Category Archives: Insomnium

Insomnium – Anno 1696 (2023) – Review

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Since the RMR webzine saw the light of day, Insomnium always was a sure value. Their slightly melancholic yet stately brand of Melodic Death Metal gorging on Niilo Sevänen‘s gruff croaks, a smattering of clears, and stellar weeping guitar work always got on our good side. And I daresay, this band probably was instrumental in getting yours truly’s ass in gear to hunt for more melodeath than is good for metal health.1

The most impressive records that crossed the RMR Review committee’s desk definitely were Shadows of the Dying Sun and the excellent Winter’s Gate. But after … [...] Click to raid more!

The Conjurer, by Insomnium. Winter melancholy!

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Nothing and nobody has been able to really copy that typical Insomnium style. Nor should anybody, right? This muted cathedral sound, spiked with discreet symphonic elements. All of this usually delivers on smoothly flowing, soaring guitars – three of them actually – and Niilo Sevänen‘s stately growls. Plus a few cleans, just for spice.

We were already quite impressed with Heart Like a Grave back in 2019, a somewhat more assertive piece than the former ones. And the question is, what comes next?

Well, their new video The Conjurer does. If anything, the band didn’t jettison any of their … [...] Click to raid more!

Insomnium – Heart Like a Grave (2019) – Review

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At first, Heart Like a Grave sounds like one of them Amon Amarth records. It is this straight-in-your-face, rumbling Death Metal that compares so well to the yonder icy tracks from the muscular and bearded ones. The only missing part is the dragonhead and the inevitable Viking longship.

So nope, this cannot be it. Instead, we – indeed – get a hefty dose of pretty stellar Insomnium. The type of Melodeath that does not take prisoners.

If you remember, Winter’s Gate already went Viking in 2016, much to the insane pleasure of the Norns. Insomnium set the bar … [...] Click to raid more!

Insomnium – Winter’s Gate (2016) – Review

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It was one of those metal moments! Winter’s Gate, Insomnium‘s 7th full-length release finally arrived at my doorstep. And what do I find? One 40-minute monster track.

Come again, they did what?

What on earth are they noodling about? With trepidation, we think back to similar attempts made by the likes of Pink Floyd and others way back in time, when monstrous, rambling concoctions were fashionable.

And not many protagonists – with some laudable exceptions – pulled these offerings off well enough to really impress the audience ever since.

Let’s be honest. 

So, here I sat wondering what disaster loomed ahead in this new record. … [...] Click to raid more!