The nordic country of Finland has heavy metal in its veins. Some of the very best bands in the history of heavy metal have emerged from Santa Claus’s homeland. From The Land of a Thousand Lakes, Finnish Metal is often dripping in emotion, complexity and often more than a hint of pop magic.
Symphonic metal, power metal and melodic death metal rein supreme in the Happiest Place in the World. With some truly great heavy metal bands and stunning scenery, it is no wonder it has gained that moniker. Here we track through 10 of the very best bands from the northern nation.
Nightwish
As always, we start with the reigning champions of Finnish metal. Nightwish released their debut album back in 1997, and are still slaying today. Their breakthrough album Once, released in 2004 shot Nightwish to global stardom, and established symphonic metal in the minds of the metal masses. They have gone through 3 female vocal stars, firstly the operatic Tarja Turunen across 5 albums. Then under the guise of Annette Olzen for a couple of releases, her more pop style vocals coinciding with a darker turn for Nightwish. Then most recently Floor Jansen has bridged the gap between her 2 predecessors. Nightwish have inspired legions for almost 3 decades now.
Children of Bodom
Throughout their 3 decade career, Children Of Bodom brought a progressive, neoclassical spin on traditional melodic death metal. The late Alexi Laiho‘s ripping solos and melodic lines inspired legions of guitarists worldwide. Whilst their masterpiece (at least in my humble opinion) was Follow The Reaper, they broke onto the mainstream with Are You Dead Yet, calming the neo-classical elements and keyboard solos in favour of incorporating metalcore elements popular in the early 2000s. Always entertaining with their (sometimes rather absurd) covers too.
Ensiferum
Finnish metal makes no bones about adding local influence to melodic death metal. Ensiferum inject a heavy dose of folk into their storming melodies and ferocious vocals from frontman Petri Lindoos. Going through a number of early line-up changes, they settled down on their 2007 release Victory Songs. Never ones to take themselves overly seriously, but focus heavily on breakneck pace and riffs galore. Additional vocalist Pekka Montin joined for their latest release Thalassic to take them to a new level.
Korpiklaani
Speaking of folk music, Korpiklaani take the alternative, and more typical approach. Utilising traditional folk instrumentation, and throwing a layer of heavy riffs on top. Songs such as Beer Beer, Vodka and Jaegermeister help to keep the alcohol fuelled frivolities flowing. Whilst earlier tracks are mostly in English, most of their more recent releases are sung in native Finnish, which for non-Finnish speakers (such as myself) help to fully immerse oneself into the folk music aesthetic. Dancing has never been so metal.
Mors Principium Est
Mors Principium Est have established themselves as one of the most consistent (and often criminally underrated) bands in melodic death metal, placing a heavy focus of riffs, riffs and more riffs. Whilst cycling through a great number of guitarists, their ability to fire out terrific melodic lines has never waned. Whilst many genres of music can see bands fall into a sludge of similar sounding mediocrity, melodic death metal is wondrous in its ability to showcase unique sounds. Mors Principium Est have certainly carved their own style within.
Sonata Arctica
Beginning life as a traditional power metal band, Sonata Arctica have largely left heavy metal behind in recent years, focussing much more on a power pop style. However, don’t discount their earlier work, which has produced a plethora of fast paced, classic European power metal. Early albums Ecliptica and Silence are clinics in how to mix together lighting pace with a striking emotional hit – sometimes over the top (as only power metal can). They may have left their power metal behind, but oh well, we’ll always have Paris.
Stratovarius
Founded in 1985, Stratovarius has been one of the most influential bands throughout European power and Finnish metal, featuring heavy neo-classical and symphonic elements. Stratovarius have continued to pump out terrific albums – 15 of them no doubt. Former longtime guitar guru Timo Tolkki – known globally for his lighting fast style, left the band in 2008, which left them with no original members remaining. Timo went on to form Timo Tolkki’s Avalon – a metal opera project.
Omnium Gatherum
Finnish heavy metal has been instrumental in the evolution of melodic death metal. Omnium Gatherum have intwined progressive metal into their band of melodeth. They have gone through a rather lot of band members, with guitarist Markus Vanhala the only consistent member throughout. This has done nothing to slow them down, charging through 9 albums since their debut in 2003. Omnium Gatherum are probably the Finnish melodeath band closest in style to Gothenburg Swedish death metal.
Wintersun
Wintersun was originally formed as a side project for original Ensiferum front man Jari Mäenpää. However, following scheduling and touring conflicts between the 2 bands, Wintersun became his primary band. The folk influence was turned down in favour of incorporating more elements of power and black metal. Following the release of their self titled debut album back in 2004, their sophomore release Time 1 was due for release in 2006. However, following numerous delays it was not released until 2012. It’s a shame the breadth of time between albums has curtailed what their popularity could have become.
Cain’s Offering
Finishing off with a supergroup formed of members of Sonata Arctica, Stratovarius, Norther and Wintersun. Cain’s Offering have released 2 albums, mixing between mid-tempo power ballads and full force max speed power metal. Quite often supergroups can appear to be a terrific showcase of the elite, only to disappoint on the level of the NFL Pro Bowl borefest. Not the case here, Cain’s Offering really are greater than the sum of their parts.
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