Insomnium
Insomnium is a melodic death metal band from Joensuu, Finland, whose music also reveals links to neighboring metallic subgenres like doom, folk, and progressive metal. The band's sound is identified by rich atmospherics, dual lead guitar lines, lush harmonics, and a meld of harsh and clean vocals encompassing lyrical themes of sorrow, loss, pain, and reverence for nature. Their recordings, as exemplified by albums such as 2002's In the Halls of Awaiting, 2006's Above the Weeping World, and 2011's One for Sorrow, have been profoundly influential in the Finnish melodic death metal scene, with acts as diverse as Ghost Brigade, Wintersun, and Swallow the Sun citing the group as forebears. Conceptual efforts like 2016's Winter's Gate and 2023's Anno 1696 saw the band continue to refine their sound, pairing dark, grandiose arrangements with melancholic storytelling while retaining an uncompromising death metal foundation.
Founded in 1997, Insomnium released a pair of demos in 1999 and 2000 before signing a contract with England's Candlelight Records and making a full-length debut with 2002's In the Halls of Awaiting. From the beginning, Insomnium's signature sound existed apart from the established and accepted Gothenburg death metal model. Their approach flows much more naturally, even when using tenets from power metal or old-school death metal to convey a musical idea. Three additional albums -- Since the Day It All Came Down, Above the Weeping World, and Across the Dark -- followed in 2004, 2006, and 2009, respectively, and not only confirmed the group's enduring passion for their chosen musical style, but also the integrity of their core lineup. Drummer Markus Hirvonen, vocalist/bassist Niilo Sevänen, and guitarist Ville Friman have been the band's only constant members.
2011's One for Sorrow, their debut Century Media offering, helped expand the group's fan base, which grew sizably with the arrival of Shadows of the Dying Sun. Released in 2014, the LP marked the studio debuts of guest keyboardist Aleksi Munter and guitarist Markus Vanhala and charted in multiple countries. 2016's ambitious Viking concept album Winter's Gate became the band's first effort to reach number one in their Finnish homeland. Insomnium added a third guitarist and vocalist, Jani Liimatainen, to the roster ahead of the release of 2019's Heart Like a Grave, which added an extra layer of melody, power, and atmosphere to their lush sound. The recording drew a massive global response, critically and commercially -- arguably more than any of their previous releases. Insomnium planned a headlining American arena tour before COVID-19 hit, making that jaunt impossible. Instead, the band reassembled in 2021 and issued three singles -- "The Conjurer," The Reticent," and "The Antagonist," all of which appeared on the four-song EP Argent Moon later that year. Based on a short story by vocalist/bassist Niilo Sevänen concerning the 16th and 17th century witch trials, the full-length concept album Anno 1696 appeared in 2023.
© Eduardo Rivadavia & James Christopher Monger /TiVo
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Discography
15 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Heart Like a Grave (Bonus tracks version)
Metal - Released by Century Media on Oct 4, 2019
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Shadows of the Dying Sun
Metal - Released by Century Media on Apr 28, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Above The Weeping World
Metal - Released by Candlelight on Sep 8, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
In The Halls Of Awaiting
Metal - Released by Candlelight on Apr 30, 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
One For Sorrow
Metal - Released by Century Media on Oct 17, 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Since The Day It All Came Down
Metal - Released by Candlelight on May 4, 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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