| | Full Review | Ratings (809) |
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| 4.0 excellent | mothergoose | July 26th 09 |
Finland's finest Insomnium return with an album that will challenge established fans to stomach the addition of clean vocals on a handful of tracks, but as someone who fits in that category I can safely say "do not despair." There is a lot to digest in the eight tracks that have been leaked, and by the time "Where The Last Wave Broke" ends you will be assaulted with so much rich, swirling melodic metal that you'll forget you just heard what sounded like a less abrasive, more Finnish, later-era James Hetfield singing on top of what I think is only fair to call Insomnium's most radio-friendly track since their beginnings. A dedicated sit-down with this album after weeks of worry following the post-card release of 3 of the new tracks (aforementioned track included) dissolved my fears. Here is a band that even when walking out on a potentially weak limb toying with a new style cannot help but churn out some of the most inspired, brooding, nebulous melodic death metal they have become known for with masterpieces such as Since The Day It All Came Down and Above The Weeping World. A quick word about the production: Though the leak is not the final mix, the quality is very good. Any improvement on it would make the production value top notch. (From my blog, 5/5 rating is placeholder to prevent pre-release buzzkill but my rating will be pretty high.)
4 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.0 poor | BallsToTheWall | August 6th 09 |
The term overrated is thrown around alot. Especially on sputnik where third rate melo death bands like Insomnium gain the admiration of many. Across The Dark is a regression for these Finland melodic metallers. And even clean vocals and outside the box instruments cant save this from being an epic fail. It aint no Wolves in the throne room dawg
3 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.5 great | Crimson | July 20th 09 |
I've only heard two Insomnium albums, and I think this might be my favourite. Opposed to Above The Weeping World, where each track sort of blended into each other with the end result being unmemorable (for me at least), Across The Dark has a more varied and progressive feel throughout. One of the main talking points will be the clean vocals, which play their part in several songs, and while they fit really well on 'Where The Last Wave Broke' they only hinder songs like 'The Harrowing Years' and don't always work as well as they might. It's a hit-and-miss outcome to a new aspect of Insomnium's sound, and a chance that they might have needed to take.
Alongside this though is Insomnium at their typical solid best. Bellowing forward some of the most occasionally inspiring and consistently powerful melodic death metal you're likely to hear. 'Against The Stream' has some of the best riffs I've heard in the genre for a while, and the epic second half of 'The Lay Of Autumn' contrasts well with the cleanly sung passage in the first. While I still don't see Insomnium as the best band in the genre as many proclaim them to be, Across The Dark is a brilliant example of why it's so popular, and how to do it well. Awesome production, typical atmosphere, powerful and epic, and just some downright fantastic riff work throughout. Fans of the band will eat this up.
p.s - the acoustic interlude in 'Weighted Down With Sorrow' is pure magic, I pretty much creamed myself at that point.
3 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | Motiv3 | July 26th 09 |
Theres no secret about it, Insomnium are quite possibly my favourite band. 'Across the Dark' shows Insomnium expanding their sound and whilst its comfortably familiar, it sounds fresh and new. The epic leads, serene atmosphere, beautifully executed acoustics and crushing vocals are still present, Insomnium also have taken a more lead way to emotionally driven piano pieces and a very well placed violin piece at the beginning of the closer 'Weighted down with sorrow'. The clean vocals being the most talked about aspect of the album is surpringsly well executed and well placed with the tremendously upbeat chorus of 'Where the last wave broke' being a highlight of a once again extremely atmospheric, epic, serene and emotional album. 'The Lay of Autumn' is possibly the most progressive song Insomnium have done with the inclusion of clean vocals and interchanging between acoustics and hard driven riffs. Finally 'Against the stream' is possibly the best song to date of this year with some amazing riff work and the most melodic and fast paced since their debut. The second half of the song may rightly be compared to Last Statement and is one of the most beautiful outros to a song ive heard in ages. This album is not flawless by any means but will end up being one of the highlights of 2009.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.5 great | JizzInMyPants | July 22nd 09 |
why are you idiots rating it alrdy its not even the final mix
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | VandV | October 26th 10 |
Best melodeath album of the last ten years. If you can't fathom this, get your head out of the sand.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.5 great | Raichuzilla | March 12th 22 |
certainly the most forgettable of sommy's albums, yet not bad. whoever they hired to do their art from this point on was a mistake though
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| 3.0 good | acdrums777 | January 22nd 21 |
Honestly this is Insomnium's weakest record. There are a few decent tracks but the rest are run of the mill Insomnium, which isn't bad, but not the level that is expected from this band
Bump |
| 3.5 great | zaruyache | December 31st 17 |
"Down with the Sun" is an absolute banger, but the rest is sort of just Insomnium being Insomnium, but not as effectively as on their previous records. I definitely find it odd that I don't much enjoy the follow-up to Across the Weeping World as one would expect, but what can you do? It just feels like normal melodeath at this point, lacking the oomph of earlier Insomnium, despite still being almost stylistically identical.
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| 3.5 great | Xenorazr | October 6th 17 |
Across the Dark has made me realize why so many bands can get stuck in a rut of creating generic material, especially melodic death metal. If the music is, for all intents and purposes, fun and fluid, then who cares if it's the opposite of creative? The critic in me agrees that Across the Dark offers nothing to distinguish it from an overly crowded field other than its sheer entertainment value, which is itself a subjective quality. And yet...that's enough for me to walk away with a smile on my face. Interestingly, I feel Across the Dark could've been better if it stuck to the relatively grittier sound of its predecessor, an album I only share modest enthusiasm for. The moments with clean vocals are my least favorite parts, they feel awkward and "comedify" the music (make it easy to snicker at), but outside of that, I'm fine with what they produced here.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Sothgoth | June 11th 11 |
after 100 plays this album grows to one of their best and for me one of the best melodeath albums ever... r
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Cheesewings | November 22nd 10 |
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Insomnium hasn't strayed much from their normal formula, other than making this album darker and perhaps more melancholic than previous efforts, as well as the addition of clean vocals, but I like it that way.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | HSThomas | May 11th 10 |
The pinnacle of Insomnium's career so far. While Above The Weeping World created songs of beauty and power, each one lacked that level of memorability. This finally remedies that problem with nearly every song being a powerhouse. Do not be mistaken, this album is not perfect, it suffers from repetitiveness in songs such as Weighed Down With Sorrow and Sevanen's vocals, despite their intensity, still suffer from being illegable at certain points. Regardless this is an album that should not be overlooked as it is a truly stunning effort.
Bump |
| 3.5 great | Baeleron | September 16th 09 |
Enjoyable album except for the clean vocals. It really makes me sad that so many otherwise awesome bands are jumping on that lame bandwagon. Lets hope Insomnium isn't starting down the same path already tread by Norther, In Flames, Soilwork, and so many others.
Bump |
| 0.0 | Athom EMERITUS | August 7th 09 |
While the songs on Across the Dark are all good, Insomnium are just WAY too comfortable in their niche. The end result is an album that sounds just as pretty and "heavy" as any other Melo-death album released in recent years, leading to Insomnium's (and the genre that they play's) biggest problem: it all sounds the same.
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| 4.0 excellent | T5Cx | March 6th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | EXSCHISM | February 16th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | Glonk | September 19th 23 |
| 3.5 great | arf | August 4th 23 |
| 3.5 great | latpac | July 18th 23 |
| 4.5 superb | Halez | March 22nd 23 |
| 3.5 great | Davey | July 15th 22 |
| 3.5 great | Jerrad | July 13th 22 |
| 3.5 great | Bren80 | July 13th 22 |
| 5.0 classic | Vusra | January 28th 22 |
| 3.5 great | JoneHK | December 6th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Josh | November 24th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | MonkMan | November 1st 21 |
| 3.5 great | Taku | April 12th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | zackseb | February 26th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | ijy10152 | February 15th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | mctang | January 28th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Zac124 | November 30th 20 |
| 2.5 average | remi | November 20th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | cb123 | October 2nd 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Coast | June 20th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | ulcer | April 20th 20 |
| 3.5 great | mEyck07 | December 23rd 19 |
| 3.5 great | alamo | November 8th 19 |
| 3.5 great | valek | October 7th 19 |
| 3.5 great | Poet | August 24th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | kodama | August 4th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | josh | June 10th 19 |
| 3.5 great | Josh | March 30th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Marxman | January 16th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | ElSomni | January 8th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Akifexx | October 5th 18 |
| 5.0 classic | YuckFou | September 11th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | max13x | September 1st 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | madtwoo | April 2nd 18 |
| 4.5 superb | ariich | January 7th 18 |
| 5.0 classic | TrivirT | January 5th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Enzx | December 21st 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Gbhill | December 9th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Death | November 16th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | triviut | November 5th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | ctay145 | October 15th 17 |
| 3.0 good | solrage | September 26th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Jhator | August 28th 17 |
| 3.5 great | KyoZM | June 19th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | stesta | May 31st 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | bSmith | January 13th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jedaum | January 9th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | jpjpablo | December 29th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | djmitra | November 29th 16 |
| 3.0 good | SuzyC | November 9th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | GxTxK | October 24th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Twiddlw | October 24th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | evn | October 4th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | fanta | October 2nd 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Soossi | October 1st 16 |
| 2.5 average | Crysler | September 27th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rainroom | September 24th 16 |
| 2.5 average | GodL1ke | September 5th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Moge | August 23rd 16 |
| 5.0 classic | IceMole | August 18th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Jeejee | August 8th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | wulolu | August 7th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Ma1ze | August 7th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Snide | June 27th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | em17ah | April 28th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Hawks | April 27th 16 |
| 3.5 great | fll | March 26th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Dmax28 | March 24th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Leymon | February 23rd 16 |
| 3.5 great | Dantoni | February 18th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Nishe | January 25th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | gilly | January 8th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Elynna | December 31st 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Defiled | December 4th 15 |
| 3.5 great | Bierlag | November 24th 15 |
| 5.0 classic | tysly | October 19th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | ICDD | September 6th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | rudy4u51 | September 3rd 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tib | July 22nd 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | ignika | June 10th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | KyleW | March 13th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Gigapax | February 5th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Flave | January 8th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | slaps | December 17th 14 |
| 3.5 great | trve | November 16th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | naju890 | November 12th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | KaNe00 | October 16th 14 |
| 3.0 good | jmh886 | September 23rd 14 |
| 3.5 great | Pherin | September 1st 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | alarm | July 17th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | mogmi | June 15th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | mew151 | May 8th 14 |
| 3.0 good | Mawt | April 29th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | ngk44 | April 16th 14 |
| 3.5 great | seifer | April 10th 14 |
| 3.5 great | Apollo | March 27th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tobeza | February 4th 14 |
| 5.0 classic | Melwa | February 1st 14 |
| 3.5 great | Hybza | January 23rd 14 |
| 4.5 superb | Drugoli | January 20th 14 |
| 3.0 good | adr | December 3rd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Giansk | November 25th 13 |
| 3.5 great | Nifkin | October 20th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kazem | October 14th 13 |
| 3.0 good | Dischi | September 26th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | afafard | September 15th 13 |
| 3.5 great | Smial | September 9th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Nagash | September 8th 13 |
| 3.5 great | Daedus | August 22nd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rezaan | August 19th 13 |
| 3.0 good | Hati | August 1st 13 |
| 5.0 classic | jenson | July 15th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | Sina0s | July 7th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | heck | June 27th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | MRDi | June 17th 13 |
| 3.5 great | E0N | May 1st 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Andy37 | February 23rd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sabaton | February 19th 13 |
| 3.5 great | Tale | January 16th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | vkristi | January 12th 13 |
| 3.5 great | Escain | January 6th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Kadaver | October 30th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | sagu | September 27th 12 |
| 3.5 great | jetfuel | September 17th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Nayz | July 15th 12 |
| 3.0 good | Acorn | May 13th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | mifzal | April 4th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Arashi | March 23rd 12 |
| 3.5 great | Shvyin | March 1st 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | SMK | February 22nd 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Stonik | February 4th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Zenetar | January 26th 12 |
| 3.5 great | pcar | January 15th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Shogun | December 19th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Themac | November 21st 11 |
| 3.5 great | ANJ45 | November 16th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | HiLion | October 22nd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | ruszek | October 11th 11 |
| 3.5 great | ABlake | October 7th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Shuyin | September 20th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | op3th | August 19th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | RAGG | August 16th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | 669 | August 8th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Gale | June 14th 11 |
| 3.3 great | Trey STAFF | May 6th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | nibbler | March 26th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Smaizi | March 24th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Luffy | February 23rd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | indojunk | February 19th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Murli | February 14th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Fractal | February 9th 11 |
| 3.5 great | met65 | January 30th 11 |
| 3.5 great | 37er00 | January 28th 11 |
| 3.5 great | YUJOS | January 17th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Pierpo | December 22nd 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | tnp101 | November 9th 10 |
| 3.5 great | Oceans | October 12th 10 |
| 3.5 great | Vesper | September 30th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Spec | September 26th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | semoraz | September 8th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lineman | August 15th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | ess | August 15th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Henrald | July 25th 10 |
| 3.0 good | Creed | July 11th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | coopj | June 15th 10 |
| 3.5 great | Exxor | May 12th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | stum93 | April 25th 10 |
| 3.0 good | ArchoN | April 17th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | 32left | March 18th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kriss | February 26th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Markk1 | January 18th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Zyhaal | January 7th 10 |
| 3.5 great | Heppe | January 6th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | drewkar | December 27th 09 |
| 3.5 great | pixmpy | December 19th 09 |
| 2.5 average | Wolfe | November 22nd 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Writer | November 18th 09 |
| 2.0 poor | qwe3 | November 11th 09 |
| 2.0 poor | pride | November 4th 09 |
| 2.5 average | Phantom | November 1st 09 |
| 3.0 good | ennui | October 10th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | vkeifan | October 2nd 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Grog50 | September 29th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | firish | September 26th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Pochi948 | September 13th 09 |
| 2.0 poor | Wizard | September 8th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Janv92 | September 8th 09 |
| 3.0 good | snores | August 30th 09 |
| 3.0 good | Zion | August 23rd 09 |
| 4.5 superb | ameypv | August 14th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | fazzy | August 14th 09 |
| 3.0 good | Warpt | August 7th 09 |
| 1.5 very poor | atrink | August 6th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Denied | July 30th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tez | July 29th 09 |
| 3.0 good | Zoo | July 22nd 09 |
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