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.

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

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.

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.

Winterwolf

Winterwolf is old school death metal "for fanatics by fanatics", with members also known from bands such as Jess and the Ancient Ones, Deathchain and Demilich. Winterwolf was formed during the final years of the 1990s, but did not get past the demo stage before primus motor Corpse decided to focus on the band Deathchain. The band reformed in 2009 to release the debut album "Cycle of the Werewolf". A decade later, the band returns to "resonate total death and lunacy" with their 2nd release "Lycanthropic Metal of Death".

The Flaming Sideburns

When Sweden had The Hellacopters, Finland had the The Flaming Sideburns. The action-packed fivesome exploded in popularity at the height of the garage rock boom in the early 2000s and reached a sweeping fan base around the world. Shortly after the release of their debut "Hallelujah Rock'n'rollah", guitarist Arimatti Jutila moved to the USA, and the band continued with varying line-ups, releasing 3 more full-lengths. In 2018, the original quintet made a comeback.

The 69 Eyes

2019 marks the 30th anniversary of The 69 Eyes but these "Helsinki vampires" aren't slowing down yet. The goth/sleaze veterans will release their 12th album "West End" in September, which is promised to have "11 up-tempo rock anthems full of heaviness, black memento mori moments and dark humour". The 69 Eyes will also tour across Europe promoting the album.

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.

Kaleidobolt

With hints of psychedelic and progressive rock, kraut, stoner, proto-metal and even noise rock, Kaleidobolt's groovy, hypnotic and riff-heavy style basically summarises the essence of what was cool in the 1970s. The power trio, formed in 2014 in Helsinki, released their third album "Bitter" through Svart Records in 2019. The band has tour dates around Europe in the summer of 2019.

Jess By The Lake

Otherwise known as the front woman of psychedelic rockers Jess And The Ancient Ones, vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist Jasmin Saarela's solo project Jess By The Lake takes its main cues from bluesy and soulful 1970's rock. Besides Jasmin, the group consists of four musicians and their debut album will be released in 2019.

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.

Barbe-Q-Barbies

Helsinki-based hard rock group Barbe-Q-Barbies was formed in 2002, releasing their debut album "All Over You" in 2010. Citing bands such as Kiss, Queens of the Stone Age, AC/DC and Motörhead as influences, the Barbies have toured across the world both on their own and as a support act for the likes of W.A.S.P. and New York Dolls. In 2019 the quintet consisting of Niki, Heidi, Ekkis, Minttu and Niina released their 4th album "Borrowed Time".

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".

Diablo

Melodic thrash/death metal band Diablo started in 1995, with influences such as Testament, Slayer, Metallica, Megadeth, Opeth, Death, and Meshuggah. The four-piece has released altogether six albums between 2000 and 2015. The seventh one will be out in 2019.

As I May

As I May is a four-piece modern melodic metal band from Mikkeli, Finland, formed in 2016. The band's music's soul lies within catchy melodies and big choruses as they combine modern elements, yet keeping the focus on the heavier side.

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 7 album strong catalogue and 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. Lyytinen’s 2019 album “Another World” sees her breaking through the boundaries of the blues genre.

Chevalier

Chevalier, formed in 2016, tag themselves as "medieval epic speed metal", but the atmosphere in their music also evokes classic black metal vibes. The sinister and raw sounding metal quintet, led by vocalist Emma Grönqvist, released their debut album "Destiny Calls" in 2019 to praise reviews in local papers. With comparisons to classic bands like Bathory, Iron Maiden and Manilla Road, Chevalier may look to the 1980's for inspiration, but they are surely a band for tomorrow.

Cyan Kicks

Helsinki, Finland based Alternative Rock band, fronted by singer Susanna Aleksandra combines electronic sounds and pop hooks with modern rock music. Cyan Kicks combines alternative rock with electronic production and pop hooks. The group has released five singles and their debut album will be released in during 2019.

The Blanko

The Blanko is a three-piece alternative rock group formed in 2006. The band has released three albums and played showcases in Europe and Japan, and warmed up for bands such as Apocalyptica, Danko Jones and 3 Doors Down.

Palehørse

Palehørse (f.k.a. Amendfoil) combines technical skills, in-your-face attitude, rough energy and catchy vocal harmonies in their music. After relasing two independent albums as Amendfoil, the grungy and progressive metal trio join Norwegian label Indie Recording, which is already home to bands like Kvelertak and Satyricon. The self titled Palehørse debut is scheduled to be released on Indie Recordings in 2019.

Battle Beast

Battle Beast takes all the classical elements of traditional heavy metal – crunching riffs, high screams, blistering solos and strong choruses – without being afraid of adding its own flavor to the recipe. The sextet is signed to Nuclear Blast and their fourth album, Bringer of Pain, was released this spring.

Children of Bodom

One of Finland's most successful bands, melodic death metal group Children of Bodom returns with their tenth album, Hexed.

Waste of Space Orchestra

After being commissioned by the distinguished Roadburn festival in 2018, Finnish underground metal acts Oranssi Pazuzu and Dark Buddha Rising joined forces in the form of a special live show under the name Waste of Space Orchestra. The lineup incarnated again in the studio, and a year later a cinematic monster of a theme album was released.

Leverage

After 10 year hiatus melodic heavy metal group Leverage has returned with their fifth album, Determinus. On their latest record the group is joined by vocalist Kimmo Blom, known for his band Urban Tale and Christmas metal project Raskasta joulua.

Polanski

Helsinki based rock band Polanski looks to 1990's Seattle for inspiration: they sound heavy, twisted and depressed, just like proper grunge should. Promising to "bring back music that used to heavily resonate within the communities that love distorted guitars, psychedelic sounds and escapism in it's lyrical form", the foursome released their second album "Mosquito" in the spring of 2019.

S-TOOL

Fans of Finnish heavy metal might see some familiar names in the lineup of S-TOOL: the band, whose debut album was released last fall, features members from Sentenced, Poisonblack, Entwine and Lullacry. The new band, however, differs from the aforementioned in their hard rock and thrash metal oriented style, with influences drawn from bands such as Entombed and Pantera.

Hero Dishonest

For the last 20 years Hero Dishonest has been churning hardcore punk with elements of quirky alt-rock. Their eighth record, Maailma palaa taas was released by If Society.

Brymir

Dubbed as “melodic extreme metal juggernauts”, Brymir was founded in 2006. Since their debut album Breathe Fire to the Sun (2011) Brymir has toured with the likes of Insomnium, Wolfheart and Kalmah. The band released their much awaited third album “Wings of Fire” in 2019.

Temple Balls

Hailing from Oulu, northern Finland, Temple Balls is a rock band who have opened shows for acts like Deep Purple, Uriah Heep and Queen. The band has toured with Battle Beast and played shows in Europe as well as in Japan.

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

Lost Society

Bloodred Hourglass

Blind Channel

Winterwolf

The Flaming Sideburns

The 69 Eyes

Santa Cruz

Kaleidobolt

Jess By The Lake

Timo Tolkki's Avalon

Barbe-Q-Barbies

Tarja

Diablo

As I May

Erja Lyytinen

Chevalier

Cyan Kicks

The Blanko

Palehørse

Battle Beast

Children of Bodom

Waste of Space Orchestra

Leverage

Polanski

S-TOOL

Hero Dishonest

Brymir

Temple Balls

100 Finnish songs you should hear

New Experimental Music from Finland

New World and Folk Music from Finland