Finnish rock
Encyclopedia
Finnish rock refers to rock music
made in Finland
. The initial rock and roll boom of the 1950s was preceded by a long tradition of popular culture. Suomirock may refer to Finnish rock music in general or more narrowly rock music sung in the Finnish language.
, Topmost
and Ernos
. The British band Renegades
found their biggest success in the 1960s Finland. Helsinki was the centre of Finnish rock and pop music during this period. Love Records
was one of the first domestic record labels dedicated to Finnish rock, even though the label's roster also included jazz and political songs. Suomen Talvisota 1939-1940
represented Finnish underground, and their only album Underground-Rock (1970) is cited as a big influence among many current Finnish music-makers. Other Finnish underground/psychedelic bands of this era were The Sperm
, Apollo
and the ground-breaking Blues Section
, which spawned Wigwam
and Tasavallan Presidentti
after its split.
At the beginning of 1970s new artists emerged. Singer-songwriters such as Hector
and Juice Leskinen
started writing songs in Finnish, combining shades of irony, poetry and introspection with rock sound. Later in the seventies the new wave and punk brought more artists such as Pelle Miljoona
, Eppu Normaali
and Hassisen kone
. Finnish rock had by now become independent. Names such as Dave Lindholm
, Tuomari Nurmio
and Ismo Alanko
continued with their own styles. Tampere became at the turn of 1970s and 80s the most vibrant town in rock culture, spawning "Manserock" as rock music by the town's artists was called.
Hurriganes
, fronted by Remu Aaltonen, was one of the most well-known groups in Finland. This 1970s group played hard-hitting, boogie-based simple rock, and their song "Get on" is almost anthemic in Finland. Other seminal groups were Dingo
, a pop-rock group idolized by teenagers, and Yö
, whose "Joutsenlaulu" remains to the day one of the most played songs in radio and karaoke. Kingston Wall
was a cult band of the early 90s, combining psychedelic influences with hard rock, played by power trio and fronted by Petri Walli. J. Karjalainen
has also remained popular since the early 1980s. Well-known Finnish band CMX
also formed in 1985, transforming from a hardcore punk sound through progressive, metal, and hard rock sounds.
bands like Tasavallan Presidentti
and Wigwam
. Though for a time they seemed poised to break through in Europe, international fame eluded them. 1980s bands were similarly unable to find an international following, such as Gringos Locos and Havana Black; one exception to this was Hanoi Rocks
, a popular glam rock
band. They are still the most respected Finnish group abroad. For example in Japan there's still almost fanatic Hanoi Rocks fans. Though the band collapsed on the verge of final international breakthrough, they were the source of inspiration for glam rock bands of 1980s including Guns N' Roses
.
Some modern bands who have achieved some mainstream rock success abroad include Leningrad Cowboys
, known for performing with the Red Army
Choir, and surf
band Laika & the Cosmonauts
.
22-Pistepirkko
has had a cult status in Europe, notably in Holland and Germany. The trio's indie-rock incorporates blues and melancholy melodies, with a touch of Tom Waits
.
and related fields. It is also the origin country of heavily influential power metal
bands. This style of hard-hitting metal includes bands like Battlelore
, Children of Bodom
, Entwine
, Apocalyptica
, Impaled Nazarene
, Nightwish
, The 69 Eyes
, Stratovarius
, Sentenced, Sonata Arctica
, Amorphis
, Ensiferum
, Korpiklaani
and Waltari
.
A popular Finnish band abroad is HIM whose music has been labeled "love metal". HIM and The Rasmus topped album charts in several European countries with their most popular albums. HIM got also a gold record in the USA in 2006. The international success of HIM and The Rasmus during the current decade is wider than any Finnish group has gotten before.
Finland were also the winners of the 2006 Eurovision song contest
, with the first heavy metal
band to enter the competition, Lordi
. Lordi won with their Hard Rock Hallelujah composition.
Throughout the Finland and Scandinavian countries there has been a upriseing of 80s era "glam metal" bands heavily influence by bands like Motley Crue
and Guns n' Roses
with a modern twist like Reckless Love
, Crashdiet
and Hardcore Superstar
.
The most famous Finnish bands in extreme metal are most probably Amorphis
- who started out as death metal and gradually evolved into a hybrid of electronica and modern rock - and the grindcore
band Rotten Sound
who recently signed to the renowned American label Relapse Records
.
The extreme metal scene in Finland is highly dominated by death metal
- of various sub-genres ranging from melodic death metal
such as Omnium Gatherum to more old school traditional death metal bands like Demilich
and Convulse, who recently had their sole album reissued by Relapse Records.
(Bruun, Seppo - Lindfors, Jukka - Luoto, Santtu - Salo, Markku)
WSOY 2002
(Petri Nevalainen)
(Ajatuskirjat 2005)
(Arja Aho - Anne Taskinen)
(WSOY 2004)
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
made in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. The initial rock and roll boom of the 1950s was preceded by a long tradition of popular culture. Suomirock may refer to Finnish rock music in general or more narrowly rock music sung in the Finnish language.
Timeline
Finnish rock followed the common trends during the 50s and 60s. Usually Finnish rock bands performed covers or hit songs translated into Finnish. Eero Raittinen and his brother Jussi Raittinen are one of the earliest rockers of the 1960s, alongside with groups such as JormasJormas
Jormas was a Finnish band in the 1960s. They had previously appeared as the Beatmakers, but were renamed by their manager Jorma Weneskoski.- Singles discography :* Mr...
, Topmost
Topmost
Topmost was a Finnish rock band founded in 1964, becoming the most popular band in Finland in 1967. Its members were Heimo "Holle" Holopainen , Kristian "Kisu" Jernström , Vasilij "Gugi" Kokljuschkin , Eero Lupari , Harri Saksala , Arto "Poku" Tarkkonen .The band's...
and Ernos
Ernos
Ernos is a Finnish band founded in 1966 by the vocalist-pianist-songwriter Erno Lindahl, after whom the band was also named. Their first single 'Yksin' , penned by Lindahl, came out in summer 1966. Soon afterwards the band's bassist Jorma Toivonen and drummer Mikko Kuoppamäki left the Ernos...
. The British band Renegades
Renegades (band)
Renegades were a British rock band, which started out as a side-project from two members of the band Feeder, featuring guitarist Grant Nicholas and bassist Taka Hirose, before becoming a pseudonym name for Feeder themselves. Nicholas formed Renegades alongside Hirose with Karl Brazil from Ben's...
found their biggest success in the 1960s Finland. Helsinki was the centre of Finnish rock and pop music during this period. Love Records
Love Records
Love Records was a record label from Finland, which released 384 LPs, 253 C-cassettes, 347 singles and 24 EPs. They were a pioneering label in Finnish rock music but also released jazz, political songs, ethnic music and so on....
was one of the first domestic record labels dedicated to Finnish rock, even though the label's roster also included jazz and political songs. Suomen Talvisota 1939-1940
Suomen Talvisota 1939-1940
Suomen Talvisota 1939-1940 was a provocative Finnish rock band in the years 1969 and 1970. Their only album is called Underground-Rock. Lyrics for the band were provided under pseudonyms by M.A. Numminen and the Turku poets Markku Into and Jarkko Laine...
represented Finnish underground, and their only album Underground-Rock (1970) is cited as a big influence among many current Finnish music-makers. Other Finnish underground/psychedelic bands of this era were The Sperm
The Sperm
The Sperm is a 2007 Thai science fiction comedy film directed by Taweewat Wantha.-Plot:A young, struggling Bangkok rock musician, Sutin, constantly dreams about having almost sex with sexy model-actress La-mai, but always wakes up before he can actually have sex...
, Apollo
Apollo (band)
Apollo was a short-lived Finnish band who released their eponymous album in 1970. Musically, they were heavily influenced by Led Zeppelin, though the music on the album also incorporated elements of psychedelia and early progressive rock...
and the ground-breaking Blues Section
Blues Section
Blues Section are a Finnish rock music group. They started in 1967, formed around the vocalist Jim Pembroke, a British expatriate song-writer now living in Finland. The other members of the band were Eero Koivistoinen , Ronnie Österberg , Hasse Walli , and Måns Groundstroem...
, which spawned Wigwam
Wigwam (progressive rock)
Wigwam is a Finnish progressive rock band formed in 1968.Wigwam was founded after the split of the seminal Blues Section, with whom drummer Ronnie Österberg had played before. He formed the band as a trio, but soon brought in British expatriate singer/songwriter Jim Pembroke and organist Jukka...
and Tasavallan Presidentti
Tasavallan Presidentti
Tasavallan Presidentti is a Finnish progressive rock band. It was founded in 1969 by guitarist Jukka Tolonen and drummer Vesa Aaltonen. Other founder members were Måns Groundstroem and Frank Robson , previously of Blues Section...
after its split.
At the beginning of 1970s new artists emerged. Singer-songwriters such as Hector
Hector (musician)
Heikki Veikko Harma is a Finnish singer-songwriter who has also distinguished himself as a translator of song lyrics, but has written popular lyrics of his own too...
and Juice Leskinen
Juice Leskinen
Juhani Juice Leskinen , better known as Juice Leskinen , was one of the most prominent Finnish singer-songwriters of the late 20th century. From the early 1970s onward he released nearly 30 full-length albums, as well as writing song lyrics for dozens of Finnish artists...
started writing songs in Finnish, combining shades of irony, poetry and introspection with rock sound. Later in the seventies the new wave and punk brought more artists such as Pelle Miljoona
Pelle Miljoona
Pelle Miljoona, real name Petri Samuli Tiili is a Finnish punk rock musician, who assembled his first band in 1977. His biggest hit was in 1980 with Moottoritie on Kuuma . Another well-known song is Tahdon rakastella sinua...
, Eppu Normaali
Eppu Normaali
Eppu Normaali is one of the most popular rock bands in Finland. The band formed in 1976 in Ylöjärvi, a small town near Tampere. The band is the best-selling music artist in Finland, with certified sales surpassing 1.5 million records...
and Hassisen kone
Hassisen Kone
Hassisen Kone was a Finnish rock band, founded in 1979 in Joensuu. The young musicians rose to popularity in 1980 after winning the Finnish rock championship in the New Wave category. They recorded three highly successful albums before disbanding in 1982...
. Finnish rock had by now become independent. Names such as Dave Lindholm
Dave Lindholm
Ralf-Henrik ”Dave” Lindholm is Finnish guitarist and singer-songwriter who has made a career under his own name and also participated in some noteworthy groups. He has written songs and recorded in both Finnish and English....
, Tuomari Nurmio
Tuomari Nurmio
Tuomari Nurmio is the artist name of Hannu Juhani Nurmio , a Finnish rock singer and songwriter.-Work:Since his debut album, Nurmio has been regarded as one of the most original Finnish singer-songwriters. His lyrics are filled with peculiar and arresting metaphors and expressions, some of which...
and Ismo Alanko
Ismo Alanko
Ismo Kullervo Alanko is a Finnish musician. He is known as the frontman of several bands, most famously Hassisen Kone, Sielun Veljet and Ismo Alanko Säätiö, as well as a successful solo artist....
continued with their own styles. Tampere became at the turn of 1970s and 80s the most vibrant town in rock culture, spawning "Manserock" as rock music by the town's artists was called.
Hurriganes
Hurriganes
Hurriganes is a Finnish rock band that was formed in the early 1970s. They were very popular in Finland in the 1970s and early '80s; they were also a popular live act in Sweden during this time. Their classic line-up consisted of Remu Aaltonen, Albert Järvinen and Cisse Häkkinen. What seems like...
, fronted by Remu Aaltonen, was one of the most well-known groups in Finland. This 1970s group played hard-hitting, boogie-based simple rock, and their song "Get on" is almost anthemic in Finland. Other seminal groups were Dingo
Dingo (band)
Dingo is a Finnish rock band formed around 1982 which fused Finnish melancholy with catchy rock melodies, headed by singer Pertti Neumann...
, a pop-rock group idolized by teenagers, and Yö
Yö
Yö is a Finnish rock band, established in 1981. The only member of the band from the original lineup that is still with the band is Olli Lindholm...
, whose "Joutsenlaulu" remains to the day one of the most played songs in radio and karaoke. Kingston Wall
Kingston Wall
Kingston Wall was a psychedelic/progressive rock group from Helsinki, Finland, originally formed in 1987. Influenced by such artists as Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, the group combined eastern themes, mysticism and vivid psychedelia with acid-rock.The band consisted of Petri Walli ,...
was a cult band of the early 90s, combining psychedelic influences with hard rock, played by power trio and fronted by Petri Walli. J. Karjalainen
J. Karjalainen
Jukka Tapio Karjalainen , better known by his stage name J. Karjalainen, is a Finnish singer-songwriter. His first album came out in 1981 and he has been called the "Bruce Springsteen of Finland." He states that his music is a mix of "Blues, Rock´n´roll, Folk, Country, Soul, Funky, New Orleans...
has also remained popular since the early 1980s. Well-known Finnish band CMX
CMX (band)
CMX, originally Cloaca Maxima, are a Finnish rock band. They originally played hardcore punk, but soon expanded to play a wide variety of rock formats, including progressive rock, heavy metal, and mainstream rock n roll. Throughout their career, they have been influenced by progressive rock bands...
also formed in 1985, transforming from a hardcore punk sound through progressive, metal, and hard rock sounds.
Success abroad
The earliest Finnish rock bands to gain any notoriety were progressive rockProgressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
bands like Tasavallan Presidentti
Tasavallan Presidentti
Tasavallan Presidentti is a Finnish progressive rock band. It was founded in 1969 by guitarist Jukka Tolonen and drummer Vesa Aaltonen. Other founder members were Måns Groundstroem and Frank Robson , previously of Blues Section...
and Wigwam
Wigwam (progressive rock)
Wigwam is a Finnish progressive rock band formed in 1968.Wigwam was founded after the split of the seminal Blues Section, with whom drummer Ronnie Österberg had played before. He formed the band as a trio, but soon brought in British expatriate singer/songwriter Jim Pembroke and organist Jukka...
. Though for a time they seemed poised to break through in Europe, international fame eluded them. 1980s bands were similarly unable to find an international following, such as Gringos Locos and Havana Black; one exception to this was Hanoi Rocks
Hanoi Rocks
Hanoi Rocks was a Finnish rock band formed in 1979, whose most successful period came in the early 1980s. The band broke up in 1985 after the death of their drummer, Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley...
, a popular glam rock
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
band. They are still the most respected Finnish group abroad. For example in Japan there's still almost fanatic Hanoi Rocks fans. Though the band collapsed on the verge of final international breakthrough, they were the source of inspiration for glam rock bands of 1980s including Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
.
Some modern bands who have achieved some mainstream rock success abroad include Leningrad Cowboys
Leningrad Cowboys
The Leningrad Cowboys is a Finnish rock band famous for humorously making rock and roll covers of popular songs, exaggerated pompadour hairstyles, long, pointy shoes, often featuring a Russian military band, the Alexandrov Ensemble.-Beginnings:...
, known for performing with the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
Choir, and surf
Surf music
Surf music is a genre of popular music associated with surf culture, particularly as found in Orange County and other areas of Southern California. It was particularly popular between 1961 and 1965, has subsequently been revived and was highly influential on subsequent rock music...
band Laika & the Cosmonauts
Laika & the Cosmonauts
Laika & the Cosmonauts were a Finnish rock band. They had the same lineup from the time they formed in 1987 until they stopped recording in 2008. Their sound is usually described as Surf Rock, but a Boston Globe review noted that the band's sound is "far beyond the limitations of any specific...
.
22-Pistepirkko
22-Pistepirkko
22-Pistepirkko is a Finnish popular music band formed in 1980. It was formed in a small rural village of Utajärvi in Northern Finland but moved to Helsinki, the capital of Finland, in 1985...
has had a cult status in Europe, notably in Holland and Germany. The trio's indie-rock incorporates blues and melancholy melodies, with a touch of Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
.
Heavy Metal
Like much of Scandinavia, Finland's main contribution to modern popular music may be heavy metalHeavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
and related fields. It is also the origin country of heavily influential power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
bands. This style of hard-hitting metal includes bands like Battlelore
Battlelore
Battlelore is a metal band from Lappeenranta, Finland. All of Battlelore's lyrics concern J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.-Style:Battlelore mixes female vocals with harsh male growling in "beauty and the beast" duet, backed by heavy guitar riffing and occasional keyboard interludes. The band's...
, Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom is a Finnish heavy metal band from Espoo. Formed in 1993, the group currently consists of Alexi Laiho , Roope Latvala , Janne Wirman , Henkka Seppälä , and Jaska Raatikainen...
, Entwine
Entwine
Entwine is a Finnish gothic metal band.-Biography:Entwine was originally assembled as a death metal band in 1995 by guitarist and vocalist Tom Mikkola, drummer Aksu Hanttu and bassist Taipale. In 1997 they decided to change Entwine's musical style to gothic metal. Rhythm guitarist and vocalist Panu...
, Apocalyptica
Apocalyptica
Apocalyptica is a band from Helsinki, Finland, formed in 1993. The band is composed of classically trained cellists Eicca Toppinen, Paavo Lötjönen, and Perttu Kivilaakso and drummer Mikko Sirén...
, Impaled Nazarene
Impaled Nazarene
Impaled Nazarene is a Finnish black metal band that incorporates elements of grindcore in their sound and punk rock in their aesthetics. The band is currently signed to Osmose Productions of France....
, Nightwish
Nightwish
Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. Formed in 1996 by songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former vocalist Tarja Turunen, Nightwish's current line-up has five members, although Tarja has been replaced by Anette Olzon and the...
, The 69 Eyes
The 69 Eyes
The 69 Eyes are a multi-platinum selling Finnish gothic rock band. They are currently signed to EMI Finland. The band's albums are now distributed worldwide. The End Records acts as the band's official North American distributor, as Nuclear Blast Records provides distribution in Mainland Europe,...
, Stratovarius
Stratovarius
Stratovarius are a Finnish power metal band that formed in 1984. Since their formation they have released 13 studio albums and one live album. Along with Helloween, Blind Guardian, Rhapsody of Fire and Gamma Ray, Stratovarius are considered one of the leading groups of the power metal and symphonic...
, Sentenced, Sonata Arctica
Sonata Arctica
Sonata Arctica are a Finnish power metal band from the town of Kemi, originally assembled in 1995. Their later works contain several elements typical of progressive metal.....
, Amorphis
Amorphis
Amorphis is a Finnish heavy metal band started by Jan Rechberger, Tomi Koivusaari, and Esa Holopainen in 1990. Initially, the band was a death metal act, but on later albums they evolved into playing other types of genres, which include heavy metal, progressive metal, and folk metal...
, Ensiferum
Ensiferum
Ensiferum is a Finnish folk metal band from Helsinki. The members of the band label themselves as "heroic folk metal." Since their formation, Ensiferum has released four full-length albums, one EP, one compilation, three singles, and three demo albums and one unreleased album.-Musical...
, Korpiklaani
Korpiklaani
Korpiklaani is a folk metal band from Finland who were formerly known as Shaman.-Biography:While other folk metal bands began with metal before adding folk music, Korpiklaani started with folk music before turning metal...
and Waltari
Waltari
Waltari is a band from Finland, known for its diversity and combination of music styles, frequently combining alternative metal, progressive metal, death metal, hard rock, heavy metal, hip hop, industrial, pop, punk, rap, symphonic metal, techno and thrash metal.Most of the band's music is written...
.
A popular Finnish band abroad is HIM whose music has been labeled "love metal". HIM and The Rasmus topped album charts in several European countries with their most popular albums. HIM got also a gold record in the USA in 2006. The international success of HIM and The Rasmus during the current decade is wider than any Finnish group has gotten before.
Finland were also the winners of the 2006 Eurovision song contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
, with the first heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band to enter the competition, Lordi
Lordi
Lordi is a Finnish hard rock/heavy metal band, formed in 1996 by the band's lead singer, songwriter and costume-designer, Mr. Lordi. The band is known for wearing monster masks and using pyrotechnics during concerts...
. Lordi won with their Hard Rock Hallelujah composition.
Throughout the Finland and Scandinavian countries there has been a upriseing of 80s era "glam metal" bands heavily influence by bands like Motley Crue
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
and Guns n' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
with a modern twist like Reckless Love
Reckless Love
Reckless Love is a Finnish Glam Metal band, founded 2001 in Kuopio, Finland. On February 2010, they released their eponymous debut album, which reached number 13 in the Finnish charts-History:...
, Crashdiet
Crashdïet
CRASHDÏET are a glam metal band from Stockholm, Sweden. They have released three albums: 2005's Rest in Sleaze, 2007's The Unattractive Revolution and 2010's Generation Wild.- Early years :...
and Hardcore Superstar
Hardcore Superstar
Hardcore Superstar is a hard rock band from Gothenburg, Sweden. The band was formed in 1997 and continue on today. Hardcore Superstar have had several #1 hit singles, and Grammy wins in Sweden.-Bad Sneakers and a Piña Colada:...
.
Extreme Metal
As well as having a strong heavy metal music scene Finland, like its Scandinavian neighbours, has a strong vibrant extreme metal scene too which while propagating a more underground and slightly less accessible sound is still notably not only internationally successful but also on a few occasions giving the more mainstream heavy metal bands competition in the nations awards ceremonies.The most famous Finnish bands in extreme metal are most probably Amorphis
Amorphis
Amorphis is a Finnish heavy metal band started by Jan Rechberger, Tomi Koivusaari, and Esa Holopainen in 1990. Initially, the band was a death metal act, but on later albums they evolved into playing other types of genres, which include heavy metal, progressive metal, and folk metal...
- who started out as death metal and gradually evolved into a hybrid of electronica and modern rock - and the grindcore
Grindcore
Grindcore is an extreme genre of music that started in the early- to mid-1980s. It draws inspiration from some of the most abrasive music genres – including death metal, industrial music, noise and the more extreme varieties of hardcore punk....
band Rotten Sound
Rotten Sound
Rotten Sound is a grindcore band from Vaasa, Finland, formed in 1993. The band comprises vocalist Keijo Niinimaa, guitarist Mika Aalto, bassist Kristian Toivainen and drummer Sami Latva...
who recently signed to the renowned American label Relapse Records
Relapse Records
Relapse Records is an independent record label based in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Matthew F. Jacobson in 1990.-History:The label was started by Matthew F. Jacobson in August, 1990 in his parents' basement in Aurora, Colorado...
.
The extreme metal scene in Finland is highly dominated by death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
- of various sub-genres ranging from melodic death metal
Melodic death metal
Melodic death metal is a heavy metal music style that combines elements from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with elements of death metal. The style was developed during the early and mid-1990s, primarily in England and Scandinavia...
such as Omnium Gatherum to more old school traditional death metal bands like Demilich
Demilich
Demilich may refer to:*A type of lich, a creature in fantasy fiction*Demilich , a Finnish death metal band...
and Convulse, who recently had their sole album reissued by Relapse Records.
Finnish rock & heavy metal artists and bands
Further reading
- Jee jee jee. Suomalaisen rokin historia
(Bruun, Seppo - Lindfors, Jukka - Luoto, Santtu - Salo, Markku)
- (Yeah Yeah Yeah. History of Finnish Rock)
WSOY 2002
- Suomi-rockin tiekartta
(Petri Nevalainen)
- The Roadmap of Finnish rock
(Ajatuskirjat 2005)
- Rockin korkeat korot : Suomalaisen naisrockin historia!
(Arja Aho - Anne Taskinen)
- High heels of rock: The history of Finnish girlrock!
(WSOY 2004)
External links
- Suomirocks.com
- Finnish Rock
- Kaamos - Finnish rock and metal webzine
- Imperiumi - Finnish metal webzine
- 50 Alltime greatest finnish albums - a selection of Finnish popular music albums by professional critics, contains almost exclusively Finnish rock