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

Charon

Artist bio coming soon!

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.

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).

Stråle

Blending heavy, melodic, and atmospheric elements, alternative metal band Stråle has already been welcomed in the international metal scene. Following the success of their debut, "Bourbon Souls" (FDA Records, 2020), mixed by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Arch Enemy, Dimmu Borgir) at Fascination Street Studios, Stråle returns with a new album in 2024. Produced by the renowned Teemu Aalto (Insomnium, Omnium Gatherum) and mixed by Jacob Hansen (Amaranthe, Volbeat, Epica), the three advance singles have collectively garnered over 100,000 plays.

Suotana

Melodic death metal band Suotana spice up their sound with influences from melodic black and power metal. Suotana was originally formed in 2005 as Ville Rautio’s solo project, and later completed with a five-piece group around him. The death metallers released their debut album "Frostrealm" in 2025, and it has been followed with two albums since: 2018's "Land of the Ending Time" and 2023's "Ounas I". Currently Suotana is signed to the Germany based Reaper Entertainment label.

Endless Without

Artist bio coming soon!

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.

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.

Royal Sorrow

Blending flavors of metal with hints of electronic, symphonic, and pop, the mysterious Royal Sorrow emerged in the Finnish music scene in 2024. Despite being officially newcomers, the band's members have played and produced music together more than half their lives music as Edge of Haze. The quartet of childhood friends have brewed a grandiose style of their own where vivid and versatile vocals meet a thunderous wall of sound, reminiscent of a heavier Muse, or a more modern Von Hertzen Brothers. In 2024, Royal Sorrow signed with Germany-based label Inside Out.

Rabbit Cult

The duo Rabbit Cult (fka Saruru) calls their music "bunnymetal" – which is quite a timely pigeonhole for their electronic pop metal. On top of it all, Rabbit Cult entwines the roots of Finnish folk epic Kalevala’s mythological matriarchy, and the striking tone of the traditional folk instrument kantele. Conducted by Salla-Marja (vocals, kanteles) and multi-instrumentalist Marianne (drums, percussions, guitar, bass, synth, vocals), Rabbit Cult writes and produces their music together.

Lovers Left Alive

Up-and-coming gutter rockers Lovers Left Alive proudly follow in the footsteps of Hanoi Rocks, Iggy Pop, and Johnny Thunders. Spicing their sleaze with cues from the Scandinavian action rock movement and even classic soul music, the Helsinki-based quartet gets ready to release their debut album "How..." in August 2025.

Brother Apollo

Founded in Helsinki in 2022, Brother Apollo is a four-piece modern alternative rock group with a sound steeped in noughties nostalgia. Despite the mantle of a "new band on the block", its members boast a diverse range of performing experience from the finals of Finnish Idol to touring with the country's top acts. Brother Apollo was selected for the 2024 Estonian Eurovision National Final, which will feature their first single "Bad Boy", released under Warner Music.

Black Star Gramophone

Artist bio coming soon!

Warmen

Metal band Warmen was formed by keyboardist Janne "Warman" Wirman, who has played with Children of Bodom from 1997 until their disbandment in 2019. Warmen started in 2000 as an instrumental-focused project, utilizing the talents of various featured vocalists. In spring 2023, the band announced that Petri Lindroos of Ensiferum will be the band's new, permanent vocalist for their 6th album "Here for None", released in 2023.

Auri

Auri is a three-piece band consisting of Tuomas Holopainen (Nightwish), singer Johanna Kurkela, and multi-instrumentalist Troy Donockley (Nightwish). Their music draws inspiration from metal, folk music, Celtic traditional music, and soundtracks. Auri's first album was released in 2018, and it was followed by "II – Those We Don't Speak Of" in 2021. 2025 marked the year of Auri's 3rd record, "III – Candles and Beginnings".

Mors Principium Est

Artist bio coming soon!

Enemies Everywhere

Enemies Everywhere, formed in late 2021, consists of three members: Guitarist and composer Otso Saano, vocalist Jonatan Utriainen and drummer Veikka Laru. The trio promises to deliver "crushing breakdowns, inhuman vocals with melodic, heavy choruses" and "the essence of modern and brutal deathcore". Recommended if you're into: Slaughter to Prevail, Fit for an Autopsy, Job for a Cowboy and the like!

Omnium Gatherum

Six-piece band Omnium Gatherum are known for their innovative combination of melodic death and progressive metal. Since their formation in 1996 in the town of Kotka, Omnium Gatherum has released eight albums – their latest, "Origin", was released by Century Media in 2021. During their long career, the band has toured widely in Europe, North America and the Far East with, among others, Dark Tranquility, Rotting Christ, Swallow The Sun, Insomnium and Sonata Arctica. After various line-up changes dow the line, guitarist Markus Vanhala is now the sole original member of the band.

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, after seven album releases, Tuomas Saukkonen announced that he was putting Before the Dawn to rest. In 2021, the band was reformed, and their comeback album, "Stormbringers", was released by Stay Heavy Records in 2023.

Ínkar

Artist bio coming soon!

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.

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".

Awake Again

Awake Again is a four piece alternative metal outfit from Turku. In 2018, they won the international Wacken Metal Battle band competition. Later that year they performed at Wacken Open Air Festival in Germany and signed an international record deal with Spinefarm Records. Their music is a mixture of metal, post-hardcore and pop. Awake Again has made a steady rise in the Finnish metal scene with their catchy songs and energetic live performances.

Hexvessel

Since their acclaimed debut “Dawnbearer” (2011), Hexvessel have released three albums of forest folk and bewitching psychedelia. They have played sold out headline tours in their homeland, been nominated for 2 Finnish Grammy awards, toured Europe together with bands like Sabbath Assembly and Alcest, graced the main stage at Roadburn in Holland and performed at SXSW in Texan and had their music on the charts and on many critics lists. Their 2023 album "Polar Veil" saw Hexvessel take a sudden turn towards melodic and experimental black metal.

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.

Kneel Before The Death

Kneel Before The Death combines elements of death metal, deathcore, symphonic metal, black metal, and electronic music. Their aim was to create music with a forceful and theatrical style. Kneel Before The Death consists of drummer Konsta Vihavainen, guitarist Niko Lappalainen, bassist Joonas Peltonen, and vocalist Markus Raito. In 2024, Kneel Before The Death signed with Ranka Kustannus and their debut full-length album is scheduled for release in 2025.

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.

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.

Hites

"Anti-everything post-punk from Helsinki", as their slogan says, Hites emerged in the Finnish punk scene with their debut single "Landlord" in 2023, sounding surprisingly accomplished – and authentic enough to land on an "punk from the UK" playlist on Spotify. Falling somewhere between Sleaford Mods and Idles (indeed, as someone on TikTok had named them "20 cent Idles", which the band proudly announces on their bio), Hites' debut EP "Rat King" (2024) shows a quartet with a very 'now' sound, with lyrics and attitude to match.

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.

Beyond Awareness

Founded in 2019 in Tampere, Beyond Awareness deliver the latest sounds of modern metalcore. The band made three independent singles, which garnered the attention of Finnish media, eventually leading to a record-deal with Ranka Kustannus in 2021. Having combined forces with the label, Beyond Awareness released the singles "Crime", "Mosaic" and "Nightfall", which present the band's sound thoroughly: Modern Metalcore paired with elements from other genres of music, such as electronica and pop.

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