Formed in the year 2000 by singer Ilja Jalkanen, guitarist Mikko "Ilmarinen" Salovaara, keyboardist Atte Tanskanen, bassist Teemu Tuominen, and drummer Markku Näreneva, Finland's Kiuas is influenced by a myriad of heavy metal styles, including thrash, power, and even folk strains. Apparently big fans of mini-CDs, the group debuted with The Discipline of Steel EP in early 2002, repeated the gesture with the Born Under the Northern Lights EP a year later, and then made it three in a row at the start of 2004 with the Winter in June EP, released through England's Rage of Achilles Records. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia