In the early 90’s bands like Beherit, Amorphis, Demigod and Demilich were all finding their feet and unknowingly playing an unforgettable part in the early development of black and death metal. Amorphis however slowed the pace and concentrated on melody for their most influential album 1994’s Tales From The Thousand Lakes, the album that launched a thousand other Finnish metal albums.
Strength and Honour: Moonsorrow from Helsinki
One year later, Moonsorrow would form, and based in the capital Helsinki would perfect a unique sound mixing black metal style vocals and riffage with epic Viking and pagan influences, like Enslaved and Bathory, but with an added sprinkle of Finnish pomp. The debut Suden Uni (2001) would precede the epitome of their early style and talent in the form of Voimasta Ja Kunniasta (2001) which translates to “Of Strength and Honour”. These accolades and more give this album a stellar reputation.
Follow the Reaper Man: Children of Bodom from Espoo
Moonsorrow were a long way off their huge and progressive masterpieces when a band formed and chose their name based on the murder of three young adults in 1960 during a camp at Lake Bodom, near Espoo. Children of Bodom, a melodiously leaning band have risen sharply to fame and have released many albums since the debut in 1997.
Something Wild would become another milestone in the Finnish journey of metal, the first melodic death/black metal album of its kind, with many other bands replicating its style and sound, such as Norther. COB’s debut stands tall among a career of slowly less invigorating albums as a beacon of quality metal.
Sleepless Nights: Insomnium from Joensuu
In 1997 when this debut was dividing opinion and garnering attention, Insomnium, another melodic extreme metal act formed. Since their beginnings, they have released three amazing albums, all surviving the scathe of critics and receiving the applause of the general metal public.
In the Halls of Awaiting (2002), Since the Day It All Came Down (2004) and Above the Weeping World (2006) all display a solid quality and durability. A slight evolution of sound is observed between these albums, but not any waning of greatness. Their mix of thrashy pace and slower doom stylings with Amorphis overtones is perfectly balanced across the three also.
Many more fantastic Finnish bands are out there and worth listening to, from Azaghal, Alghazanth, Rotten Sound, Finntroll, Ensiferum, Wintersun and Mustaan Kuun Lapset to new boys Korpiklaani, Turisas, Chthonain and Sotajumala. If there was a doggy bag of Finnish metal for the newcomer, then it would contain Ensiferum’s cover of “Into Hiding” by Amorphis. Awesome Finns covering more awesome Finns.
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