Coming from the land of lush dark forests and a thousand lakes, Insomnium has forged quite a career, earning themselves a place at the summit of Finland’s massive Metal scene. And now, during the autumn season their music so elegantly amplifies, the veteran group offer Songs of the Dusk; an EP following on from their 2023 ninth studio album Anno 1696. Released through Century Media Records on Friday, November 3, 2023, the EP offers fans an epilogue to the lustrous full-length they have been absorbing just this year.
Complete with three songs, mournful and sweetly sad, “Flowers of the Night” builds with power and the gusty growls of Niilo Sevanen that fans have come to love. There are few growled vocal styles that can emote so convincingly. Combined with lovely guitar work from Markus Vanhala and Ville Freman, this is anything but an extra track.
As the wolves that grace the EP’s cover promise, “Stained in Red” brings a far more sinister edge to the proceedings, ensuring Songs of the Dusk does not want for diversity. And yet, the same contemplative edge of sadness pervades, making this a melodic death power ballad to be cherished.
The EP’s climax appears in the title-track. At nine minutes plus, this one is something for those long walks at dusk and time spent alone wandering. Its theme of escape from persecution fits wonderfully inside the music, as a feeling of triumph leaks through the thick canopy of the forest in which this composition dwells. The mixture of defiance and melancholy focused through a lens of stunning guitar leads and powerful, bleak instrumental breaks, makes this a stunning success. There is even a very Agalloch style clean sung verse toward the end which takes things to an even higher precipice of beauty.
Still managing to engage the senses with their music after all these years, Cryptic Rock gives Songs of the Dusk 5 out of 5 stars.
){kind=link}
No comment