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Insomnium

{{Short description|Finnish melodic death metal band}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Insomnium

| image = Insomnium Party.San Metal Open Air 2017 46.jpg

| image_size = 250

| landscape = yes

| alt =

| caption = Insomnium performing at Party.San 2017

| origin = Joensuu, Finland

| genre = Melodic death metal

| years_active = {{start date|1997}}–present

| label = {{Flatlist|

}}

| associated_acts = {{flatlist|

}}

| website = {{URL|www.insomnium.net}}

| current_members = {{plainlist|

  • Niilo Sevänen
  • Ville Friman
  • Markus Vanhala
  • Markus Hirvonen

}}

| past_members = {{plainlist|

}}

}}

Insomnium is a Finnish melodic death metal band formed in Joensuu in 1997. The sound and lyrical themes of their music portray darkness, sorrow, loss, pain, and nature. Their music includes elements of progressive metal, black metal, folk metal, and doom metal.

History

On 9 September 2011, Insomnium released the music video "Through the Shadows" from their 2011 album, One for Sorrow.{{cite web|title=New Video – Insomnium- Through The Shadows|url=http://www.metalcallout.com/metal-music-videos/new-video-insomnium-through-the-shadows.html|publisher=Metal CallOut|access-date=2011-09-09|archive-date=15 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215032404/http://www.metalcallout.com/metal-music-videos/new-video-insomnium-through-the-shadows.html|url-status=dead}}

In November 2011, Insomnium embarked on their first headlining European tour with support from Before the Dawn and MyGRAIN.{{Cite web|url=http://www.insomnium.net/news/113/56/Album-release-dates-and-European-headline-tour|title=INSOMNIUM | News|date=10 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111210194817/http://www.insomnium.net/news/113/56/Album-release-dates-and-European-headline-tour|access-date=9 October 2020|archive-date=10 December 2011}} During April 2012 Insomnium returned to tour the U.K. as the main support act for British gothic metal band Paradise Lost. Vreid was also present on the tour as a supporting opening act.

On 19 September 2013, Insomnium released "Ephemeral", a single from their foreshadowed 2014 album, Shadows of the Dying Sun, via Century Media Records. It is the first track to feature new guitarist, Markus Vanhala (Omnium Gatherum), who replaced Ville Vänni in 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/insomnium-new-song-ephemeral-released/ |title=Insomnium: New Song 'Ephemeral' Released |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |date=2013-09-19 |access-date=2015-08-19}}

On 29 April 2014, Insomnium released their sixth studio album, Shadows of the Dying Sun. On 30 April 2014 they made a guest appearance on Epica's CD release show at 013 in the Netherlands.

On 19 May 2016, Insomnium announced their seventh studio album, Winter's Gate to be released on 23 September. It is a concept album consisting of a single epic 40-minute track, and it is said to be about "a group of Vikings who set out to find a fabled island west of Ireland, despite the treacherous winter drawing near."{{Cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/insomnium-to-release-winters-gate-album-book-in-september/|title=INSOMNIUM To Release 'Winter's Gate' Album, Book in September|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|date=19 May 2016|access-date=19 May 2016}} This album was based on the short story by Niilo, "Winter's Gate", or "Talven Portti" in the original Finnish. This story won or was nominated for many Finnish awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/insomnium-to-release-winters-gate-album-book-in-september|title=Insomnium To Release 'Winter's Gate' Album, Book in September – Blabbermouth.net|date=19 May 2016}}

In 2019, they announced their eighth album, Heart Like a Grave, would be released on 4 October 2019. With the album announcement they also confirmed that the guitarist Jani Liimatainen had joined the band as a full-time member, as he had occasionally filled in for Ville Friman on tours since 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/insomnium-new-album-heart-like-a-grave/|title=Insomnium Announce New Album 'Heart Like a Grave'|first=Graham|last=Hartmann|website=Loudwire|access-date=2 November 2019}}

Insomnium released a new EP, titled Argent Moon, on 17 September 2021.{{cite web|url=http://metalstorm.net/events/news_comments.php?news_id=42724|title=Insomnium – Release 'The Antagonist' Song, Announce EP|publisher=Metal Storm|access-date=8 August 2021|date=17 July 2021}} Simultaneously, they talked about plans for the ninth studio album to be released in 2022.{{cite web|url=http://metalstorm.net/events/news_comments.php?news_id=42944|title=Insomnium – To Release Ninth Studio Album Next Year|publisher=Metal Storm|access-date=8 August 2021|date=8 August 2021}} In 2022, they announced their ninth album, Anno 1696, would be released on 24 February 2023. Like Winter's Gate, the album is based on a short story by Niilo.{{cite web|author=Greg Kennelty|url=https://metalinjection.net/new-music/insomnium-streams-lilian-announces-new-record-anno-1696|title=INSOMNIUM Streams "Lilian," Announces New Record Anno 1696|publisher=Metal Injection|access-date=8 November 2022|date=4 November 2022}}

In March 2025, Niilo Sevänen confirmed that a tenth studio album by Insomnium is in the works and planned for a 2026 release.{{cite web|url=https://metalstorm.net/events/news_comments.php?news_id=57927|title=Insomnium - Working On New Material|publisher=Metal Storm|access-date=31 March 2025|date=31 March 2025}}

Members

= Current members =

  • Niilo Sevänen – bass, unclean vocals (1997–present)
  • Ville Friman – guitars (1997–present); clean vocals (2011–present)
  • Markus Hirvonen – drums (1997–present)
  • Markus Vanhala – guitars (2011–present)

= Former members =

  • Tapani Pesonen – guitars (1997–1998); drums (1997)
  • Timo Partanen – guitars (1998–2001)
  • Ville Vänni – guitars (2001–2011)
  • Jani Liimatainen – guitars, clean vocals (2019–2024; touring 2015–2019)

= Touring members =

  • Mike Bear – vocals, bass (2015)
  • Nick Cordle – guitars (2022–2024)
  • Brandon Ellis – guitars (2024){{cite web |last1=Insomnium |title=Update on Jani Liimatainen |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=935976187889924&set=pcb.935873797900163 |website=Facebook |access-date=16 February 2024}}
  • Tomy Laisto – guitars (2024–present){{Cite web |date=2024-08-09 |title=Insomniumofficial Instagram page |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C-c-8wRoxa5/ |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=www.instagram.com}}

=Timeline=

{{#tag:timeline|

ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20

PlotArea = left:90 bottom:75 top:0 right:0

Alignbars = justify

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy

Period = from:01/01/1997 till:{{#time: d/m/Y}}

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1997

ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1998

Legend = position:bottom orientation:vertical columns:3

Colors =

id:bass value:blue legend:Bass,_unclean_vocals

id:clean value:red legend:Clean_vocals

id:guitar value:green legend:Guitars

id:drums value:orange legend:Drums

id:album value:black legend:Studio_album

id:other value:gray(0.5) legend:Other_release

id:bars value:gray(0.9)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

LineData =

at:30/04/2002 color:album layer:back

at:05/04/2004 color:album layer:back

at:09/08/2006 color:album layer:back

at:07/09/2009 color:album layer:back

at:17/10/2011 color:album layer:back

at:28/04/2014 color:album layer:back

at:23/09/2016 color:album layer:back

at:04/10/2019 color:album layer:back

at:23/02/2023 color:album layer:back

at:05/04/1999 color:other layer:back

at:15/09/2000 color:other layer:back

at:19/11/2013 color:other layer:back

at:17/09/2021 color:other layer:back

at:03/11/2023 color:other layer:back

BarData =

bar:sevane text:"Niilo Sevänen"

bar:friman text:"Ville Friman"

bar:partanen text:"Timo Partanen"

bar:vanni text:"Ville Vänni"

bar:vanhala text:"Markus Vanhala"

bar:liimatain text:"Jani Liimatainen"

bar:pesonen text:"Tapani Pesonen"

bar:hirvonen text:"Markus Hirvonen"

PlotData =

width:13 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)

bar:sevane from:01/01/1997 till:end color:bass

bar:friman from:01/01/1997 till:end color:guitar

bar:friman from:03/01/2011 till:end color:clean width:3

bar:pesonen from:01/01/1997 till:30/06/1997 color:drums

bar:pesonen from:01/07/1997 till:30/06/1998 color:guitar

bar:partanen from:01/07/1998 till:30/06/2001 color:guitar

bar:vanni from:01/07/2001 till:31/10/2011 color:guitar

bar:liimatain from:16/07/2019 till:16/02/2024 color:guitar

bar:liimatain from:16/07/2019 till:16/02/2024 color:clean width:3

bar:vanhala from:31/10/2011 till:end color:guitar

bar:hirvonen from:01/07/1997 till:end color:drums

}}

Discography

=Studio albums=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+ List of studio albums, with selected chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Details

! scope="col" colspan="11" | Peak chart positions

scope="col" style="width:2.2em;font-size:90%;"| FIN
{{Cite web|url=http://finnishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Insomnium |title=Discography Insomnium |website=finnishcharts.com |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=22 September 2015}}

! scope="col" style="width:2.2em;font-size:90%;"| AUT
{{Cite web|url=http://austriancharts.at/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Insomnium|title=Discographie Insomnium|work=austriancharts.at|language=de|access-date=2 January 2018}}

! scope="col" style="width:2.2em;font-size:90%;"| BEL (FL)
{{Cite web|title=Discografie Insomnium|url = http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Insomnium|website=ultratop.be|language=de|access-date=2 January 2018}}

! scope="col" style="width:2.2em;font-size:90%;"| BEL (WA)
{{Cite web|title=Discographie Insomnium|url = http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Insomnium|website=ultratop.be|language=fr|access-date=2 January 2018}}

! scope="col" style="width:2.2em;font-size:90%;"| FRA
{{Cite web|title=lescharts.com – Discographie at the Gates|url=http://lescharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Insomnium|website=lescharts.com|language=fr|access-date=2 January 2018}}

! scope="col" style="width:2.2em;font-size:90%;"| GER
{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/suche?artistId=Insomnium|title=Discographie von Insomnium|publisher=GfK Entertainment|access-date=9 October 2019}}

! scope="col" style="width:2.2em;font-size:90%;"| JPN
{{Cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/422875/rank/album/|title=インソムニウムのアルバム売上ランキング|publisher=Oricon |language=ja|access-date=2 January 2018}}

! scope="col" style="width:2.2em;font-size:90%;"| SWI
{{Cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Insomnium|title=Discographie Insomnium|website=hitparade.ch|language=de|access-date=2 January 2018}}

scope="row" | In the Halls of Awaiting

|

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

scope="row" | Since the Day It All Came Down

|

  • Released: 4 May 2004
  • Label: Candlelight
  • Formats: CD, LP, DL

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

scope="row" | Above the Weeping World

|

  • Released: 17 October 2006
  • Label: Candlelight
  • Formats: CD, LP, DL

| 9 || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

scope="row" | Across the Dark

|

  • Released: 7 September 2009
  • Label: Candlelight
  • Formats: CD, CD+DVD, LP, DL

| 5 || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

scope="row" | One for Sorrow

|

  • Released: 18 October 2011
  • Label: Century Media
  • Formats: CD, LP, DL

| 6 || — || — || — || — || 95 || — || —

scope="row" | Shadows of the Dying Sun

|

  • Released: 29 April 2014
  • Label: Century Media
  • Formats: CD, LP, DL

| 2 || 38 || — || — || 178 || 18 || 287 || 23

scope="row" | Winter's Gate

|

  • Released: 23 September 2016
  • Label: Century Media
  • Formats: CD, LP, DL

| 1 || 27 || 124 || 92 || 184 || 19 || — || 17

scope="row" | Heart Like a Grave

|

  • Released: 4 October 2019
  • Label: Century Media
  • Formats: CD, LP, DL

| 1 || — || 154 || 115 || 178
{{cite web|url=http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-album-megafusion/?ye=2019&we=41|title=Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums Fusionnes – SNEP (Week 41, 2019)|publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|language=fr|access-date=21 October 2019}}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} || 10 || — || 15

scope="row" | Anno 1696

|

  • Released: 24 February 2023
  • Label: Century Media
  • Formats: CD, LP, DL

| 1
{{Cite web|url=https://www.ifpi.fi/lista/albumit/2023/9/|title=Albumit 9/2023|publisher=Musiikkituottajat|access-date=6 March 2023}} || 15 || 165 || — || — || 5 || — || 10

colspan="14" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

= Singles =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;"

|+ List of singles

!Title

!Details

scope="row"| "Where the Last Wave Broke"

|

scope="row"| "Weather the Storm"{{cite web |url=http://centurymedia.com/release.aspx?IdRelease=1238 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622135247/http://www.centurymedia.com/release.aspx?IdRelease=1238 |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 June 2020 |title=Insomnium – Weather the Storm (Digital Single) |publisher=Century Media Records |access-date=22 September 2015 }}

|

scope="row"| "Ephemeral"{{cite web |url=http://centurymedia.com/release.aspx?IdRelease=1553 |title=Insomnium – Ephemeral (Digital single) |publisher=Century Media Records |access-date=22 September 2015 |archive-date=5 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905165018/http://www.centurymedia.com/release.aspx?IdRelease=1553 |url-status=dead }}

|

  • Released: 23 September 2013
  • Label: Century Media
scope="row"| "While We Sleep"{{cite web |url=http://www.centurymedia.com/newsdetailed.aspx?IdNews=14234&IdCompany=3 |title=Insomnium – While We Sleep |publisher=Century Media Records |access-date=8 April 2014 |archive-date=27 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927050555/http://www.centurymedia.com/newsdetailed.aspx?IdNews=14234&IdCompany=3 |url-status=dead }}

|

  • Released: 8 April 2014
  • Label: Century Media
scope="row"| "The Conjurer"{{Cite web|title=Century Media Records – Insomnium: : Release Single & Video To "The Conjurer"|url=https://www.centurymedia.com/newsdetailed.aspx?IdNews=24424&IdCompany=3|access-date=2021-03-21|website=centurymedia.com}}

|

  • Released: 19 March 2021
  • Label: Century Media
scope="row"| "The Reticent"{{cite web |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/insomnium-drops-new-single-the-reticent/ |title=Insomnium – The Reticent |date=21 May 2021 |publisher=Blabbermouth |access-date=21 May 2021}}

|

  • Released: 21 May 2021
  • Label: Century Media
scope="row"| "Song of the Dusk"{{cite web |url=https://distortedsoundmag.com/insomnium-announce-new-ep-songs-of-the-dusk/ |title=Insomnium – Song of the Dusk |date=1 September 2023 |publisher=Distorted Sound Mag |access-date=15 October 2023}}

|

  • Released: 1 September 2023
  • Label: Century Media

= Demos =

  • Demo 1999 (1999)
  • Underneath the Moonlit Waves (2000)

= EPs =

  • Ephemeral (2013)
  • Argent Moon (2021)
  • Songs of the Dusk (2023)

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{commons category}}

  • {{Official website|http://www.insomnium.net/}}

{{Insomnium}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1997 establishments in Finland

Category:Finnish heavy metal musical groups

Category:Finnish melodic death metal musical groups

Category:Musical groups established in 1997

Category:Finnish musical quintets

Category:Candlelight Records artists