History & Biography Joensuu-based Insomnium was formed in 1997 and featured former Paise drummer Tapani Pesonen. This line-up played around with originals and covers of Amorphis, Paradise Lost and others. Demo '99 and 2000's Underneath The Moonlit Waves were recorded and the band obtained a deal with Candlelight. During 2004 Vänni formed Hateform to cater to his thrash metal needs. The band announced October 17th, 2006 as the release date for Above The Weeping World. The band would release its newest album, Across The Dark, on September 7th of 2009 through Candlelight Records. The CD was recorded at Fantom studio. The band’s line-up was stable. The band completed work on Down With the Sun, a video from Across The Dark. The video was filmed in high-definition and captured the band in a live soundstage setting. Insomnium’s Across The Dark album entered the Finnish charts at the number five slot. Sensing an opportunity, Century Media Records signed the band in the summer of 2010. The band was to enter the studio in December to record its new album for a 2011 release. Insomnium picked One For Sorrow as the title for its next album, which was due in October of 2011 through Century Media Records. The album was recorded in Gothenburg, Sweden with Dark Tranquillity’s Daniel Antonsson.
Insomnium’s Shadows Of The Dying Sun was released through Century Media in mid-2014. It reached position 18 on the German charts. It was Markus Vanhala's first album with the band. Finland’s Insomnium recruited Nick Cordle (of Sanctuary and ex-Arch Enemy and Arsis) in the summer of 2015 as the stand-in guitarist for its American tour. Ville Friman was busy with his day job.
Insomnium had written a one-track album called Winter's Gate, which was due out in September through Century Media. The album was a story of the Vikings. Insomnium toured North America with Epica for 2017. Insomnium released a new album, called Heart Like A Grave, through Century Media Records in October 2019. Liimatainen had joined the band on guitar and clean vocals. Markus Vanhala was part of a new gothic side-project, with members from Amorphis, Dark Tranquillity, Dimmu Borgir, etc., called Cemetery Skyline beginning 2020. Insomnium had a new single and video called The Conjurer in 2021. Finland-based Insomnium had an EP, called Argent Moon, through Century Media Records on 17.09.2021.
Insomnium released an album, called Anno 1696, through Century Media Records in February 2023. There was a video for the song Lilian. The album’s title referred to the age of witch hunts across Europe. The band was booked for the 70000 Tons Of Metal cruise in January and February. The band announced a North American tour with Enslaved for spring of 2023. The Anno 1696 story was continued on the autumn 2023 EP, Songs Of The Dusk. These songs were also available on an edition of the full-length. The group toured Europe in the autumn with Kvaen and In Mourning. There were Finnish concerts followed by a tour of North America with Omnium Gatherum and Wilderun and then a tour with Amon Amarth, Kanonfieber and The Halo Effect in the summer of 2024. Insomnium has lost the services of singer and guitarist Jani Liimatainen in early 2024 however. The band reported that he was not communicating for some time and unavailable. The parties went officially gone separate ways. The band’s North American tour with Omnium Gatherum (which also featured Jani previously) would feature Brandon Ellis (The Black Dahlia Murder) and Nick Cordle (Omnium Gatherum) instead.
Reviews INSOMNIUM - SINCE THE DAY IT ALL CAME DOWN - CANDLELIGHT
Since The Day It All Came Down does not care to reinvent the wheel. Instead the Finnish band's second album takes influences like Sentenced (the cover artwork says it all), Children Of Bodom and Dark Tranquility and delivers a solid album of great mid-paced metal. Where Children Of Bodom copy-bands like Norther keep the heaviness low by using keyboards, Insomnium sticks exclusively to metal and instead spices up its music with harmonies, acoustic interludes and a favourable sound. This band also has an overall downbeat sound which is not far from what one might hear from Sentenced.
Insomnium might not have an original bone in its body, but it is difficult to get incensed when the songs are this good. - Ali "The Metallian"
INSOMNIUM - ABOVE THE WEEPING WORLD - CANDLELIGHT 
Above The Weeping World is part old In Flames, Paradise Lost, Sentenced and Amon Amarth. For its growling singer, temperamental guitars and driving rhythm it is also the most accessible this style of heavy metal can get.
The band’s third album, the follow-up to 2002’s In The Halls Of Awaiting and 2004’s Since The Day It All Came Down, has fast parts, up-tempo jabs and the growls of Niilo Sevänen, yet can be nearing commercial viability amidst the melodies, consistent guitar harmonies and passionate riffs. At The Gates Of Sleep begins with and incorporates moody acoustic pieces, The Killjoy has a killer riff and a warm bass guitar sound, Last Statement and In The Groves of Death are warm and cold and up and down and switch between the morose and the metal. It is that last track that particularly hints at an undercurrent of pacification or cultivation. No matter, Above The Weeping World is the kind of album that just might clinch the favour of the death and heavy metal fans, yet for now veers sharply to the former for its harsh vocal tones. - Ali “The Metallian”
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