INSOMNIUM - One For Sorrow CD Review

ARTIST: Insomnium
TITLE: One for Sorrow
YEAR: 2011
LABEL: Century Media
REVIEWED BY: John Roach

Insomnium have always had the talent to be able to put out such beautiful and brutal metal music. They deliver this sound in abundance in the new “One for Sorrow” album that just released in North America. I was going to sit at my computer with a coffee and look out at the howling wind and rain through my window while I reviewed, but after the first track I had to do one my walks with this music no matter what the conditions were outside. The atmosphere created with the cymbals light touch, the guitars with a hint of delay, and the chilling ambient noise behind it all with a soft distortion rhythm guitar and whispered vocals that come in later to build up towards that Insomnium sound I’ve grown to love made me get off my ass and head to the waterfront. I strapped on my gear, laced up my boots and head out into the storm. Nothing is more empowering that listening to a band like Insomnium and facing intense weather.

As I walked and track by track went by, I noticed how comforting it was and how I was head banging into the wind. There’s a serious groove and flow to the melodic stream of notes with those trademark Insomnium moments. Each song is Insomnium through and through but also adds little new touches that kept catching me off guard. New touches such as the introduction of clean vocals by their guitarist Ville (not sure which Ville) which remind me of the clean vocals off of their last release “Across The Dark” by Jules Näveri (Profane Omen). It’s a very nice addition to the Insomnium sound and I’ve glad they’ve kept it even only for certain songs. The dominant, powerful vocals of Niilo Sevänen are still as strong as they ever were. The production on this record is completely solid from the drums and bass to the synths and guitars. Everything is blended together brilliantly. I’ve listened to the album now with my headphones and my stereo system and it’s flawless. This is without a doubt one of Insomnium’s tightest and polished works to date.

It was something else when I got to the waterfront at around 11pm when the instrumental track “Decohearance” started playing. The waves crashing on the dock with the strong wind was enhanced by this song somehow. When an instrumental track can convey such depth and emotion without words it shows how music is the universal language. I was in so much in awe of this track and I had to replay it and sit by the water a little while longer. I looked out into the darkness with nothing around me but faint lights and the tour boat brushing against its port. Being there at that moment with that song was so up lifting and unforgettable. Being hit then with the next track “Lay The Ghost to Rest”, the wind got even stronger as if to go along with the song’s intensity. I stood up and relished in the moment and this amazing music that I was able to get my hands on. The poetic nature of the lyrics and music with this weather in the middle of the night was something I don’t think I’ll ever forget.

Albums like this remind me why I love metal as much as I do. I’ve been an Insomnium fan for a few years now and this is a welcomed and treasured part of my music collection. If you are an Insomnium fan or just a fan of Melodic Death metal in general, I HIGHLY suggest you pick this album up. Insomnium has a music video for the second track “Through the Shadows” and it’s a great place to start if you’re new to this act! Enjoy!

TRACKLISTING:

01. Inertia
02. Through the Shadows
03. Song of the Blackest Bird
04. Only One Who Waits
05. Unsung
06. Every Hour Wounds
07. Decoherence
08. Lay the Ghost to Rest
09. Regain the Fire
10. One for Sorrow