INSOMNIUM

Formed: 1997, Finland
Genres: Melodic Death Metal

Biography

Insomnium is a melodic death metal band from Joensuu, Finland, whose music also reveals links to other, neighboring metallic subgenres like doom, melancholy, and dark metal. Originally formed in 1997, the group released a pair of demos in 1999 and 2000 before signing a contract with England's Candlelight Records, and making their full-length debut via 2002's In the Halls of Awaiting CD. Two additional albums -- Since the Day It All Came Down and Above the Weeping World -- have since followed, in 2004 and 2006, respectively, and not only confirmed Insomnium's enduring passion for their chosen musical style, but also their stable lineup consisting of Niilo Sevänen (bass/vocals), Ville Friman (guitar), Ville Vänni (guitar), and Markus Hirvonen (drums).

They are influenced by doom metal, playing songs about sorrow, death and loss. They also incorporate elements of nordic / norse folk music and symphonic music into their sound.
Since their inception, Insomnium have steadily evolved their style of music. Their melodies are highly melancholic, and their overall sound is much darker. The band's lyrics tend to be influenced (and occasionally taken) from classic poets like Hölderlin, Edgar Allan Poe, Finnish classic Eino Leino and other literature.

Band members

Current members
• Niilo Sevänen − vocals, bass (Watch Me Fall) (1997−present)
• Ville Friman − guitar (Arrival, Enter My Silence) (1997−present)
• Ville Vänni − guitar (Watch Me Fall, ex-Hateform) (2001−present)
• Marcus Hirvonen − drums (1997−present)

Former members

• Tapani Pesonen − drums, guitar (1997−1998)
• Timo Partanen − guitar (1998−2001)

Discography

• Demo '99 (demo) (1999)
• Underneath the Moonlit Waves (demo) (2000)
• In the Halls of Awaiting (2002)
• Since the Day it All Came Down (2004)
• Above the Weeping World (2006)
• Across the Dark (Autumn 2009)