Stam1na is a Finnish heavy metal musical group native of Lemi, South Karelia. Their music is arguably best described as progressive metal with some thrash, death and alternative influences, and is sung in Finnish language.
The band originally started as a three-piece in 1996, but it was only after several demo recordings that they got signed late in 2004 by Sakara Records, a label founded and headed by the fellow South Karelian band Mokoma.
The founding trio Antti Hyyrynen on vocals and guitar, Pekka Olkkonen on lead guitar and Teppo Velin on drums are all still members of the band, and the lineup was completed in November 2005 by bassist Kai-Pekka Kangasmäki who had been performing with the band as a session musician the whole year.
Stam1na's self-titled debut album, released on March 2, 2005, reached #13 on the Finnish album charts. Their second album, Uudet kymmenen käskyä, was released on May 10, 2006 and did even better on the charts, reaching #3 on its first week. Claiming critical acclaim by heavy touring and winning several awards in Finland, and making their debut in Germany by touring with Apocalyptica in the fall of 2007, they proceeded to release their third album Raja in February, 2008, which went straight to #1 on the Finnish album chart on the first week.
February 10, 2010, Stam1na released their fourth album titled Viimeinen Atlantis, which translates as "The Last Atlantis", which also went straight to first place on the Finnish album chart, topping among others HIM's new release, and was certified gold by ÄKT in its first week of sales.
