Insomnium - Netherworlds (2026)
A powerful and beautifully melancholic melodic death metal album, combining memorable guitar harmonies, atmospheric arrangements and impressive musicianship, even if its familiar songwriting occasionally prevents it from reaching the heights of Insomnium's finest work.
With Netherworlds, Insomnium return to the atmospheric melodic death metal that has defined their career. Following Anno 1696, the Finnish band explore themes of mortality, loss and remembrance through ten compositions that combine aggressive riffs, melancholic guitar melodies and progressive developments. The result is a strong and emotionally engaging album that demonstrates the band's remarkable consistency.
What I appreciate most is the quality of the guitar arrangements. Insomnium have always been particularly effective at creating beautiful melodies within a heavy musical environment, and this album continues that tradition. The combination of distorted guitars, atmospheric keyboards and carefully constructed harmonies gives the music considerable emotional depth. The addition of a third guitarist contributes to the richness of the arrangements without making the overall sound unnecessarily complicated.
“Shadowlife” is my favourite track. It perfectly illustrates what I appreciate about Insomnium: beautiful melancholic guitar melodies, powerful riffs and an effective contrast between aggressive growls and more melodic vocal passages. The composition feels particularly balanced, with enough energy to remain engaging and enough atmosphere to create a genuine emotional connection. Its melodic themes are among the most memorable on the album, making it a track I can easily imagine returning to regularly.
“The Hour Grows Late” is another highlight, particularly because of its ambitious eight-minute structure and the contributions from members of Amorphis. The combination of the two bands' melodic sensibilities is appealing, even if the composition doesn't quite become the exceptional centerpiece I might have expected. “Gleam in the Black” offers a more direct and immediately enjoyable approach, while “Arch of the Sky” introduces interesting atmospheric and electronic textures.
I also appreciate the heavier character of “The Banished”, which provides a welcome burst of aggression, and the emotional development of “Journey's End”. The latter begins with a more delicate acoustic atmosphere before gradually building towards a fuller arrangement, demonstrating the band's ability to create tension through dynamics rather than relying exclusively on heavy riffs.
Niilo Sevänen's growls remain powerful and expressive, providing an effective counterpoint to the melodic instrumentation. The cleaner vocal passages introduce some welcome contrast, although I would have appreciated a little more variety in their use. The production is excellent, allowing the guitars, bass, drums and keyboards to remain clearly identifiable while preserving the weight and intensity of the music.
My main reservation concerns the relatively predictable nature of some compositions. Insomnium rely heavily on their established combination of harmonised guitars, melancholic atmospheres and aggressive vocals. Although this formula remains extremely effective, several passages recall ideas explored on previous albums. I occasionally miss the greater structural ambition and more unexpected developments that distinguish their strongest material.
Some songs also feel slightly repetitive, particularly when their initial melodic themes are repeated without enough variation. The atmosphere remains beautiful, and the instrumental performances are consistently convincing, but not every track leaves the same lasting impression as “Shadowlife” or the album's more ambitious compositions.
Ultimately, Netherworlds is a very enjoyable and accomplished melodic death metal album. I appreciate its beautiful guitar melodies, emotional depth, excellent production and the balance between aggression and atmosphere. Although it doesn't fundamentally reinvent Insomnium's musical identity, it contains enough memorable moments and strong compositions to make it a rewarding addition to their discography. A convincing release from a band that continues to excel at melancholic, melodic metal.
77/100
❤️ Favourite track: “Shadowlife”
+ Beautiful melancholic guitar harmonies and powerful melodic death metal arrangements
+ Excellent production, impressive musicianship and convincing vocal contrasts
+ Several memorable compositions, particularly the outstanding “Shadowlife”
– Familiar songwriting formulas and limited musical innovation
– Some repetitive melodic passages and predictable arrangements
– A few compositions lack the progressive development of the band's strongest work
Genre: Atmospheric Death Metal
Country: Finland
Final Verdict: 77% (Very Good Album)
Yearly Ranking: 6th / 758
Highlight: Shadowlife
Made me think of:
Dark Tranquillity
Swallow the Sun
Omnium Gatherum
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