian de Palma used a Xysma track, “Shortest Route”, in his 1998 film Snake Eyes.

I Am Your God

The Rovaniemi based melodic metal band I Am Your God combines striking melody lines with heavy riffs. The band was formed in 2018 and has been signed to Out of Line Music since 2020. Their debut album The Resurrection (2020) was reviewed as classical yet comprehensive and fresh entity of melodic death metal music.

Guitar Slingers

Guitar Slingers was one of the most popular party rock bands in the 1990s in Finland. The band shared stages with the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Meat Loaf and Deep Purple. Guitar Slingers gained international success as well, touring with Wishbone Ash in Europe in 1998. The band never really ceased to exist, but they have made a glorious comeback!

Sammal

Sammal is an ambassador of Finnish progressive rock hailing from Turku, Finland. The trio has got their fourth album out in October, 2022. Sammal has been compared to Uriah Keep and Black Sabbath, but they have decided to be just Sammal instead.

Sonata Arctica

Power metal band Sonata Arctica, formed in 1996 first with the name Tricky Beans melds sweeping, melodic compositions and meaty riffs with clean vocals. Their orchestral take on European heavy metal has gained a great audience both nationally and internationally. The band has dropped albums steadily since 1999, the latest "Acoustic Adventures volume one" in 2022 via Atomic Fire.

Polymoon

Polymoon operates somewhere between cosmic space rock and progressive psychedelia. The basic elements are crushing fuzz guitars and undulating synthesizers, backed by a symbiosis of complex drum sequences and pulsating bass guitar, forming a triangle of euphoria, melancholia and psychedelia.

Flat Earth

Flat Earth consists of former Amorphis bassist Niclas Etelävuori, singer Anthony Pikkarainen and ex-member of HIM, guitarist Linde. After receiving excellent reviews for their debut album None for One (2018), opening for Alice In Chains in Helsinki and performing at all major festivals in their native Finland, Flat Earth are proud to present a new, passionate and strong album. To make sure their heavy-hitting sophomore album received the best final touches possible, the album was mixed in Austin, Texas by Tim Palmer, who has gained fame with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne and Pearl Jam, and had already previously worked with Daniel Lioneye and HIM.

Kuolemanlaakso

The Finnish death doom spearhead Kuolemanlaakso is named after one of the lowest, driest and hottest places on Earth, Death Valley. The band took its first breath in the Spring of 2010, originally as a one-man project of guitarist Laakso (Chaosweaver), but now a five-piece including i.e. vocalist Mikko Kotamäki (Swallow the Sun). Their music is extremely heavy, but their melodies are melancholic and even Kalevala-infused. Kuolemanlaakso has worked with Triptykon and Dark Fortress guitarist V. Santura on all of their releases.

Rokets

Hailing from the Finnish capital of Helsinki, Rokets delivers an explosion of electrifying rock'n'roll. Previously seen gigging around Finland and the Baltic states, Rokets have released their debut EP ”Speed & Sound” in 2019, followed by the well received 2020 album ”Fast Times”. The second album ”Break Free” will be out on The Sign Records in December 2022.

Tavat

Tavat is a solo project that Juhani Laine started after leaving the progressive rock powerhouse Sammal. He is joined by pals from his previous bands, including Sammal members and Severi Pyysalo on the vibraphone.

The Rasmus

One of Finland's biggest music exports in the past decades, The Rasmus' (founded in 1994 in Helsinki) big triumph came with the international smash hit "In The Shadows" (2002) and subsequent albums "Dead Letters" (2003), "Hide from the Sun" (2005) and "Black Roses" (2007). The Rasmus has sold 5 million albums worldwide, and about 350,000 albums in Finland alone. They have won numerous awards, both domestic and international. The Rasmus has started the year 2022 with a single release "Jezebel" to compete in Finland's selection for Eurovision Song Contest 2022.

Stratovarius

Power metal giants Stratovarius, originally formed in 1985, are one of the most successful Finnish metal bands. Since their formation, Stratovarius has released 15 studio albums. During its existence, the band has gone through many lineup changes, and after founding guitarist Timo Tolkki's departure in 2008, there are no founding members remaining in the line-up. Currently, the longest standing members are singer Timo Kotipelto and keyboardist Jens Johansson, who have joined in 1994 and 1995, respectively. In September 2022, Stratovarius will release their first new album after 7 years.

Block of Flats

Block Of Flats, a 4-piece rock band from Porvoo, Finland formed in 2013. Their sound is a mixture of modern indie punk rock and big catchy choruses being influenced by acts such as Biffy Clyro and Nothing But Thieves.

Pretty

Pretty is a garage punk band from Helsinki. The Pretty sound is raw and powerful with somber lyrics. They have been perfecting their first full-length for the last year. “Blackouts” is the second single release from it.

Parashyne

Parashyne is a project of vocalist and composer Tanja Härkönen. Parashyne’s music is melodic and catchy, with elements from rock, heavy metal and pop music. The first upcoming EP is made in co-operation with the guitarist Samuli Federley and bassist Strutter.

Wolfheart

Melodic death metal band Wolfheart returns with Tyhjyys, their third album. The frontman of the band, Tuomas Saukkonen, is also known from his former bands Black Sun Aeon, Before the Dawn and Dawn of Solace.

Spiritus Mortis

Spiritus Mortis was formed in late summer of 1987. They were the first band in Finland to be called a doom act. Spiritus Mortis’ unique sound can be heard from the very early demos: growling bass, massive guitars and viciously thundering drums.

DIRT

DIRT is five-piece metal band and has been signed to Ranka Kustannus since 2021. They got off to a flying start with their 2019 debut EP “Low Life”, which has since gathered well over million streams. After a handful of singles throughout the last years, the grungy rockers are planning to release their full-length debut in 2022.

Somehow Jo

Somehow Jo is a progressive-alternative metal foursome hailing from Tampere harvesting its own style and combining different genres. They debuted in 2015 with the album "Satans of Swing" and their sophomore full-length "Tusk" saw the light of day in 2019.

Vivisektio

Vivisektio, founded in Äkäslompolo in 1983, managed to operate for only three years. One of the northernmost hardcore punk bands in the world, they performed mainly north of the Arctic Circle, played only a dozen gigs. The band was founded again in Oulu in 2008 with a new singer and drummer. Musically, the band still swears on the early 80s hardcore, with anarcho and post-punk influences from the same era.

Blind Channel

Blind Channel spices their melodic hard rock and nu-metal with electronic pop influences. The sextet originally formed in Oulu in 2014, has played hundreds of shows and toured in Europe with bands like Simple Plan, Amaranthe and Enter Shikari and the Spotify plays on their biggest songs count in millions. Blind Channel’s third album "Violent Pop" (named after the genre tag by which the band likes to label their music) was released in March 2020. Since their participation in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2021, the band 's audience has grown massively.

Apocalyptica

Since they formed in 1993, Finnish orchestral rock band Apocalyptica has released eight studio albums featuring numerous cello-based instrumentals along with some vocal-based songs. Whatever styles they’ve explored - from atmospheric interludes to fast, battering rhythms - their music has been gripping, dynamic and full of melody.

Before the Dawn

Before The Dawn is a pioneering Finnish melodic death / gothic metal band. The group first saw the light of day in 1999 as a solo project of Tuomas Saukkonen. In January 2013 Tuomas Saukkonen announced that he was putting Before the Dawn to rest, and in 2021, the band was reformed. Their new album is due 2023, released by Stay Heavy Records.

The 69 Eyes

Going on in their fourth decade already, these "Helsinki vampires" aren't showing any signs of slowing down. The goth'n'roll veterans' 12th album "West End" saw the light of day (or rather, dark of night) in September 2019, with "11 up-tempo rock anthems full of heaviness, black memento mori moments and dark humour". In 2022 the band readies for a follow-up, to be released in 2023, with a string of new singles.

One Morning Left

Founded in 2008 in Vaasa, Finland, One Morning Left is well known for their unique blend of electro, hardcore and metalcore influences as well as their entertaining and energetic live shows where absolutely anything can happen. The band has so far released five albums: "Panda Loves Penguin" (2009), "The Bree-TeenZ" (2011), "Our Sceneration" (2013), "Metalcore Superstars" (2016) and "Hyperactive" (2021).

Playlists