INSOMNIUM is without a doubt, one of the busiest bands in the metal world. When they’re not on the road, they’re in the studio, busy with their other bands, or writing novels. Not only do they often have Finnish mini-tours where they tour all over the country, but they also (at least once or twice per album cycle) go on massive world tours. This gives plenty of opportunities for their fans around the world to check them out. One would think that with so many gigs during the same cycle, they would become monotonous and boring. Quite contrarily, they are one of the few bands that can regenerate themselves and play a different show than they did the night before, even if the setlist is the same. After about fifteen INSOMNIUM gigs under my belt, I speak with confidence when I say that I’ve never seen the same show twice.
This mini-Finnish headlining tour, of which we attended the Helsinki show on March 8th, 2024, at Vanha Ylioppilastalo, was their first of 2024. Although this tour did not have a name, it commemorated the first anniversary of their ninth full-length album, “Anno 1696,” as well as offered accompaniment for their EP “Songs of the Dusk” as well as frontman Niilo Sevänen’s novel Ikitalven Polku, which were both recently released. Support for these dates came from Helsinki Post-Black metal outfit HEXVESSEL, whose sixth studio album “Polar Veil” was just released last autumn. Since these dates also served as a warm-up to INSOMNIUM’s upcoming North American Insomnium Gatherum tour, it was a more specialized type of run, therefore there were no other bands on the bill.
HEXVESSEL is fronted by Mat Kvohst McNerney, who is known for his deep, echoey voice that resembles a haunting, empty cave on a misty night. He has a bit of a cult following as he’s been quite active in the scene for a while but is arguably most familiar for his endeavor in the now-defunct BEASTMILK, currently reincarnated as GRAVE PLEASURES. Even on a sold-out night, it was not a surprise to spot several fans with old BEASTMILK shirts. Locking eyes with a fellow diehard and a gentle head nod needs no words because if you know, you know.
Usually, it’s considered that the closer to the stage, the better, in terms of view. In this case, the best ‘seat’ in the house was either all the way in the first few rows or in the mezzanine, since the floor of Vanha Ylioppilastalo was completely packed to the max. As the anticipation for the night built up, HEXVESSEL took stage, with “Black Mountain Poet“‘s recognizable crunchy guitars and Kvohst’s signature vocals. Lights of blue and red were the only break in the otherwise, complete darkness. It was difficult to distinguish much with the hazy blur onstage, but it was obvious that Kvohst and the band’s bassist, Ville Hakonen, were both in cloaks, further adding to the already darkened macabre.
Without straying far from the expectations of a doomy, umbric performance, the almost fifty-minute set took the audience through eight tracks – seven of which were from their latest release, “Polar Veil.” Few words in between songs were softly spoken from their distorted, muffled microphone that went hand-in-hand with the aesthetics. The audience was in deep rapt soaking in every single note, gently swaying back and forth. More dynamic interaction in the form of chants and raised fists were also taking place and the quick burst of unexpected laughter when Hakonen made bat moves with his cape was priceless. After a quick and final farewell, the band faded off the stage and disappeared into the darkness.
Immediately after everything went pitch black, TYPE O NEGATIVE’s classic “Black No. 1” started playing. What a perfect way to begin the intermission! Anticipation built higher and higher with soundcheck – first with everyone going for a quick pee break before squeezing in the beer line and trying to find a good spot to wait patiently as distinct pieces of riffs and drum lines treat our auditory senses to a small sample of what is to come.
With a scheduled start of 9:15 pm, the lights very punctually went out at 9:14, which led to intense clapping and cheering as fog quickly spread through the stage. ‘1696’, the opening track of the band’s most recent studio album, was also the night’s opener. After a recent switch in the band’s lineup, it was quickly revealed that the band’s core lineup – Niilo Sevänen, Markus Hirvonen, Ville Friman, and Markus Vanhala, would be with us tonight. During the moment before the song’s vocal parts, Sevänen very quickly greeted the crowd before the soaring scream that initiated the wall-of-death-inducing second part of the song. At this point, it’s hard to know if the vibrations on the floor were because of Hirvonen’s insane drumming or the stampede that had been summoned. The lights were flashing and the crowd was chanting – there is no other way to kick off an INSOMNIUM night!
Since the crowd warmed up as quickly as a well-oiled machine, the band immediately went into “Ephemeral,” off their sixth studio album “Shadows Of A Dying Sun,” which is coincidentally turning ten in the coming weeks. This song has been a fan favorite since it was released because of its powerful message. Therefore, it was no surprise that wave of synchronized headbanging from both, the band and the audience, was accompanied by the crowd also singing along to every word, almost as loud, if not louder, than the frontman himself. There was a very strong emphasis of the line “one life, one chance, that’s all we have,” which left a lasting impact complete with goosebumps and a screaming crowd.
After such intensity, we had a little breather with “White Christ,” off the new album. Even though this is a much slower song, one can still see a wave of simultaneous headbangers, still pumped from what just happened. “Pale Morning Star” immediately followed, complete with an epic, extended guitar solo from Mr. Vanhala.
The first circle pit of the night came with the next song, “Lilian,“‘ another new one. “And Bells They Toll” had the crowd singing along with Friman’s clean vocals and was the circle pit placeholder before “Valediction” – another fan favorite from the previous album “Heart Like A Grave.” The crowd ardently carried on with circle pits, chanting and clapping along. The final “cause tonight, the world is burning down” seemed to have shot an arrow through everyone’s heart and pushed everyone to powerfully raise their fists and punch the sky above them.
After a few more words from Sevänen, a melancholic piano introduction that belongs to “The Rapids” begins followed by an eerie guitar intro and fierce drums. The crowd was itching to start another pit and waited patiently for the ravenous vocals to be unleashed to do so. What a polite group of metalheads! After a brief exit, the band returned to a sped-up version of “The Gale” and a sped-up circle pit. After “Mortal Share” and “Song of the Dusk,” the band exited the stage, for good this time, or so we thought.
This time around, the room was in complete darkness and no one moved from their chosen spot. We all had a feeling that the band would return soon enough. The suspense was building but before we knew it, a very familiar sound – “The Primeval Dark” – such a perfect choice with its long intro and sneaky persuasion to throw your fists in the air. What a submissive bunch!
Next, from the same album “While We Sleep,” another beloved piece. The fans didn’t want INSOMNIUM to think they were falling asleep though, so they proved otherwise by finalizing the night with a wall of death. Without wasting any time, the last song of the night. Only one song felt was missing, “Heart Like A Grave,” a song that speaks of endings and closure. A perfect ending to a perfect night!
After the flashing lights, after the music halted, and the darkness became a bright light, “Karelia 2049” accompanied the band through their final bows and farewells.
Written by Slayanys Maniax
Setlist
- 1696
- Ephemeral
- White Christ
- Pale Morning Star
- Lilian
- And Bells They Toll
- Valediction
- The Rapids
- The Gale
- Mortal Share
- Song of the Dusk
- The Primeval Dark (Encore)
- While We Sleep (Encore)
- Heart Like a Grave (Encore)
