Top 10 Best Finnish Bands

The Top Ten
1 HIM HIM was a Finnish gothic rock band from Helsinki, Finland. Formed in 1991 by vocalist Ville Valo and bassist Mikko "Mige" Paananen under the name His Infernal Majesty, the band broke up in 1993, before being reformed in 1995 by Valo and guitarist Mikko "Linde" Lindström.

HIM are just amazing, The lyrics are like poetry and could stand on their own without the music. The songs are well composed and a lot of love has clearly been put into every song by every member. They are way better then the Rasmus! Simply because they have ville Valo as their singer. They're one of the few bands these days who just create honest music, they play the music they want when they want to and the new album is going to be incredible!

I've loved them for about 5 years now, but I wish that I couldve for longer. Villes voice is unlike any other and his lyrics are simple, but powerful. Linde, Burton, Migé and Gas are amazing musicians. Each song seeps into your soul, captures your heart and makes you want to fall in love.
They founded their own genre, and were the first Finnish band to reach gold status in America.
Sure I love other Finnish bands, The Rasmus, 69 Eyes, Nightwish, Apocalyptica and a few others, but HIM will always be number one in my book.
HIM is the best, there just isn't a need for comparison.

I recently listen to a lot of finnish bands, and I adore their music...but HIm...oh, they are second to none! They have everything a good band needs! Absolutely amazing special music, poetic and touching lyrics, their on-stage performance is awesome and oh, Ville Hermanni Valo's voice is unique and magical! It's a true bliss to listen to them and for course, if you have the chance to see them in a live, the foreboding sense of impending happiness strikes you immediately! On the top of my list! <3 from Greece

The full package when it comes to music, regardless of where they are from. Their musicality is so precise and tight, they beat any band I have ever seen live. The lyrics are pure poetry, and you can tell these guys LOVE music, which is rare in today's music business. Such a wonderfully talented group of musicians, and so glad to have found their incredible music!

2 Nightwish Nightwish is a symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. The band was formed in 1996 by lead songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and lead singer Tarja Turunen. It's currently formed by Tuomas, Emppu, lead vocalist Floor Jansen, bassist and vocalist Marco Hietala, ...read more.

The best band I've ever heard. Tuomas's songs are awe-inspiring and his lyrics are out-of-this-world. Never once has a Nightwish song been shallow. They all have some kind of deeper meaning. I've been listening to Nightwish since I was six years old and my loyalty to them has never once wavered. They are the reason I got hooked on metal. The first song I ever heard was Storytime, and though my father didn't like the band at first, he got me all the songs. He listened to the Poet and the Pendulum and he was completely swept away by the Nightwish tide. I've begun learning piano because of them and writing my own song lyrics somewhat similar to Tuomas's. Nightwish should be number 1 now and forever.

Holopanien is a musical genius, and Tarja is one of the world's most wonderful singers, and Anette and Floor are wonderful succesors.
Nightwish isn't really metal, as much as it modern day classical music, combined with instruments that are unusual for the genre.
The melodies are emotional, strong, powerful and catchy, the delivery is excellent. The lyrics are inventive and atmospheric in a way one can close their eyes and see a gate open to fantasy world. Cinematically built up, their songs are more than just songs - they are stories, they are feelings, they are music in its purest of ways.
There are little albums as gripping as "Century Child", "Once" and "Dark Passion Play". Songs like "Dead to the World", "Nemo", "The Crow the Owl and the Dove" simply take you to another world. This is what music should do and be.

Hey there this is Sumit from Bangladesh and I must say, Nightwish is the world's finest on their genre of music. They have tremendous music expertise and can execute the best on their performance. I love their tune... you just can't beat them... In a matter of fact, new addition of the gorgeous Floor Jansen and Troy M. have made this band even better... Don't keep any doubt and just vote for this band mates!

One of my favorites period. Nightwish has a unique style that does compare to other bands in its genre like Epica or Within Temptation. No matter what vocalist is at the helm, the still have that classic Nightwish feel. If you like classic Beethoven or are trying to get into heavy metal, then I recommend this band. New album will be released on March of 2015

3 The Rasmus The Rasmus are a Finnish rock band that formed in 1994 in Helsinki while the band members were still in upper comprehensive school.

As well as having a perfectly polished, high-quality and versatile discography, The Rasmus are also highly professional performers live! Yet they still interact with their fans on stage and are humble, lovable guys. I've had the most fun at both Rasmus gigs I've been to (London and Bristol this year) than I've ever had seeing any other band - including massive, stadium bands like The Killers!
Their music ranges from hard rock (Immortal, Heart Of Misery, Lucifer's Angel) to soft ballads (Live Forever, Sail Away, Last Waltz) and everything inbetween, including techno (Mysteria! ).
The Rasmus never disappoint me.

The Rasmus are my all time favourite band. They are my inspiration when times are hard and I always listen to their music everyday. It is a good day when I listen to The Rasmus. Furthermore, it is rare to find a band that makes music that you can relate to, both emotionally and physically. Eero is my hero, I play bass and I hope that one day I can play my ESP Ltd as good as him.

Steve, Qingdao, China.

I'm Julia from Ukraine, and I think that The Rasmus is melodic, not too funny, but vital music, reflecting the depth of feelings which indescribable in words and awakens the senses. This music can make my mood. Thanks guys for the fact that their selves and their music are in my life!

Hei. I have been a The Rasmus fan since 2004 and have graduated to helping run a couple of their fan sites in the UK.
Here, the band really need your votes. Since their Black Roses tour in 2009, we have had to import their music from Finland. Expensive! We can't live without it! These guys really deserve better. Come on guys, get voting please!

Time to Burn street team, from Yorkshire and Cornwall UK
(yes we are 2 Rasmus fans running our site from opposite ends of the country! )

4 Children of Bodom Children Of Bodom was a melodic death metal band from Espoo, Finland. Formed in 1993, the final lineup consisted of Alexi Laiho, Janne Wirman, Henkka Seppälä, Jaska Raatikainen and Daniel Freyberg.

Children of Bodom is the best band of the world. No band could beat this magnificent Melodic Death Metal band. C.O.B. definitely deserves the number one spot. It is a lot better and much more famous than Nightwish, HIM or The Rasmus. Now who the hell heard about that band? It definitely does not deserve to be trough the top 10. But there are a lot of people in this world who are some fake metal heads.

I am From Nepal and I am a great fan of melodic metal. COB is the best melodic metal band in the world. How come it not be on the top of the list of FINNISH BANDS? I totally disagree with the list. Now who the hell is HIM and The Rasmus. I have heard about Nightwish but it is no even comparable to COB. How on EARTH can this happen? Come on guys lets make cob the number 1.

Both Alexi Laiho and Roope Latvala or two of the most talented guitarists I've ever seen. Best solos I've heard, and I really liked their version of Vivaldi's four seasons (not featured on any of their albums) Follow the Reaper 1st, Hatecrew Deathroll 2nd, Hatebreeder 3rd, and Something Wild 4th are my favorite albums, although their newer stuff isn't bad either. I like the blend of melodeath and blackmetal lyrics.

CoB for life.
Children of bodom is the best selling band in Finland.
But on top of that the way they make music its just simply the best.
Killer drums sharp solo's a nice bass nothing beats children of bodom and therefore CoB deserves the number one spot.

5 Apocalyptica Apocalyptica is a Finnish metal 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.

The very first Finnish band I ever fell in love with. Now I have expanded my horizons to seek out more talent from Finland. I confess, I prefer their songs with lyrics and vocalizations, as opposed to simply instrumental. I like several other bands on this list, but Apocalyptica takes #1. Those guys can rock cellos.

I love HIM and the Rasmus and Children of Bodom, but Apocalyptica is just the best. I usually have to have something to sing along to, but I just love listening to their instrumental tracks. I've heard they're beyond amazing live, too.

Apocalyptica should be first, or second, or third. HIM Nightwish and Apocalyptica are top three Finnish bands (even they are not actually my favorites). I think maybe Nightwish is the first, HIM second and Apocalyptica third.

Apocolyptica are just amazing. They sound beautiful. Playing the cello is quite a skill in itself but They do such an awesome job of it. The drumming is always epic and never out of time!

6 Santa Cruz

The three albums are all really great, especially the last two. A heavy and awesome band

Like a modern day Skid Row. Catchy lyrics and tons of attitude. love em

7 The 69 Eyes

Awesome band that definitely doesn't get nearly enough credit. They started off as a glam rock band but eventually turned into a gothic rock band. All of their albums are amazing. Check them out.

I love the 69 eyes they are the best and even there style of clothes. I just love there songs too it makes my day perfect and it makes sense to me. Have all there albums and they do rock and put as my best ever

Best voice! Much more people should hear them

This band is forever.

8 Poets of the Fall Poets of the Fall is a Finnish rock band from Helsinki. The group consists of Marko Saaresto, Olli Tukiainen, Markus "Captain" Kaarlonen, Jani Snellman, Jaska Mäkinen, and Jari Salminen.

Poets of the Fall is such an underrated indie band. They are versatile, they write their own songs and on top of that soundtracks for games, songs for other musicians, and they've done remixes of their own songs. The songs they wrote at the beginning of their career still sound as fresh as they did back in 2005. All their albums have a distinct Poets of the Fall style, but every time they release new material, they manage to reinvent themselves and show us something different and amazing. I wish all the best for them. May they keep rocking for another decade at least!

First band in which I absolutely love all their songs. All their songs are just beyond amazing. BEYOND AMAZING! In truth, I don't think a word has even been invented to describe how awesome they are. And they do this spectacular thing while remaining indie. This has all my respect! I wish more bands would go that route but not all can or are even willing to, so that is why Poets of the Fall is a rare jewel. Lyrical miracles + love for music + following your dreams + pure awesomeness = Poets of the Fall! Yes ladies and gents... Poets of the Fall is a band the world has know about!

If you ask me, I will always tell you that it is the most underrated band all over the world. Great music combined with extraordinary good lyrics. But what makes them so special?
I mean, there are other good Finnish rock bands I like to listen to. Like HIM or The Rasmus, E.G.
But the Poets really are special to me. There is something about their music that found a way straight into my little music heart and tuched me deep inside my soul.

Poets Of The Fall is THE most awesome band in my life at the moment. The lyrics are not the average meaningless ones you find in most of the populsr songs today. There's a reason they're called poets of the fall. They both display ability to change, to write songs, to sing and to give amazing melodies. And Marko's voice is, of course, yet unbeaten. They make songs of all different kinds, and are highly underrated. My favourite band.

9 Amorphis Amorphis is a Finnish metal band formed in 1990. Initially, the band was a death metal act, but on later albums they have evolved into playing other genres, such as folk metal and progressive metal.

Amorphis is definitively top 10, probably top 5. Amorphis IS a better band than The Rasmus, but I don't say that individual songs are better.

GREAT band, top 5. Sure, songs are not better than the other top 5 bands currently there, but the BAND is...

Amorphis is the best band of all time, they can play everything and have never done any bad job. Tomi is just amazing.

They deserve to be the best, indeed. Latest albums have this epic progness along with the "br00tal"ness.

10 Finntroll Finntroll is a folk metal band from Helsinki, Finland. They combine elements of black metal and folk metal.

Best folk metal band ever!

The Contenders
11 Sonata Arctica Sonata Arctica is a Finnish power metal band from the town of Kemi, Finland. Created as a hard rock band named Tricky Beans, they later changed to Tricky Means and finally to Sonata Arctica, when they shifted to power metal.

I've spent a few summer's and winter's in Finland and got to like all things Finnish. I got into Sonata Arctica purely by chance when I heard a song called "Broken" since them I got everything they have ever written. The music is epic. Melodic and harmonic, very cleaverly written and played they deserve great fame as a brit they are not well known here, but should be.. They are as cool as Kemi on a February morning... All the best David Rees Sarratt England

They should easily be in first place; They tell about life and how it is, and don't sing about love and love lost (like HIM does - ALL of their songs are about love, or a woman. Not good. ). They write stories into their songs, and Tony uses his voice to sing/tell them in such a way, that you just can't help but to listen to more and more of their songs.

This is the greatest band ever. They made me a fan after hearing just one song, and I've ben hooked since. I have never heard a song by them that I haven't loved. Sonata Arctica is a truly awesome band that deserves to be known world-wide, and not just by a select few people.

I love sonata arctica. I love all sorts of finnish metal like Cob and him but I love sonata so muck more. The energy, the vocals, the melodic parts. They have lines that make so much sence and the lyrics are just like they were written just for me. Things I know so well from my life

12 Lordi Lordi are a Finnish hard rock/heavy metal band, formed in 1992 by the band's lead singer, songwriter and costume maker, Mr Lordi.

Lordi is just pure awesomeness... The most underrated band in the world.

I'd say they're overrated. They are more popular because of their costumes than their music

For me... They were... They are... And They forever wil be the BEST!

GWAR? What is that front to Lordi are nothing

13 Stam1na

Stam1na is the greatest finnish language metal band of all-time and one of the hardest working bands I know. Their every studio album sounds different and new and their genre is really hard to define. Hyrde's lyrics are genius and cover pretty much anything. Also Stam1na's live shows are considered to be one of the best from Finland and the band has been given many awards. If you haven't heard of these guys, check them out!

14 Stratovarius Stratovarius is a Finnish power metal band that formed in 1984. Since their formation, they have released 16 studio albums, 4 DVD and 3 live albums.

I'm from Finland, and I think that stratovarius is one of the best bands which comes from here. I also like sonata arctica, HIM and Nightwish exemple, but stratovarius should be ranked higher what its now. So energy band.

In terms of overall quality of musicianship, and classic rock in the pure class category, this band are one of the greatest, and deserve to be much bigger than they are. Quality in abundance.

Stratovarius should be ranked higher than now, because the music is awesome.

Stratovarius at 17th place, and Nightwish at 2nd? Is this a joke?

15 Sunrise Avenue

Sunrise Avenue are my favourite Finnish band by far! I mean just listen to Samu Haber's voice and you will understand!

Why are they not in the Top10?

16 Hanoi Rocks

It's sad that they never got really big! I myself am 17 years old from Finland and I just learned about them. Their songs are masterpieces. I especially like "don't you ever leave me" and "tragedy"... They would have deserved the success they never got.

Someone else has previously said it, the best kept secret in rock n roll. Quite simply they are legends and so influential but not many people know about them. One of my all time favourite bands and I beg for anyone who reads this to start listening to them! Such a great band that never got the recognition they deserved.

Love them or loathe them, I find it difficult to imagine that there's been a more influential band ever came out of Finland.

Its unbelivable how influential this band that barely anyone has heard of has been to music; guns n' roses, motley crue...

17 Leevi and the Leavings

You have to understand finnish language really well to get all out of this band, you have to understand the tone and pressure, how he pronounces. Else you may well think they are trash. Plenty of good music but how many bands can really get in and specify nations soul? At some point of life every finn will play these songs.

Best Finnish band in my opinion. If their lyrics were in English the world would discover a hidden gem.

If they would have singed in English, they would be #1 in this list.

18 Kotiteollisuus

Should be much higher than 20.

19 Swallow the Sun Swallow the Sun is a Finnish melodic death/doom metal band. They have a melodic, atmospheric doom metal sound.
20 Apulanta
21 Ensiferum Ensiferum is a Finnish folk metal band from Helsinki. The members of the band label themselves as "melodic folk metal."

Why is this not in top10 they are so melodic yet so heavy and their music is just beautiful. I never listened extreme metal before but Ensiferum brought me to it the best way it could

Melodic tunes that are really engaging and addicting. Ensiferum rules!

Ensiferum rules, it should be in top 10.

I love this band so much!

22 Don Johnson Big Band
23 Korpiklaani

Korpiklaani is definitely. One of the greatest folk metal bands ever. Also, their lyrics are often in finnish so if you like bands who don't use just English, it's a great choice.

I'm from the uk and I love Korpiklaani. Even though I don't understand most of the lyrics, they are seriously fun to listen to!

I thought they were swedish... Oops on me

24 Sentenced

Why is nobody voting for Sentenced?! Just because they are no mainstream but true metal? I listen to them every day, they make me stand up every single morning! They are simply mindblowing, unique, special, great, fantastic... So sad that they stopped playing, but they're still in my heart. Start votingx666

Legendary band that was never truly appreciated.

Got into these guys while stationed in germany and I'm at age 61 rocking with them noose my favorite

25 Eternal Tears of Sorrow

Just listen to the seventh eclipse. It will blow you away and you will vote this band up to 3 behind COB and nightwish

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