Playlists

New Rock and Metal from Finland

Words by Music Finland

Published 3.2.2023

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

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.

Haunted Plasma

Haunted Plasma is introduced as “a powerhouse of futuristic synth in symbiosis with the super violent atmospherics of kosmische Black Metal”. Formed by Juho Vanhanen (Oranssi Pazuzu, Grave Pleasures), Timo Kaukolampi (K-X-P, Op:l Bastards) and Tomi Leppänen (Circle, Aavikko) and with guests like Mat McNerney (Hexvessel, Carpenter Brut, Grave Pleasures), Pauliina Lindell (Dust Mountain) and Ringa Manner (The Hearing), Haunted Plasma is “man meets machine” in a cybernetic wasteland, set to a conceptual backdrop of William Gibson and Phillip K. Dick style mind-melt. The trio cites their sound to be a combo of Terry Riley, Massive Attack, a contemporary take on Krautrock hypnosis, psychedelic Black Metal and 90s Techno.

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. Between their 2018 album "Kulkija" and 2021's "Jylhä", the beverage-loving sextet 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".

Marko Hietala

Marko 'Marco' Hietala is a Finnish heavy metal vocalist, bassist and songwriter best known as the a member of the symphonic metal band Nightwish. He is also the vocalist, bassist and founding member in the heavy metal band Tarot, formed in 1985. In early 2020 he released the english-sung version his solo album "Pyre of the Black Heart", originally recorded as "Mustan sydämen rovio" in Finnish the year before.

Moon Shot

The self-proclaimed "true 21st century rock band" with an anthemic stadium rock sound, Moon Shot released their debut single in November 2020. Moon Shot's first full-length was released in 2021, and after the pandemic, the foursome hit the road to promote the album, playing numerous shows in Germany and their home country. Prior to forming Moon Shot, the four members have toured the world with their previous bands such as Disco Ensemble, Children of Bodom and Lapko.

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 Rock Band from Hell signed a recording contract with Central Line Entertainment and began recording their debut album – and have so far released four pre-album singles.

Euge Valovirta

Metal guitarist Euge Valovirta has played in numerous domestically praised bands such as Godsplague and Drive. Valovirta stepped in the scene as the guitarist of Suburban Tribe, but soon settled into his role and garnered accolades as a hired gun on albums of metal luminaries like Children of Bodom, Hevisaurus and Ensiferum. Valovirta started to get international fame as the guitarist of Shining (SWE), where he also collaborated in song-writing. Nowadays Valovirta handles lead guitars in Swedish melodic metal band Cyhra and as a solo artist.

Tomi Salesvuo East Funk Attack

The Helsinki based sextet formed by drummer-composer Tomi Salesvuo celebrates equally funk and rock, combining layers of guitar, vocal riffs and complex bass patterns with syncopated drums. Their first album “Efa” was released in 2014. Among Salesvuo, the group includes Taru Ratilainen (Vocals), Ukko Heinonen (Saxophone, Flute), Ilmari Aitoaho (Rhodes, Keys), Matias Kiiveri (Guitar, Backing Vocals) and Heikki Laine (Bass).

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, with hits such as "Tallulah", "Paid in Full", "Replica", "Fullmoon" and "I Have A Right" garnering dozens of millions streams on Spotify. The band has dropped albums steadily since 1999, the latest being "Acoustic Adventures volume one" in 2022 via Atomic Fire.

Mokoma

Five-piece metal band Mokoma combine thrash metal and death metal with Finnish melancholy rock influences. In early 2000s the band rose to success with their album "Kurimus", which is considered to be the first thrash metal album sung in Finnish. Since then they’ve established a loyal fanbase, not just in Finland but also in Japan. 2020 saw the release of their 11th album "Ihmissokkelo".

Medeia

Medeia has stuck to one clear objective since its founding in 2002: creating a fresh, brutal sound rich in content and uncompromising in nature. Medeia has toured relentlessly and played shows alongside notable acts such as Ozzy Osbourne, As I Lay Dying, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Between the Buried and Me, Entombed, Animals as Leaders, Decapitated, Raised Fist, Terror and Insomnium.

Sami Yaffa

Bass guitarist and Finnsih rock legend Sami Yaffa, previously known from acts such as Hanoi Rocks, Jetboy, Mad Juana, Demolition 23, Michael Monroe Band and The New York Dolls, released his debut solo album "The Innermost Journey to Your Outermost Mind" in 2021, mere 41 years after his first appearance on a record. This time handling all the writing by himself, Yaffa's solo music echoes the punk and glam rock of his youth: The Stooges, MC5, The Clash, The Cramps, Dead Boys, The Damned etc. Yaffa's sophomore solo album "Satan’s Helpers War Lazer Eyes And The Money Pig Circus” saw daylight in March 2024.

Knucklebone Oscar

Known for his entertaining and energetic performances, Knucklebone Oscar is an expressive singer and an explosive guitar player. His music is a modern mixture of Little Richard, James Brown, The Sonics and rockabilly with a speedy Scandinavian blues-twist. Honing his rock'n'roll skills for over 25 years, Knucklebone Oscar has played countless shows and tours from Europe to China and the USA. With a good handful of studio albums under his belt, Knucklebone Oscar is an absolute entertainer with showmanship to spare.

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. After their 3rd independent album "Violent Pop" (Ranka Recordings, 2020), Blind Channel was signed to German metal label Century Media. Since their participation in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2021 with "Dark Side", the band 's audience has grown massively.

Wheel

The Helsinki-based foursome Wheel is as much inspired by Radiohead’s art rock as they are with Tool's metallic prog rock. 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.

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.

Maan Tomu

Psychedelic rock five-piece Maan Tomu, founded in 2017, consists of singer/guitarist JP Saari, drummer Jussi Peevo, bassist Staffan Södergård, and multi-instrumentalists Joki Luz on flute, trombone, and percussion, along with Johannes Silvonen on trumpet and percussion. Known for their spacious sound, drawing elements from blues, folk, and progressive rock, Maan Tomu delivers their songs with diverse instrumentation. Often extending to over 10 minutes, their songs include rhythmic soundscapes, epic fuzz-embedded guitar solos, and classic rock elements. So far, Maan Tomu has released two albums, with their self-titled debut album (2023) and the follow-up “Valossa en näe pimeää, pimeässä valon nään” (2024).

Apocalyptica

Since they formed in 1993 as a "Metallica by four cellos" student project, Apocalyptica soon grew up to be a proper orchestral rock band, only armed with cellos instead of guitars. Apocalyptica has released nearly a dozen studio albums featuring both cello-based instrumentals along with vocal-based songs, first with featured vocalists and between 2014–15 with singer Franky Perez. Whatever styles they’ve explored – from atmospheric interludes to fast, battering rhythms – their music has been gripping, dynamic and full of melody.

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 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!

Balboa Son

Blending melodic alternative rock, metal guitars and electronic sounds, the one-man project Balboa Son (a.k.a. Aleksi Oksa) released his first ep "Ghost Fog", led by his titular track "Balboa Son" in 2021. The ep was followed by the singles "Made in Mayhem", "A Mighty Warrior" and "Hiding Zone" in 2022 and "Ghost Town Vertigo" in 2023.

Hero Dishonest

Since the beginning of the millennium, Hero Dishonest has been churning out forceful hardcore punk with elements of quirky alt-rock. The band has been described as one of the best live bands in the Finnish hardcore scene and also the genre’s hardest touring combo overseas. Acute, angry and frantic, but also entertaining, fun and even funny – Hero Dishonest are the true followers to Finland’s 1980’s hardcore legacy. The band’s 9th album "Flat Society", will be again released by If Society, the legendary indie label co-founded by Hero Dishonest guitarist Mikko Heikkonen.

Everture

Hailing from Kokkola, Central Ostrobothnia, modern and melodic metal band Everture arrived with a bang with their 2021 debut album "Emerge", which rose to the 31st spot on the official Finnish chart. Everture managed to land the album's singles on big, international playlists, bringing the record's total number of listens to well over a million. In 2023, Everture returned with a new single and the announcement of a second album, slated for release in 2024.

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.

Metal De Facto

Proudly flying the flag for melodic, old school power metal, four-piece Metal De Facto was formed by current and former members of bands such as Dreamtale, Kiuas, Ensiferum and Kivimetsän Druidi. With singer Aitor Arrastia's melodic high-and-loud vocal delivery, nasty guitar riffs, the occasional double kick drum beats and synth lines oozing that 1980s spirit and lyrical themes basically fit for Manowar songs, Metal De Facto seriously lives up to its name!

Balanche Breach

Mikkeli based quintet Balance Breach combines the elements of metalcore, post-hardcore and modern rock – along with the Nordic melancholy inherited in their DNA. Since 2019 the band has been signed to a German label Out of Line Music. On their 2nd album "ABYZMAL" , released in May 2023, Balance Breach addresses themes such as mental health problems, loneliness and death as well as violence between family members and intimate partners.

Arion

Metal quintet Arion was formed in 2011, while the members were still in high school. Two years later the band was already signed to Ranka Recordings and performing on Finnish television’s UMK song competition, to be a Eurovision finalist. That Arion did not become, but instead their symphonic, modern power metal quickly found fans in Japan and Finland, where the band has toured relentlessly. Arion’s came back with the sophomore album “Life Is Not Beautiful” in 2018 and their 3rd full-length "Vultures Die Alone" saw daylight in 2021.

One Morning Left

Founded in 2008 in Vaasa, Finland, One Morning Left is well known for their unique blend of electro, hardcore, metalcore and straight-up pop 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).

Luna Kills

Alternative rock foursome Luna Kills spices up their unique mix with metal and modern electronic sounds, as well as 00s aesthetics and game music vibes. Their frontwoman, Lotta Ruutiainen is known for her strong vocal performance, ranging from smoother pop singing to metalcore-type fry screams. With a great number of gigs under their belt from clubs to festivals, Luna Kills has also toured Russia and Sweden, sharing stages with acts like Thundermother (SWE). Luna Kills' 2nd album ”not to be bitter, but it helps” (2021) has been followed with a handful of singles throughout 2022–2023 and the band is currently preparing their 3rd album, to be released in 2024.

Penniless

Penniless (originally named Penniless People of Bulgaria) is a rock band, formed in Nakkila, Finland in 1988. As of June 2019, Penniless has released ten studio albums (the first four as Penniless People of Bulgaria), as well as nineteen singles/EPs. Their sound has been described as "beautiful and catchy melodies, stellar guitars and a matching 'tongue in cheek' attitude", with comparisons ranging from Nirvana to Weezer and Hüsker Dü to Pixies.

Rock-Criminals

Sleaze/glam rockers Rock-Criminals was formed in 2011 when, according to their own words, "four guys wanted to play rock'n'roll". The band got their first touch of success, when they were seen on national TV as a part of X Factor Finland in 2018. Gigging all over their homeland, they have a reputation as a great live band with vigorous attitude and punk rock spirit. Channelling the style and sound of early Hanoi Rocks, it was only natural that Rock-Criminals would end up working with Michael Monroe – which happened in their 2023 single "Get Yourself Together".

Playlists