Playlists

New Rock and Metal from Finland

Words by Music Finland

Published 4.1.2019

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 HIM, Nightwish and Children of Bodom, to cult favorites such as Beherit and Terveet Kädet, 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 Spotify or Apple Music and read more about the artists below! The playlist is updated regularly.

New Rock and Metal from Finland

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.

Ember Falls

Ember Falls’ music is a mixture of aggressive electronics, pop and modern metal. Their new album Welcome to Ember Falls was released by Spinefarm Records.

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 quite traditional thrash metal style in the vein of Testament, Anthrax, Kreator and early Metallica – with the mosh parts and all. In 2019 Lost Society returned with the single "No Absolution" and a more modern metal approach.

Santa Cruz

After the split of three former members, Santa Cruz frontman Archie Cruz introduced the band's new lineup in 2019. The hard rock band's music has been heard in ads for Mercedes-Benz and ESPN, and they've played over 200 shows from Japan to North America, where the band has toured with Sebastian Bach.

Andy McCoy

Finnish rock’n’roll icon Andy McCoy is best known as the guitarist and songwriter – along Michael Monroe – in seminal 1980’s glam rock band Hanoi Rocks. After Hanoi Rocks’ second round (2001–2009) he has mainly stayed away from the limelight, producing more visual art than sleazy rock’n’roll, but in 2018 McCoy came out with the surprise ep “Soul Satisfaction”, which will be followed with an album in 2019.

The 69 Eyes

2019 marks the 30th anniversary of The 69 Eyes but these "Helsinki vampires" aren't slowing down yet. 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". The 69 Eyes will tour extensively promoting the album.

Omnium Gatherum

Six-piece band Omnium Gatherum are known for their innovative combination of melodic death and progressive metal. The band has released eight albums – their latest, The Burning Cold, was released by Century Media in 2018.

Doom Unit

Tampere-based quartet Doom Unit's sound has been described as traditional heavy metal meeting modern hard rock. They released their debut "Cross the Line" in 2009, which hit the Finnish Album Chart at #2. The album has been followed with "The Burden of Bloom" (2011), "III" (2013) and "Underdog" (2015). In 2020 Doom Unit will tour in celebration of their 10th anniversary.

Waltari

Waltari is a rock band playing crossover music that combines the punk rock attitude with some craziness from the progressive rock and new wave scene. In a musical adventure that began already in 1986 and has taken the band across Europe, Waltari has found a place in the hearts of crossover metal lovers everywhere.

Michael Monroe

The ever-energetic Hanoi Rocks frontman and songwriter has made a long and successful solo career since his legendary sleaze rock band finally called it quits in 2009. Monroe’s last releases have been critical and commercial successes, with 2011's "Sensory Overdrive" winning Classic Rock magazine’s ‘Album Of The Year’ award. His four-piece band includes ex-Hanoi Sam Yaffa and former New York Doll Steve Conte.

Insomnium

Insomnium is a melodic death metal band from Joensuu, Finland. Ever since the first steps that were inspired by the influencing bands such as Amorphis, Sentenced, In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, At The Gates and Opeth, the only direction for Insomnium has been up album by album: newest one "Heart Like Grave" is released in October 2019.

Vesperith

Experimental black metal artist Vesperith’s (neé Sariina Tani) music is spawned from “atmospheric drones, screeching distortion, and mesmerizing ambience, suddenly blowing up into euphoric, phoenix-like waves of bewitching guitars and hypnotic siren song”. Her debut album, produced by Jun-His (Oranssi Pazuzu, Waste of Space Orchestra) is released November 2019 and has already been compared to the likes of Wolves in the Throne Room, Darkspace, Swans and Björk.

Kohti Tuhoa

Kohti Tuhoa is a Finnish hardcore group comprised of people also familiar from bands such as Speedtrap, Maailmanloppu, Perikato and Kylmä Sota. The group’s two albums Rutiinin orja (2015) and Pelon neljäs valtakunta (2017), released in the US by Southern Lord, were followed by a three-song EP in 2019.

Sonata Arctica

Power metal band Sonata Arctica, formed in 1996 first with the name Tricky Beans, rarely finds the need to slow down as the release of their newest 11-track studio album Talviyö (“Winter Night”), through Nuclear Blast, is out in September 2019 only three years after their previous hit album The Ninth Hour (2016).

Block Buster

Block Buster is a rock band formed in Kuopio, Finland, with a sound recalling the glory days of melodic sleaze and hard rock, taking obvious hints from the likes of AC/DC, Aerosmith, Guns N' Roses and Hanoi Rocks. The youthful quartet will release their debut album "Losing Gravity" in September 2019.

The Dark Element

The Dark Element is a musical project fronted by the former Nightwish vocalist Anette Olzon together with Finnish guitarist and songwriter Jani Liimatainen (Insomnium, Cain's Offering). The melodic metal band's eponymous debut was released in 2017 on Frontiers Records. November 2019 will see the release of their second album, entitled "Songs The Night Sings".

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. 2019 sees the release of Tarja's 7th solo album "In the Raw".

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. Their debut album "I Don't Love You" was released in August 2019, with 13 songs about “chaos, lies, self-destruction, determination, fearlessness and the passion to follow your dreams”, as the band states.

Shiraz Lane

Melodic and 80s-leaning hard rock quintet Shiraz Lane's was founded in 2011. Their debut album "For Crying Out Loud" was released in 2016 by Italian label Frontiers Music Srl. Between 2016 and 2017 the group toured across Europe with likes of Lordi and Brother Firetribe, and 2018 saw the release of their sophomore album "Carnival Days". Now signed to Ranka Kustannus, Shiraz Lane came back with the single "Do You" in August 2019.

Fear of Domination

Industrial metal band Fear of Domination are known for their massive and highly theatrical shows which have left audiences in total awe. Their shows incorporate pyros, UV-light, face paint, featured artists, theatrical acts and fire breathing. The band has toured around Europe together with bands like Deathstars, Turmion Kätilöt, Velcra, Shade Empire, and Hanzel and Gretyl.

Timo Tolkki's Avalon

Timo Tolkki, the composer, guitar virtuoso and founder or power metal giants Stratovarius returns with the third installment of his metal opera "Return to Eden". Along with the band Avalon, a slew of heavyweight guest singers such as Anneke Van Giersbergen (ex-The Gathering ) and Zak Stevens (ex-Savatage) appear on the album. Previously Avalon's line-up has featured members from bands like Yngwie Malmsteen, Cain's Offering and Dream Theater.

Belzebubs

Based on a popular online metal comic by JP Ahonen titled "Belzebubs", Belzebubs play death metal with influences from black metal. Their debut album "Pantheon of the Nightside Gods" was released by Century Media.

Oceanhoarse

Oceanhoarse is a new heavy metal group formed by ex-members of Amoral, For the Imperium and Mygrain. The band has so far released a few singles and played shows together with Beast in Black.

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 well known for their relentless live performances around the world, the band has established their own signature sound. Bloodred Hourglass will release their fourth full-length "Godsend" in June 2019.

Blind Channel

Blind Channel combines electronic pop influences with hard rock. Despite of the band’s young age, Blind Channel has already played hundreds of shows and toured in Europe with bands like Simple Plan, Amaranthe and Enter Shikari. Blind Channel’s second album will be released in 2018.

Playlists

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.

New Rock and Metal from Finland

Apocalyptica

Ember Falls

Lost Society

Santa Cruz

Andy McCoy

The 69 Eyes

Omnium Gatherum

Doom Unit

Waltari

Michael Monroe

Insomnium

Vesperith

Kohti Tuhoa

Sonata Arctica

Block Buster

The Dark Element

Tarja

Cyan Kicks

Shiraz Lane

Fear of Domination

Timo Tolkki's Avalon

Belzebubs

Oceanhoarse

Bloodred Hourglass

Blind Channel

100 Finnish songs you should hear

New Experimental Music from Finland

New World and Folk Music from Finland