(09-30-2013, 08:29 PM)djswitch Писал(а): though not as good and detailed as Last.fm...

http://www.metal-archives.com/

+ to that. The best thing about that site is the review section for each release, you will often encounter people who list similar bands to the one that the review is meant for (you'll have to sift through the reviews, they are quite lengthy at times). You also have a "similar bands" section, but those are usually bands that you most likely already know. I can't help you in the case of Sonata Arctica, I don't listen to much of their material, but of course you have bands like Stratovarius and Nightwish that are often compared with eachother, but I am sure there are more. Although, listening to Stones Grow her Name now, I hear it's extremely varied. As for my personal recommendation, you can give Scorpions "Humanity: Hour 1" album a shot, it has some tracks similar to the ballad-type tracks that SA did as well as some decent modern metal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4scyore_jc4 (The Future Never Dies)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOdnSMIs6gg (We Will Rise Again)