Sonata Arctica
Finnish metal band, maybe not as popular as Nightwish and Children of Bodom but, IMO, they're a lot better.
Highlight is the lyrics, definitely, although the music is also awesome. And Tony Kakko, despite the slightly odd surname (he is Finnish so it can be excused), has an awesome voice.
Best songs? A lot, but these are a good place to start:
Still Loving You (a cover of the Scorpions song - made it heavy and fast!)
Letter to Dana (slow track, but one of the few songs I can honestly classify as being beautiful...)
Victoria's Secret (as well as being named after an underwear chain it's totally awesome)
The Power Of One/End Of This Chapter/Destruction Preventer/White Pearl, Black Ocean (all 8 minutes, or longer, each telling a story of sorts...WPBO is the most tragic song I've ever heard, kinda tears you up to listen to it...while being totally compelling)
Don't Say A Word (sequel of The End Of This Chapter, continues the story being told. Awesome in every way.)
My Selene (only non-cover song that Tony Kakko didn't write - this was written by Jani, the guitarist...based on a story from Greek mythology)
Black Sheep (the first song I heard - really cool, maybe the worst lyrics of all of them while still having great lyrics :P)
The Misery (as the title says, this is NOT a happy song. Very slow, something you have to be in the mood for.)
Anyway, yeah, check them out. Now.
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