Insomnium

Insomnium is a Finnish melodic death metal band from Joensuu, Finland, active since 1997. Their music combines death metal and melodic death metal with elements of doom metal, progressive metal and neofolk. The band’s songs often focus on darkness, sorrow, loss, pain and nature.

History

Insomnium builds its early and later work around a steady melodic death metal sound rooted in Finland’s metal scene. Its recorded output includes releases on Candlelight Records and Century Media.

In 2011 the band releases the video for “Through the Shadows” from One for Sorrow. Later that year it begins its first headlining European tour, with Before the Dawn and MyGRAIN supporting.

In 2012 Insomnium returns to the UK as main support for Paradise Lost, with Vreid also on the bill.

In 2013 the band releases “Ephemeral” through Century Media Records. The track is the first to feature guitarist Markus Vanhala, who replaces Ville Vänni in 2011.

In 2014 Insomnium releases its sixth studio album, Shadows of the Dying Sun, and appears at Epica’s CD release show at 013 in the Netherlands. The following years see the band continue with longer-form and concept-driven material.

Later albums and projects

In 2016 Insomnium announces Winter’s Gate, its seventh studio album. The record is a single 40-minute concept track about Vikings travelling west of Ireland in winter, and it is based on a short story by Niilo Sevänen, Winter’s Gate / Talven Portti. The story wins or is nominated for several Finnish awards.

In 2019 the band announces Heart Like a Grave and confirms Jani Liimatainen as a full-time member. He has already filled in for Ville Friman on tours since 2015.

Insomnium releases the EP Argent Moon in 2021. In 2022 the band announces Anno 1696, another album based on a short story by Niilo.

Members

Members associated with Insomnium include Tapani Pesonen, Timo Partanen, Ville Vänni, Markus Vanhala, Jani Liimatainen, Tomy Laisto, Ville Friman, Markus Hirvonen and Niilo Sevänen.