Metalcatto
Insomnium has had a career with ups and downs, yet is one of the few bands with two peaks (Above the Weeping Moon and Winter’s Gate). Consistency has been enormous for this band. They have managed to make MeloDeath interesting every single time a new release comes around. Netherworlds has a significant challenge ahead, but let’s see. Full disclosure: Insomnium is my wife’s favorite band, so I’m doing this review at gunpoint. Help!
It seems these guys have been listening to Fires in the Distance, because the atmosphere is clearly going in that direction. Even if it’s a subtle change, we have a much more “magical” and almost joyful vibe. Don’t worry, though, you’re still going to get tons of depressing lyrics and guitar lines that pierce through your soul. There’s also a lot of Amorphis going on here, with more folk elements and more “heroic” moments.
No surprise here, because there’s an entire song, “The Hour Grows Late,” where half of Amorphis tags along (that can’t be cheap!). The influence of these more adventurous and less darkly depressing players is clear. Insomnium is indeed mixing things up a bit, but it’s impossible not to compare this with their previous work. Netherworlds feels like a middle step between One for Sorrow and Heart Like a Grave. That’s not bad, right? You’ll be able to cry over your ex comfortably with this.
Netherworlds does run out of steam as it reaches its end. It’s not terrible, but the softer tracks reminded me of the divisive Shadows of the Dying Sun, or, as I like to call it: “When these guys made the most money.” It’s okay that it gets sentimental, but this is too intense for me not to say, “Stop. Go to therapy instead.” Either way, I would’ve liked the album to be more aggressive and perhaps try something more conceptually ambitious. Insomnium has been here many times before.
Netherworlds shows that Insomnium is the Immolation of MeloDeath. The guys might not change their sound all that much, but what they do, they do pretty damn well. Even the production has that clean Amorphis touch that I can’t complain about. They might never make another Winter’s Gate, but the real question here is: is this one better than Anno 1696? This is the perfect discussion for the nerds on Reddit, or for us on Instagram. I’d rather have you with us, of course!
Label: Century Media
Release date: October 16, 2026
Website: https://centurymedia.bandcamp.com/album/netherworlds-24-bit-hd-audio
Country: Finland
Score: 3.5/5.0
