Your not-so-well-known band that's still a bit known

[Greni]

Disclaimer: Not a hipster thread

Since my last thread I created was such a smashing success (locked after eight replies; apparently people around here have been getting quite a lot of questions about the Pony epidemic) I've decided to sit around no longer and create a new one.

The question is simple: Do you know of a band that has had a good career, released quite a few albums and has been fairly famous in a small region, but you feel deserves more love? ie. Not totally obscure but still not all that well known. One hit wonder bands also qualify.

I'm not asking for a local band that plays in a garage, insisting on staying indie and irrelevant. Please take them to your nearest trench coat shop.

To start this off I'll nominate Falconer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAFp4x6kkw0

Swedish Power Metal, songs in English and Swedish. Lyrical themes are Medieval circumstances and Scandinavian history, with a focus on Sweden of course and the dark ages period.
Interesting to note that the singer, Mathias Blad, is a trained theatrical actor and has dabbled in Operas around Sweden.
7 released studio albums, the latest was this year.
Also sounds a bit Folk Metal-y.

 

[Fiz_The_Toaster]

I'm going with Kittie.

They've been around for a long time now and they've just released their sixth album. They're from Canada, and yes, they're an all girl band, BUT they play heavy metal and it's really good.

I will say there's a major difference between the first album and the second to present albums. The first one sounds exactly what you'd expect from a girl rock band, but the moment the second one came out, it's a whole lot darker, and it's what you'd hear from them now.

The singer switches between growling and straight singing and she has a really good range for what she's doing.

 

[Generic_Username]

Metric. They're not very well known but again, not really obscure. Four albums, a few more EPs, the latest ones sound a bit darker though, while still being as good as the first ones.
I've already mentioned them in a few threads but I'm still going to do it again just because.

 

[Radeonx]

Foster the People got pretty popular because of Pumped Up Kicks, but their whole album is amazing.

 

[Dense_Electric]

Alestorm, a million times. True Scottish Pirate Metal, and it's exactly what it sounds like. Their third album, Back Through Time, just released a few months ago.

 

[Catchy Slogan]

These guys are called FIGMO (Fuck It Got My Orders)

Captain Sex on Vocals & Guitar
Field Marshall Fury on Lead Guitar
General Glory on Keys
Major Dredd on Bass (though he is leaving)
Corporal Punishment on Drums

And the Commander In Beef is back!

They are pretty awesome:


Sorry about the quality.

http://www.wefuckingrock.co.uk/

EDIT:

Spoiler

Some more.

 

[Stealthygamer]

Poets of the fall. Popular in Sweden, known nowhere else

<youtube=0f_hewSrAH4>

 

[Ben Jackson]

Cage The Elephant anyone? I mean, me and my brother loved that band and few of my friends liked them, but they weren't "popular"

 

[chaosyoshimage]

Probably a lot of the bands I listen too, but that's because I have no clue what's obscure and what's popular...

 

[Greni]

Lot's of good shit here, Alestorm I already knew about, kudos to that person.

Next on my list to reveal from the rubble of blandness is a piece called Alamaailman Vasarat. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alamaailman_Vasarat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-PlKlsOdZA
It's Finnish, for those who didn't get that. Kind of a cult band, not very famous but with a small and faithful fanbase. Five released studio albums.

Now bear with me, here is it where shit gets strange. Musical genres are progressive rock/metal avant-garde jazz fusion...something. They do not play guitar, they do not sing, they do have a bass, but not a bass guitar, but an old fashioned big-arse bass. Other instruments include two cellos, a saxophone, a tuba, a clarinet, drums and a pump organ.

If you have not by now closed the browser to flee this hipster-y madness, bear with me, it's actually quite good. Awesome in fact (entirely my opinion, and a few of my friends'). Just check the youtube link.

 

[Enslave_All_Elves]

Dog Fashion Disco.

They're like if someone wanted a metal band then decided to use keyboards, saxophones, jazz, and... well just about anything that might work. Weird lyrics and weird songs.

Moonlight City Drive, Pogo the Clown, Rapist Eyes, Magical Band of Fool are few songs to check on

 

[Lord Legion]

el snip

Ah! I dun been ninja'd... that makes me very happy, heheheh. I love Isis.

here's the salt to your pepper:

 

[SouthpawFencer]

Moxy Fruvous, sadly on a hiatus for nearly a decade now, and unlikely to ever get back together. The single best live band I've ever encountered. My top ten live band shows were ALL Moxy Fruvous shows. Their CDs can't do justice to their live shows, tragically.

 

[SckizoBoy]

Poets of the fall. Popular in Sweden, known nowhere else

Fucking awesome band... and I thought they're Finnish...?

OT: I'm getting into a weird cross-genre duo, Approaching Nirvana. Monkey Magik is pretty good too, though they're Canadian, but sing in Japanese (well, mostly).

 

[Avaholic03]

It's hard to tell because they're from my hometown, but Flobots seem to be getting more attention lately. Granted, their one hit "Handlebars" is nowhere near my favorite, but the rest of their stuff is worth checking out.

 

[zehydra]

Porcupine Tree. They're well known by the kind of people who also may listen to Opeth, Tool, Mastadon, Pink Floyd

 

[Revolutionary]

Being Australian you know I gotta pick an Australian band.
I've seen these guys live a couple of times and I really like em'

 

[genericusername64]

Radio moscow

 

[Jazoni89]

Warpaint, A Million Fucking Times, Warpaint!

I've seen them twice, and shook hands with all of them (i even told the singer if i can have her babies ). Needless to say, I'm a bit of a fanboy!

They have played in all of the big mainstream festivals this year (they have even played at Glasto, and Pukklepop for crying out loud), and yet they still don't get the love they deserve. An incredibly talented bunch of Girls who I hope will get big very soon.

Here are some choice favourites.

Spoiler