It seems like so many bands in recent years make the decision to at some point in their career, tackle a massive album length song that not only comes across as epic but is able to hold the attention of the listener for 40+ minutes. Finland's masters of melancholy death metal Insomnium have done just that with their latest release for Century Media, titled Winter's Gate, which clocks in at an even 40-minutes. Apparently the band wanted to pay homage to the legendary Crimson album by Sweden's Edge of Sanity, a recording that stands as one of the most adventurous examples of epic, progressive death metal ever created. Well, they've done an admirable job here, the band more than able to switch between raging melodic death metal, folk, electronica, and a touch of prog throughout this lengthy opus, much like they do normally on any given release. As you make your way through the first 10 or so minutes, plenty of light & shade are displayed, the band firing off the menacing metal but then seamlessly flowing into grand symphonics as quick as you can bat an eye. There are about 5 minutes of lovely Anathema styled atmospheric rock, filled with tasty guitar work and layers of color, before the booming bass and heavy guitar riffs signal the arrival of the venomous growls and even some clean vocal choirs which all help to tell the story of Vikings on a quest in search of the fabled lands of Ireland.
The excitement and the intrigue never let up throughout the 40 minute running time, the band constantly shifting gears yet never losing the listener one bit. Prog blends into death metal then mixes up with folk and sliding in some electronica, all done masterfully by this veteran band. The final 8 minutes are just incredible, as furious growls soaring over blast beats and raging riffs eventually succumb to gorgeous acoustic guitar strains and majestic piano. Ultimately, it's an incredible journey that Insomnium have created here, one that you'll want to revisit time and time again.
See more about this release on our recent YouTube show!
Track Listing
1) Winter's Gate (40:00)
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
