Album Review: Insomnium – Netherworlds

Album Review: Insomnium – Netherworlds

Reviewed by Matthew Caldwell

When it comes to melodic death metal, few bands can be as consistent in quality as Insomnium, who have released their tenth studio album upon the world. With a career spanning nearly three decades, the Finnish quintet are showing no signs of complacency with their latest offering.

Insomnium’s stability was rocked in 2023 when guitarist Jani Liimatainen (ex-Sonata Arctica, Cain’s Offering, The Dark Element) disappeared. Quite literally. Despite being made a full member in 2019 and releasing two Eps and two albums, they arrived in Manchester for the start of their European tour without any knowledge of his whereabouts. This led to Tomy Laisto stepping into the role temporarily, before being made an official member earlier this year.

Did that instability and uncertainty affect proceedings when it came to recording Netherworlds? It certainly doesn’t show. The most surprising thing about the new album is the opening track. A cover of Henry Purcell’s centuries-old aria is not what anyone was expecting (a more familiar version is Klaus Nomi’s 1981 rendition), but it does lay the foundations rather well for what is to come. With Autumn in full swing and Winter on the way, Insomnium’s atmospherically charged version of ‘The Cold Song’ fits perfectly well. This gives way to ‘Shawdowlife’ and we get our first juxtaposition of clean and harsh vocals. This is a formula that works, and the band put it to great effect throughout the album, which runs at 54 minutes. The time doesn’t drag, thanks in part to tracks like ‘Remembrance’ and Gleam in the Black, the former of which almost sounds like a pop-punk song mixed with death metal; The latter may remind long-time listeners of one of their most popular tracks, 2014’s Ephemeral. It’s a perfect mix of melodic melancholy.

Joining the band on ‘The Hour Grows Late’ are three members from progressive death metal Amorphis. The result of this Finnish collab is beautiful yet sorrowful: everything you’d want from such a melding of talent. ‘Arch of the Sky’ and ‘Pathways of the Night’ continue this trajectory. Insomnium are masters at making their songs sound both heavy and peaceful at the same time. ‘Ethereal Sleep’ is special in that behind Niilo Sevänen’s whispered growls is a beautiful dream-like melody weaving in the background. ‘The Banished’ ramps up the heaviness before ‘Journey’s End’ closes the album with a haunting, almost funeral dirge quality, complete with narration. It’s vast and dramatic.

You’d be forgiven for thinking there are moments reminiscent of fellow Finnish death metallers Omnium Gatherum, as guitarist Markus Vanhala shares axe duties in both bands. Sevänen’s dark poetry/literature inspired lyrics are as powerful as on any of their previous releases. Eagle eyed fans may also appreciate the album’s cover art, beautifully realised by famed metal artist Travis Smith, who has created some of the genre’s best loved and iconic album covers, from Opeth and Katatonia to Avenged Sevenfold and Devin Townsend. Overall, this is a worthy album of the Insomnium name, and a perfect addition to any melodic death metal fan’s vinyl or CD collection.

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