"Anno 1696" CD by Insomnium

Jewelcase-Edition.

Only a few bands combine darkness, melody, and musicality like the Finnish band INSOMNIUM. With 'Anno 1696', the ninth part of their sonic explorations, which also include masterpieces like 'Shadows of the Dying Sun' (2014) or 'Winter's Gate' (2016), INSOMNIUM continues to intertwine bitter sonic branches, setting the standard for upcoming nightmares. From the expansive soundscapes and sparse chords that open the album with the track '1696', to the sonic cloud and deathly growls of 'White Christ', the haunting 'Godforsaken', the catchiness of 'Lilian', and the epic closing piece of the album, 'The Rapids', 'Anno 1696' is a soundtrack of intensity and despair that captivates and doesn't let go. A masterpiece of Finnish melancholy.