INSOMNIUM — Shadows of the Dying Sun (review)

INSOMNIUM — Shadows of the Dying Sun album cover Album · 2014 · Melodic Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
UMUR
"Shadows of the Dying Sun" is the 6th full-length studio album by Finnish death metal act Insomnium. The album was released through Century Media Records in April 2014. Insomnium were formed in 1997 and have with each new releas slowly but steadily build a reputation as one of the most prolific Finnish death metal acts and gained a dedicated fanbase in the process too. It´s been a few years since the release of their 5th full-length studio album "One for Sorrow (2011)", but Insomnium released the "Ephemeral" EP in 2013 to bridge the gap.

Stylistically the music on "Shadows of the Dying Sun" is an epic sounding type of melodic death metal. Artists like fellow countrymen in Amorphis and especially Omnium Gatherum are valid references. Guitarist Markus Vanhala has played in both Insomnium and Omnium Gatherum since 2011, so that further strengthens the connection between those two acts.

The material on the album are well written, catchy and epic. The tempos vary between heavier mid-paced epic sections and faster paced melodeath sections. Always with strong lead guitar melodies and themes on top of the sharp riffs and heavy rhythm foundation. Acoustic/clean guitar sections also occur. The vocals are predominantly growling (delivered by bassist Niilo Sevänen), but there are occasional clean vocal sections on the album too (delivered by guitarist Ville Friman). Both growls and the male clean vocals are convincing and well delivered.

"Shadows of the Dying Sun" is also a well produced album, where power and epic atmospheres go hand and hand and all in all it´s another high quality melodic death metal release by Insomnium. I´m not sure I find it especially original sounding (and their similarities to Omnium Gatherum are almost eerie), but everything about the album just reeks high class and a 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.
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