Finland

Valiant Finnish heavy metal band Teräsbetoni ("reinforced concrete") -- vocalist/bassist Jarkko Ahola, drummer Jari Kuokkanen, and guitarists Arto Jarvinen and Viljo Rantanen -- have the mentality of warriors, forging ahead with their brutish, uncompromising brand of metal inspired by Manowar and Dio. After forming in 2002 and making some of their music available on the Internet, Teräsbetoni generated interest from the Finland wing of Warner Music, which eventually signed them. Metallitotuus, their first album, was released in 2005 and went platinum, selling over 30,000 copies across Finland. Roughly a year later, they released the follow-up album Vaadimme Metallia. It sold over 15,000 copies the day it was issued. ~ Andy Kellman