Stam1na

A metal outfit rooted in Finland, Stam1na built its reputation through persistent live performances and demo recordings that earned widespread notice among the country's unsigned acts. After Sakara Records finally extended a contract, the group issued its self-titled debut in 2005. The release quickly elevated the band within the domestic metal community, where it dominated genre-specific rankings and lingered for several weeks on Finland's general album listings. Follow-up effort Uudet Kymmenen Käskyä reached the national Top Three, securing Stam1na the Best Metal Album of the Year honor at the Emma Awards, Finland's equivalent of the Grammys. During the shift between 2007 and 2008 the band shared stages with Apocalyptica while completing work on Raja, which arrived in early 2008 and claimed the number-one position on the country's album chart.