Down

Scandinavian winters can be cold, dark, and depressing, but these fun-filled Finns took things to another level: for most of the band’s existence, their lyrics centered around suicide. The humor’s as dark as the Arctic nights. “Noose,” “Keep My Grave Open,” and “Sun Won’t Shine” contain choruses about killing yourself so catchy that you’ll concern your friends and family by singing along to them. Although all their records from 1995’s Amok onward were excellent, Down marked their full transition from death metal to melodic Goth metal, a sound they would stick with until – staying true to their theme – they chose to prematurely end the band’s existence a decade later.