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Band
Insomnium
Title
Shadows of the Dying Sun
Type
LP/EP
Company
Century Media
YOR
2014
Style
Death
6/24/2014 - Review by: T. Ray Verteramo

Insomnium
Shadows of the Dying Sun

Company: Century Media
Release: 2014
Genre: Melodic death
Reviewer: T. Ray Verteramo

  • The buck stopped in the studio



  • The concept of "melodic death metal," is a romantic one – "my sweet death," so to speak. So, naturally, this genre would be attractive to the musicians who like a little thoughtfulness with their brutality. However, that being said, it's not an easy balance to maintain in order to keep it from sounding awkward and these guys nearly have it down.

    There's no question of the musicianship. Hirvonen (drums) drives the tank with versatility and solidity, shaking things up a bit with some nice pattern changes, particularly on "Sun's" 3rd track, "Revelation". He makes his presence perfectly clear that he is definitely comfortable with his craft. Axemen Friman and Vanhala work well as a team, though no particular chord progressions or riffs stand out anywhere, either between them or from each. Sevanen (lead vocals / bass) may be the real victim of production infection, however. He could have a very strong voice, I couldn't tell because his tracks were bussed so below the guitar line, he sounded like he was singing from another room. There were times when I thought I could distinguish "purring" from "growling" but, I found myself wondering if it was him or maybe Till Hindemann from Rammstein decided to make a cameo...

    It is a real shame. I have no idea what effect they were trying to achieve with such brazen neglect of talent. Maybe they were trying to illustrate his voice as a blended instrument rather than a frontman. Who knows? All I know is that it was very hard to appreciate the compositions and the songwriting – which they are fairly able with – when you can't connect with it, especially for this hybrid style of metal because it kills the romance. There's no "melodic" death metal when there's no "melody".

    Thundering drums surrounded by searing guitars would probably work for something else. Unfortunately, not this. It really is a shame. Vision's there, talent's there, but the buck stopped in the studio and didn't leave.



    • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
      3 :AVE RATING

    ALL REVIEWS FOR: INSOMNIUM
    TITLE
    DOR
    COMPANY
    REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
    Above The Weeping World
    2006
    Candlelight
    Etiam2/23/2007
    3
    Across The Dark
    2009
    Candlelight
    Eric Compton3/4/2010
    4.5
    Shadows of the Dying Sun
    2014
    Century Media
    T. Ray Verteramo6/24/2014
    3
    Since the day it all came down
    2004
    Candlelight
    Ajax8/17/2004
    -
    Winter's Gate
    2016
    Century Media
    Eric Compton12/16/2016
    3.5

    ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: INSOMNIUM
    INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE


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