Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to concentrate further on the band that would eventually become Dream Theater. Though a number of lineup changes followed, the three original members remained together until September 8, 2010, when Portnoy left the band and he was replaced several months later by Mike Mangini. James LaBrie has been the lead singer of Dream Theater since 1991, replacing Charlie Dominici who had left the band two years earlier. Dream Theater's first keyboardist, Kevin Moore, left the band after three albums and was replaced by Derek Sherinian in 1995 after a period of touring. After one album with Sherinian, the band replaced him with current keyboardist Jordan Rudess in 1999.
Silence is the second full-length album by Finnish power metal band Sonata Arctica, released in 2001 through Spinefarm Records. It is the only studio album to feature keyboardist Mikko Härkin, and the first album with original member Marko Paasikoski, who returned to the band the previous year. Stratovarius lead singer Timo Kotipelto sang guest vocals on the album.
Catamenia is a Finnish black metal band founded in 1995 by Riku Hopeakoski and Mika Tönning in Oulu. They have been signed to Massacre Records since their first full-length release Halls of Frozen North in 1998. As of 2010, they have released nine albums, one EP, and one DVD. They are known for frequent usage of wolves in their album art, but the band is named after a kind of bird. Catamenia also means “menstruation”, which the band did not know until a fan pointed it out to them after the release of their debut album.
Death Unlimited is the third full-length studio album by the Finnish melodic death metal band Norther. It was released on 3 March 2004 through Spinefarm Records. The Japanese release of Death Unlimited and the Spreading Death CD single features a cover song, "Tornado of Souls" by Megadeth. The song; "Death Unlimited" is featured on the Spreading Death CD single and its video on the DVD single.
Mirror of Madness is the second full-length studio album by the Finnish melodic death metal band Norther, released on 12 July 2003 by Spinefarm Records. Mirror of Madness features a cover song, "Smash" by punk rock band The Offspring. It also includes the "Mirror of Madness" video but only in the U.S.. The bonus tracks, "Frozen Sky" and "Smash" covers, are only for the Japanese version of the album.
Visions of Atlantis is a metal band from Styria, Austria, founded in 2000. Inspiration came both from successful symphonic power metal band Nightwish and from the myth of Atlantis.
Wintersun is the 2004 self-titled debut studio album by heavy metal band Wintersun, then the solo project of Jari Mäenpää. The Japanese edition of the album was released with the original three demo tracks used to obtain a contract with Nuclear Blast.
Planetshakers is the contemporary worship music band, a central part of Planetshakers Church in Melbourne, Australia.
To/Die/For are a gothic metal band from the town of Kouvola in southeast of Finland, assembled in 1993 as a hard rock band under the name Mary-Ann. In 1999, they decided to change their musical style to gothic metal, changing their band name as well. The band disbanded on 13 April 2009, but has reformed as of 4 July 2009, and played their final concert at John Smith Festival in Finland on June 22, 2016. They reformed once again in early 2020.
The Black Waltz is the fourth full-length studio album by the Finnish melodic death metal band Kalmah and their first with keyboard player Marco Sneck. This album has them gravitating more towards thrash metal, which has often been cited as the Kokko brothers' primary musical influence. The vocals have changed to lower death vocals, compared to their higher pitched growls in previous albums.
Dreamtale is a Finnish power/symphonic metal band from Tampere, formed in 1999.
Agonizer is a heavy metal band from Pyhäjärvi, Finland.
Gallhammer were a Japanese extreme metal group that drew on blackened crust, black metal, doom metal, and crust punk. They formed in Tokyo in 2003 and released three studio albums.
Delirium Veil is the debut studio album by Twilightning, released April 22, 2003, on the label Spinefarm Records.
A Warm Glimpse is the first studio album released by Finnish progressive death metal band Farmakon. The album was originally released in 2003, under Earache Records. The opening track, "Loosely of Ameobas" was included on Earache's "Metal: A Headbanger's Companion II" compilation.
The Enigma of Life is the fifth studio album by the Norwegian gothic metal band Sirenia and their second with the Spanish vocalist Ailyn. It was released on 21 January 2011 through Nuclear Blast. The album was mastered at Finnvox Studios in Finland. The download-only single, "The End of It All", was released on 21 December 2010.
Circus Black is the fourth full-length album by Finnish symphonic power metal band Amberian Dawn.
Vigorous and Liberating Death is the twelfth full-length studio album from Finnish black metal band Impaled Nazarene. It was released, as are all of their albums thus far, on Osmose Productions on April 14, 2014. The album is available on CD, gatefold LP and digital download.
Curimus is a Finnish thrash / death metal band formed in 2004.
Eight Headed Serpent is the thirteenth full-length studio album from Finnish black metal band Impaled Nazarene. It was released, as are all of their albums thus far, on Osmose Productions on May 28, 2021. The album is available on CD, LP, cassette and digital download.
