The mighty INSOMNIUM need no introduction to the Heavy Metal community, but in case you have been living under a rock for the past couple decades, I will placate you. Inspired by bands like AMORPHIS, IN FLAMES, DARK TRANQUILITY, PARADISE LOST, AT THE GATES, and OPETH, Nillo Sevanen formed the band in 1997, in Joensuu, Finland. To date they have released five studio albums, and this new one makes their sixth. Sevanen describes the new album as "an album born of the melancholy, sorrow and dreariness of long winter nights, as relentless and overwhelming as an autumn storm and yet as refreshing as the first sunbeams of a spring morning, and as peaceful as a mild summer's eve". The album contains ten studio tracks.

A short but powerfully stirring track called "The Primeval Dark" opens the album, in full melancholy splendor, leading into "While We Sleep."  There is just no mistaking the unique sound this band possesses. Clean vocal harmonies in the opening versus lead to the deep, dark growl of vocalist Nillo Sevanen. It is wonderfully melodic, and toggles back and forth over the fence between sorrow and hope. As they do so well, that element of pure emotional potency cascades in the background, while the beautiful melody shines through. This is an absolutely brilliant opening track and they have me hook, line and sinker.

"Revelation" is next, storming in with that traditional style running, staccato guitar riff that encapsulates their sound so well, but with some really moving key changes that just soar through the stars.  The guitar work ending the song is simply breathtaking. "Black Heart Rebellion" drives further into the realm of the heart of their sound. This track is quicker, more relentless and straightforward in its delivery. Whispered vocals prance within the hearty, foreboding Death Metal. "Lose to Night" is nothing short of a wonderful ballad, with charm and grace. Once again some clean vocal additions here provide a placid, soothing feeling over the shadows of the instrumentation.  I absolutely love the soft, simple melody that is echoed in the piano passage at the closing of the song. "Collapsing Words" is quintessential INSOMNIUM. That four-bar chord pattern that you often hear carries forth the melody, but there are some surprising, pleasing twists at times that you cannot see coming.

Just when I think there couldn't be any more layering and complexity to the album, I hear "The River" rise up and ascend into the clouds. Niilo's ardent, tortured screams cut through the canvas of melody until they meet the main riff in the chorus in an awe-inspiring duet.  He imparts so much emotion in this track it is hard to hold it inside. "Ephemeral" continues to impress me with a swirling display of melody and harmony amidst the vigorous main riff.  Hankering for that slow, soft track that flows quietly like a night river under the light of moon?  Enter "The Promethean Song". What a marvelously heavyhearted statement they make here. The pure clean vocals in the chorus tell this tale, along with a beautifully supportive guitar solo.

Closing the album is the title track, "Shadows of the Dying Sun". On an album where every song hits the mark and is so memorable, this might be the best track overall, though it is difficult to choose. The cool, breezy opening carries you weightless to the raw power and authority of the chorus. "We're nothing more than shadows", Nillo asserts. How fitting this message is to the song, and the album a whole. In sum, INSOMNIUM bow to no one. This album is without a doubt the best album they have released to date, and that is saying a lot. I daresay that melodic genius Markus Vanhala has left some of his mark here with the absolutely stunning melodic additions.  But they remain consistent and true to their integrity. Everything fans have come to love about this band is still here, and in full resplendence... power, might, darkness, sorrow, hope, reverie, sentiment, focus, and elegance. This album puts all Melodic Death Metal bands on notice... INSOMNIUM have set the bar with "Shadows of the Dying Sun".

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