Album In Review: INSOMNIUM – Heart Like a Grave

by Scott · February 4, 2020

Overview: Finland’s Insomnium return with their 8th full length album on Century Media Records which was released October 4, 2019 and features new guitarist Jani Liimatainen (The Dark Element, Cain’s Offering, ex-Sonata Arctica) which gives the band a 3 guitar attack for the first time in their existence. Produced by Insomnium and Teemu Aalto (Omnium Gatherum). Mixed and Mastered by Jens Bogren (Amorphis, Kreator, Sepultura) with artwork from Simo Heikkinen and Vesa Ranta (Sentenced). Videos for Valediction and Heart Like a Grave (which both follow a story line), lyric video for Pale Morning Star, and introduction to the album video with A Grave to Heart.

Review: Pretty hard to top Insomnium’s last album, the masterpiece that is Winter’s Gate, which was a concept album that consisted of one 40 minute song, but they didn’t have to. They continue to do what they do best: write catchy, high-level melodic death metal songs with melancholic lyrics that Finnish bands seem to do best. With the addition of a third guitarist it still has the classic Insomnium sound which incorporates everything from heavy blast beat parts to clean vocals to acoustic passages. This album, like all of theirs, has it all. The thing that stands out the most about this album is the catchy guitar melodies which has to be thanks to new guitar player Jani Liimatainen, who’s background in Power Metal bands adds a little more melody guitar-wise to the songs. These guitar lines will get stuck in your head for days and truly makes the songs more memorable. The deluxe edition of this album includes an instrumental acoustic version of the song Pale Morning Star renamed The True Morning Star and a version of the instrumental closing song Karelia renamed Karelia 2049 and is one of the most epic things you will ever hear, almost sounding like a movie soundtrack. These bonus songs truly showcasing the talent and ingenuity of this band. Insomnium has announced a 2020 tour in support of the album with fellow Finns Omnium Gatherum, who share a guitarist in Markus Vanhala, for the US dates (with a stop here in Vegas Apr. 5 at Backstage Bar and Billiards) and Black Dahlia Murder for the European dates.

Final Thoughts: Besides adding a little more melody guitar-wise Insomnium really isn’t breaking any new ground with Heart Like a Grave and I’m sure most people are more than okay with that. These guys deliver well written, high-level melodic death metal songs and they can keep doing this forever and no one would have a problem with it. This band continues to be on top of their game and there is a reason that they are one of the heavyweights of the melodic death metal scene.

Rating: 5/5

Members

Niilo Sevanin: Bass and vocals

Ville Friman: Guitars and clean vocals

Jani Liimatainen: Guitars and clean vocals

Markus Vanhala: Guitars

Markus Hirvonen: Drums