Playlists

New Rock and Metal from Finland

Words by Music Finland

Published 3.2.2025

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

Atlas

Labeling their sound as Northcore, the Tampere based metalcore band Atlas combines heavy hitting riffs, catchy melodies and immersive soundscapes in their music. They released their debut EP Northern Lights in 2016 and have since toured in Northern Europe with bands such as Adept, Eskimo Callboy, One Morning Left and We Butter The Bread With Butter. Atlas finds inspiration in the darkness and gloom of Finland which can be heard on their latest album "Ukko" released in 2021.

For My Pain...

For My Pain... is a gothic metal supergroup from Oulu, Finland, featuring members from Embraze, Eternal Tears of Sorrow, Nightwish, Charon, and Reflexion. The band released their debut studio album, "Fallen", in 2003. After a decades-long hiatus, For My Pain... announced a reunion on 13 December 2023. Four months later, they released the single "Recoil into Darkness", and the long-awaited second album will follow in 2026.

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.

Artkills

Formed in 2020, Artkills is a Finnish modern metal band blending melodic elements with a technical sound. Influenced by artists such as HIM, The Rasmus, and Bring Me the Horizon, the band has developed a style that balances heavy instrumentation with accessible melodies. Artkills was founded by Jesse Ågrén (drums) and Lassi Luukkainen (guitar), and later joined by Jaakko Helenius (guitar, backing vocals), Johannes Kyytinen (bass), and Olli Hyvönen (vocals).

Ode of Disgrace

Ode of Disgrace, formed in Finland in 2011, draws influence from various metal bands of their era. Their music blends melodic elements and heavy breakdowns with both harsh and clean vocals. Their debut EP ORBIS came out in 2022. In October 2025, the band released their second EP, "Under Grey Skies". In June 2025, founding member, guitarist Markus Lahti, was replaced by Valtteri Rautanen.

Kuolemankello

Blending proto-metal and heavy rock, Kuolemankello, formed by Eemeli Lehtonen, Tomi Helomaa, and Matti Kallio during the COVID era, emerged as a loud, unpolished response to the time’s bleakness. Their sound channels the energy of early heavy metal and Finnish rock, evoking a mix of Black Sabbath and Tuomari Nurmio. Songs take shape around raw riffs and dense rhythms, aiming for authenticity rather than precision. Three years after forming, the band released their first single, “Valoni,” inspired by Rosemary’s Baby.

Reckless Love

The glam rock/metal band Reckless Love based in Kuopio has a long history – it and was originally formed in 2001 and they have released several albums and singles, reaching the Finnish national charts. The band describes their style as Sunset Strip-inspired sleaze rock. In 2021, Reckless Love came back from a six-year break and released a new full-length album, the synthwave-inspired "Turborider" a year later.

The 69 Eyes

Going on in their fifth decade already, these "Helsinki vampires" (est. 1989) 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 2019, with "11 up-tempo rock anthems full of heaviness, black memento mori moments and dark humour". The follow-up, 2023's "Death of Darkness" is a somewhat mellower affair, with even some country influences on the Kat Von D featured "This Murder Takes Two", to supplement The 69 Eyes' classic, melodic 80s-tinged goth rock sound.

Shedfromthebody

Doomgaze/alternative metal artist Shedfromthebody’s – a solo project by multi-disciplinary artist Suvi Savikko – music paints a distorted, ethereal landscape, through which she carries her songs with her haunting vocals and a wall of crushing guitars. With her roots in doom metal, doom folk, and early 2000s alternative rock, Shedfromthebody's music varies from grim to comforting, from crushingly heavy to light and airy. Her debut album, "A Dead and Aimless Hum" (2020), has been followed by “Amare” (2023), "Whisper and Wane" (2025), and "Everything Out There Has Teeth" (2025). Savikko has also produced darkwave music under the name 1X4X44R and composed music for the Love Shore game.

Shiraz Lane

Melodic and 80s-leaning hard rock quintet Shiraz Lane 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". Third full-length "Forgotten Shades of Life" followed in 2022. Now signed to Frontiers Records, Shiraz Lane will come out with their fourth album in 2025.

Michael Monroe

The ever-energetic Hanoi Rocks frontman and songwriter has had 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. Monroe shows no signs of slowing down, indeed – after 2022's "I Live Too Fast to Die Young", the rocker is returning in 2026 with "Outerstellar", his 7th album in this decade.

Marianas Rest

Death metallers Marianas Rest originate from Kotka, wearing also doom and black metal influences proudly and crusting their package with melancholic melodies. It’s all about the mood, as the band promises to “invite the listeners to travel to a disturbing yet beautiful place that feels warm and welcoming yet haunting and hopeless”. The band wants to embody the Finnish melancholy and sadness of the harsh winter landscape, the social coldness of the people – a sound that has deep roots and a solid connection to Finland’s culture.

Omnivortex

Based in Helsinki, Omnivortex is a technical and blackened death metal band known for its complex and shifting compositions. Their music moves between melodic sections and dissonant, aggressive passages featuring fast drumming and prominent bass work. Combining elements of thrash, death, and black metal, Omnivortex creates varied and distinctive soundscapes. Omnivortex's debut album, "Diagrams of Consciousness," was released in 2020, and it was followed by "Circulate" in 2023.

Battle Beast

One of Finland's most successful hard rock bands, Battle Beast takes all the classical elements of 1980s melodic, traditional heavy metal – crunching riffs, high screams, blistering solos, and huge choruses – without being afraid of adding its own flavor to their "party power metal" recipe. The sextet is signed to Nuclear Blast, and their latest, seventh full-length album, "Circus of Doom," was released in 2022.

Horizon Ignited

Bridging the gap between melodic death metal and metalcore, aggressive, melancholic and melodic are the important words when describing Horizon Ignited. Founded in 2017 by guitarists Johannes Mäkinen and Vili Vottonen in Kouvola, Horizon Ignited released their debut "After the Storm" in 2019. The self-published album was met with positive feedback and built up a good following on streaming platforms – which led them soon signing to Nuclear Blast.

Block of Flats

Block Of Flats is a 4-piece rock band from Porvoo formed in 2013. Their sound is a mixture of energetic, modern indie, punk rock and big catchy choruses, channeling acts such as Bring Me the Horizon, Bad Omens, A Day to Remember and Disco Ensemble. Block of Flats released their debut album "No Hope for the Hopeless" in November 2023, through Ranka Kustannus and distributed by ADA Nordics.

The Empire Strikes

Hailing from Helsinki, The Empire Strikes is a five-piece action rock group delivering energetic, sweaty live shows since 2012. The Empire Strikes has toured all the way from the Baltics and cold Nordics to the heat of Iberia and central European metropoles. Headlining on the road or providing support in Finland for such household names as Royal Republic, The Nomads, Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, and The Flaming Sideburns. The band's three albums, “1983”, “High Tide”, and “Charm” have all aimed to portray the tricks learned on the road, with each album being recorded live in the studio.

Dharma Guns

Self-proclaimed "dandy Punks from Helsinki", Dharma Guns play rock’n’roll infused with proto-punk and Scandinavian action rock influences: sing-along choruses, fiery guitar licks, and dirty grooves. Their singles created buzz within the scene, gaining attention from local media outlets and Vive Le Rock alike. Their debut album, "Ex-Generation Superstars" (2024), introduces a band filled with glamour and energy. Dharma Guns' members are formerly known from bands like Karoshi Lovers, Plastic Tears, Vanity Ink, and Jo Below.

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. In 2022, The Rasmus introduced a new guitarist, Emilia "Emppu" Suhonen, and competed in Finland's selection for Eurovision Song Contest. Their 10th album "Rise" came out later that year.

Cyan Kicks

Alternative rock foursome Cyan Kicks, formed in 2017 in Helsinki and fronted by singer Susanna Aleksandra, combines electronic sounds and massive pop hooks with a modern hard rock sound. Cyan Kicks' debut album "I Don't Love You" was released in 2019 and was followed by the ep "Not Your Kind" in 2021, the same year that they took part in take part in music contest UMK, competing to represent Finland at Eurovision Song Contest with "Hurricane". Cyan Kicks' 2nd full-length came out in 2023, and in Jan 2024 the band announced that they will again take part in UMK – this time with "Dancing With Demons".

Rock Band from Hell

Rock Band From Hell is a new punk, rock, trap, pop…(you name it) – flavored band from Oulu. Even though the group is new for the most, these guys have played together since their childhood. Even the band’s name was originally invented when the band members were mere seven-year old ”punks”. In 2022 RBFH signed a recording contract with Central Line Entertainment and began recording their debut album – and have so far released four pre-album singles. While waiting for the full-length, RBFH has been touring across Europe supporting Blind Channel.

East Electric

Formed in 2022, East Electric features singer Jocke Levälampi, guitarist Toni Kajasti, bassist Matti Vähätalo, and drummer Tuukka Ilmakari. They have varying backgrounds from different bands and genres, which they now bring together in their blend of 1970s blues rock and modern, alternative sound. East Electric released their self-titled debut EP in 2023, and it was followed by their first full-length, "Road," in 2025.

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. Their 2nd album, "This One Simple Trick," saw the light of day in 2022, as well as a live album recorded at Sonic Whip festival in the Netherlands.

Stenfors

The band formed by the former Hanoi Rocks guitarist Jan Stenfors – formerly known as Nasty Suicide – and his family is dedicated to the old school sound of rock and blues. Stenfors released their debut single, “Then It’s Gone”, a classic rock song with catchy hooks, in early 2022. Their debut, the aptly titled "The Family Album" followed in June 2022.

Steve 'n' Seagulls

Steve 'n' Seagulls made their name by carrying out simply impressive bluegrass covers of famous heavy metal songs, which has even taken them to the number one spot on the Billboard Bluegrass albums chart. To date, the group has covered tracks such as "Thunderstruck," "Aces High," and "Cemetery Gates," to name a few, but the band's fourth album, "Another Miracle" (2020), was their first one to boast a track listing with more original songs than covers.

Bloodred Hourglass

Modern metal quintet Bloodred Hourglass (BRHG) was formed in 2005 in Mikkeli. The band is currently signed to Out of Line Music and has released five full-length studio albums. They're often considered a melodic death metal group, but their fifth studio album "Your Highness" (2021) showed the fivesome moving towards a more modernised approach in their sound, bringing in elements from metalcore and alternative metal as well as the introduction of clean vocals for the first time in their history.

Hooded Menace

Formed in 2007 in the very Eastern part of Finland, in the city of Joensuu, Hooded Menace is known for death metal influenced doom. Their music takes influence from many known acts such as Candlemass, Cathedral and Paradise Lost. Their 7th full-length “The Tritonus Bell” released in 2021, brought an influence of 80’s heavy metal, which resulted in a more up-tempo album compared to the band’s previous work. In 2025, Hooded Menace returned with their 8th album, titled "Lacrymose Monuments of Obcuration".

Assemble the Chariots

Symphonic deathcore band Assemble the Chariots comes up with a distinctive blend of orchestral extreme metal and mythopoeic storytelling. Originally formed in 2008, the band has undergone numerous changes in how it combines the various elements of its musical style. Despite these evolutions, the core approach has remained consistent: a focus on epic orchestral melodies and chord progressions, paired with high-speed blast beats and intense vocal delivery. Their debut album "Unyielding Night" was released in 2024 via Seek & Strike Records.

Scorpion Milk

Scorpion Milk is the new project from Mat McNerney, known for his work on Beastmilk’s Climax and subsequent albums with Grave Pleasures. The debut album, "Slime of the Times", carries forward elements of his earlier post-punk sound in a more raw and direct form, described as 'apocalyptic post-punk. ' McNerney, also active in the black metal scene with past roles in bands like Dødheimsgard and current work with Hexvessel, blends influences from UK anarcho-punk and 1980s post-punk. Scorpion Milk may appeal to fans of Killing Joke, Crass, The Fall, and early Sisters of Mercy, as well as contemporary acts like Drab Majesty, Health, and Molchat Doma.

Luponero

Alternative rock trio Luponero draws on influences ranging from classic rock to modern punk. Fronted by Marco Luponero (formerly of Terrorwheel, Altaria and Marco Luponero & The Loud Ones), the band caught many ears with their debut single "DAD BOD ROK GOD", an "anthem celebrating the timeless allure of rocking dads". Later, Swedish label Icons Creating Evil Art signed the band and re-released the viral single as a priority release. Luponero's debut album saw the light of day in April 2025.

Amorphis

Progressive metal band Amorphis was founded by drummer Jan Rechberger and guitarists Tomi Koivusaari, and Esa Holopainen in 1990. Initially, the band was a death metal act, but on later albums, they evolved into playing other genres, including progressive metal, folk metal, and melodic death metal. Amorphis has a discography boasting 14 studio albums and is considered one of the most internationally significant Finnish metal bands, frequently touring around the world. Beside the founding trio, their line-up now consists of bassist Olli-Pekka Laine (since 1990), keyboardist Santeri Kallio (since 1998), and lead vocalist Ville Tuomi (since 2005).

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