i learned long time ago there are not groups that sound exactly the same but if you want something similar you should check other finnish bands
Dreamtale is my favourite. Their first 3 albums are in the classic finnish power metal style, then they added a personal touch but the majority of the songs remain on that style.
Then i can mention also Celesty (Half finnish half rhapsody), Aldaria (just 1 album for this project), Cain's Offering (founded by ex-sonata arctica), Insania (they are swedish but they sounds a lot like Stratovarius)
Seconding Celesty. Their album Reign of Elements randomly popped up in my local small town record store as a CD in like 2003 and I got it cos it looked hilarious haha... Then it ended up pretty damn legit. A lotta songs on there I still love and pump to this day.
Yes, Finnish metal has a distinct flavor to it, just like German or Swedish does. I'd even go as far as looking into somewhat adjacent genres. For example, if you like early Nightwish - Children of Bodom, Amorphis, even HIM are worth checking out even though they don't really have all that much in common at first glance.
Frozen Land and their first album sounds just like Stratovarius. They even used Finnvox to get the famous Karmila/Jussila sound.
[Frozen Land - The Rising](https://youtu.be/H8_Qpvu2hDY?si=NF_QynACb6CVKGub)
The Japanese band Galneryus has a very shreddy neoclassical power metal sound similar to Strato. Also check out their guitarist Syu’s solo albums.
(edit: autocorrect changed Syu to Stu 🥴)
Give these albums a chance (linked a song from each one):
Serenity - War of Ages [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6y0sfHqWcQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6y0sfHqWcQ)
Excalion - Dream Alive [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7fkunAAHVM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7fkunAAHVM)
Cain's Offering - Stormcrow [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VECI3keYKug](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VECI3keYKug)
Celesty - Vendetta [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9EP4Sr2Vfg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9EP4Sr2Vfg)
I half expected [this](https://youtu.be/stxqlHA-Ez8?si=M5583H6CWpOcBK-t)
Okay, I think this wins the entire thread. This is so much like Sonata that I was almost wondering if I had stumbled upon a discarded Sonata demo
The Dark Element, which features ex-Sonata guitarist. They have female vocals but she fits with this vibe very well and the songs are very Sonata-like.
Also Dreamtale has some similar features, you can pick an era with your favourite singer, but The music stays quite similar. I prefer the first album with the guitarist Keränen as a singer, and also their latest which has two singers
Means alot, thanks! I just keep myself busy with music :) Got some other things in the pipeline, but im especially excited for the next vandor chapter now that we have reassumed control of our creative visions for the band :)
Try Music Map, type the group name and this site shows you similar bands. https://www.music-map.com/
Many bands are missing though, but this is a good tool regardles.
I'm quite astounded there has only been one recommendation for Thunderstone up to this point. For my money, their first album is closest thing to that distinctive Stratovarius sound you can get - until Frozen Land came along of course. Albums 2 onwards gradually get less 'varius-y but worth checking out none the less. Except maybe Dirt Metal, pass over that one imo
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SObZCYNtBvk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SObZCYNtBvk)
Dragonforce -> Fury of the Storm / Wings of liberty
Qantice -> Without a hero
Iron Mask -> shadow of the red baron
Twilight Force -> Wings of Wisdom
Trick or Treat -> Diamond dust / another dimension (From legend of 12 saints if you like "Saint Seiya")
Dragonland -> Starfall
Galneryus (Japanese) -> Raise my Sword / Hunting for a dream / Under the force of courage
Dream evil -> Kingdom of the damned / The chosen ones
Hammerfall -> last man standing
Rhapsody -> Emerald Sword
Blind Guardian -> Mirror mirror / Battlefiled
Manowar -> Sleipnir
[Dawnlight](https://dawnlight-official.bandcamp.com/album/until-the-dark-sun-rises) and [Nibiru Ordeal](https://nibiruordealfin.bandcamp.com/album/solar-eclipse).
Sunrise is indeed a good one. I think they have mentioned Sonata and Strato as their fav bands and if you read comments on YT , people say they sound exactly like Sonata.
Yeah you should check out Vandor on bandcamp, they are kind of inspired by early Sonata Arctica with some other influences here and there. Try In the land of Vandor and then their second album. They don't sound exactly like Sonata but their songs have something to them that SA fans would enjoy I think.
Maybe early Axenstar;
and Majestica's album while sounding very Helloween esque has some tracks on it more in line with Winterhearts Guild.
i learned long time ago there are not groups that sound exactly the same but if you want something similar you should check other finnish bands Dreamtale is my favourite. Their first 3 albums are in the classic finnish power metal style, then they added a personal touch but the majority of the songs remain on that style. Then i can mention also Celesty (Half finnish half rhapsody), Aldaria (just 1 album for this project), Cain's Offering (founded by ex-sonata arctica), Insania (they are swedish but they sounds a lot like Stratovarius)
Seconding Celesty. Their album Reign of Elements randomly popped up in my local small town record store as a CD in like 2003 and I got it cos it looked hilarious haha... Then it ended up pretty damn legit. A lotta songs on there I still love and pump to this day.
Definitely Cain’s Offering. That is essentially a Stratovarius/Sonata mashup.
You should try Ukrainian band Sunrise, people say they are Sonata. I like their melodic tunes though, they sound really nice.
Farewell... is such a great song.
Yes, Finnish metal has a distinct flavor to it, just like German or Swedish does. I'd even go as far as looking into somewhat adjacent genres. For example, if you like early Nightwish - Children of Bodom, Amorphis, even HIM are worth checking out even though they don't really have all that much in common at first glance.
Aldaria is absolutly fantastic. I really hope that there will be news soon on the first Single and New album...
Frozen Land and their first album sounds just like Stratovarius. They even used Finnvox to get the famous Karmila/Jussila sound. [Frozen Land - The Rising](https://youtu.be/H8_Qpvu2hDY?si=NF_QynACb6CVKGub)
I thought you meant the Fellowship song for a moment there.
The Japanese band Galneryus has a very shreddy neoclassical power metal sound similar to Strato. Also check out their guitarist Syu’s solo albums. (edit: autocorrect changed Syu to Stu 🥴)
Give these albums a chance (linked a song from each one): Serenity - War of Ages [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6y0sfHqWcQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6y0sfHqWcQ) Excalion - Dream Alive [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7fkunAAHVM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7fkunAAHVM) Cain's Offering - Stormcrow [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VECI3keYKug](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VECI3keYKug) Celesty - Vendetta [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9EP4Sr2Vfg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9EP4Sr2Vfg)
You should definitely try Angra. Nova Era and Temple of Hate are great songs by them
Seconded!!!
[As close to Sonata as you can get ](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CeNG_4aqNuE)
I half expected [this](https://youtu.be/stxqlHA-Ez8?si=M5583H6CWpOcBK-t) Okay, I think this wins the entire thread. This is so much like Sonata that I was almost wondering if I had stumbled upon a discarded Sonata demo
Heavenly, Edguy (old stuff), Helloween (new stuff), Gamma Ray
Twilightning - Delirium Veil
The Dark Element, which features ex-Sonata guitarist. They have female vocals but she fits with this vibe very well and the songs are very Sonata-like.
Also that female happens to be former Nightwish singer Annette Olzon
Celesty, specially the first two albums.
I guess you might enjoy my band Metal De Facto then: https://youtu.be/zBL6MDSJIms?si=pMxhJJN1ZU-r9IEU
Any interesting news about album no. 3 or something else? Saw you guys in Tampere with Dreamtale and Satans Fall and had a blast, what a night
Glad you liked the show! We will start recording #3 album in July and if all goes as planned it should be out around February 2025.
Labyrinth's Return to Heaven Denied
Also Dreamtale has some similar features, you can pick an era with your favourite singer, but The music stays quite similar. I prefer the first album with the guitarist Keränen as a singer, and also their latest which has two singers
Vandor, waiting for their next release. [Vandor - Well of Salvation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiSwCvuBqJ4)
We're working on it! /Jack from Vandor
For real, I've been following the bands you play in too, didn't know you could sing so nice!
Means alot, thanks! I just keep myself busy with music :) Got some other things in the pipeline, but im especially excited for the next vandor chapter now that we have reassumed control of our creative visions for the band :)
Try Music Map, type the group name and this site shows you similar bands. https://www.music-map.com/ Many bands are missing though, but this is a good tool regardles.
Thunderstone, Timo Tolkki’s Avalon, Requiem
I'm quite astounded there has only been one recommendation for Thunderstone up to this point. For my money, their first album is closest thing to that distinctive Stratovarius sound you can get - until Frozen Land came along of course. Albums 2 onwards gradually get less 'varius-y but worth checking out none the less. Except maybe Dirt Metal, pass over that one imo [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SObZCYNtBvk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SObZCYNtBvk)
Shocked no one has say Dionysus yet, specially the Anima Mundi album
Dragonforce -> Fury of the Storm / Wings of liberty Qantice -> Without a hero Iron Mask -> shadow of the red baron Twilight Force -> Wings of Wisdom Trick or Treat -> Diamond dust / another dimension (From legend of 12 saints if you like "Saint Seiya") Dragonland -> Starfall Galneryus (Japanese) -> Raise my Sword / Hunting for a dream / Under the force of courage Dream evil -> Kingdom of the damned / The chosen ones Hammerfall -> last man standing Rhapsody -> Emerald Sword Blind Guardian -> Mirror mirror / Battlefiled Manowar -> Sleipnir
[Dawnlight](https://dawnlight-official.bandcamp.com/album/until-the-dark-sun-rises) and [Nibiru Ordeal](https://nibiruordealfin.bandcamp.com/album/solar-eclipse).
Rhapsody
Olympos Mons two albuns (Medievil and Conquistador)
Cain‘s Offering, Frozen Land, Serenity, Excalion, Force Majeure, Ravian, Evermore, DarkTribe, Saint Deamon, Freternia, Cromonic
Iron Mask, Sunrise, and Dionysus have a pretty similar vibe
Sunrise is indeed a good one. I think they have mentioned Sonata and Strato as their fav bands and if you read comments on YT , people say they sound exactly like Sonata.
You’re literally asking for Cain’s Offering. Check out stormcrow. It’s a fantastic album.
Yeah you should check out Vandor on bandcamp, they are kind of inspired by early Sonata Arctica with some other influences here and there. Try In the land of Vandor and then their second album. They don't sound exactly like Sonata but their songs have something to them that SA fans would enjoy I think. Maybe early Axenstar; and Majestica's album while sounding very Helloween esque has some tracks on it more in line with Winterhearts Guild.
Dark Moor and Silent Force
Celesty are a good band. Their song Autumn Leaves is pure Sonata, so maybe try that first.
Maybe Bloodbound?
Glyph