INSOMNIUM – Netherworlds (Album Review)
Updated: Oct 21
Release date: 23 October 2026
Record label: Century Media Records
The Riff Doctor's Score: (9/10)
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Diagnosis
Almost three decades into their career, Insomnium have turned melancholy into an art form. Netherworlds is a breathtaking collision of crushing riffs, haunting melodies and emotional depth, proving that even after ten albums, Finland's masters of melodic death metal still have new worlds to explore.
Best Tracks: Gleam in the Black, The Hour Grows Late, Shadowlife
Deep Cuts: Remembrance, Arch of the Sky, Journey's End
The Full Review
Few bands in melodic death metal reach their tenth studio album with their creative fire still burning quite so fiercely. Fewer still manage to deliver what could arguably stand among the defining works of their career. Yet, almost three decades after their formation, Finland's Insomnium have risen to that challenge with Netherworlds, an album that captures everything that makes them exceptional while pushing their sound into fascinating new territory.
Much of that strength comes from the chemistry between the band's members. Niilo Sevänen's commanding growls and bass, the intricate guitar work and clean vocals of Markus Vanhala and Ville Friman, and Markus Hirvonen's thunderous yet nuanced drumming remain the foundations of their sound. Now, with guitarist and vocalist Tomy Laisto joining the ranks, the Finnish quintet have found another creative spark.
Netherworlds feels like Insomnium at their most mature, complete and captivating. Rather than simply revisiting past glories, they have refined their signature sound into something where colossal riffs, sweeping melodies and moments of almost unsettling fragility coexist beautifully.
Beyond the Gates of the Netherworld
The journey begins with "The Cold Song", an unexpected interpretation of Henry Purcell's centuries-old composition, setting an appropriately chilling atmosphere before the album truly opens its gates.
"Shadowlife", the album's first single, immediately establishes the balance between melody and aggression. Its infectious chorus contrasts beautifully with the crushing intensity surrounding it, delivering one of the record's most immediate and memorable moments.
That interplay between darkness and beauty continues throughout Netherworlds. "Remembrance" offers a deeply introspective experience, with the three-guitar combination of Vanhala, Friman and Laisto weaving melancholic harmonies that feel unmistakably Finnish. A beautifully executed change of pace towards the end gives the track an additional emotional dimension.
Meanwhile, "Gleam in the Black" finds light within the darkness, driven by Hirvonen's powerful drumming and an irresistible melodic hook. It is precisely the kind of song that feels destined to become a live favourite.
One of the album's most impressive moments arrives with "The Hour Grows Late". Featuring guest appearances from Amorphis members Tomi Joutsen, Tomi Koivusaari and Santeri Kallio, the track expands Insomnium's sonic landscape with rich melodies, captivating rhythms and an almost cinematic sense of grandeur. It is a remarkable collaboration and undoubtedly one of the record's highlights.
Where Darkness Meets Beauty
There is a profound emotional weight running through the album's second half. Inspired by Sámi cosmology and the eternal cycle of life, "Arch of the Sky" explores some of its most moving melodic passages, while "Pathways of the Night" recalls the timeless atmosphere of Shadows of the Dying Sun, with memorable guitar lines guiding the listener through another beautifully melancholic landscape.
"Ethereal Sleep" takes that atmosphere even further. Its evocative clean vocals gradually intertwine with heavier instrumentation, creating an almost dreamlike world that demonstrates just how confidently Insomnium can move between delicacy and brutality.
But Netherworlds is far from an exercise in melancholy alone.
"The Banished", composed by newcomer Tomy Laisto, unleashes one of the album's fiercest performances. Its relentless energy provides a welcome surge of aggression towards the closing stages, demonstrating the impact of the band's newest member.
And then comes "Journey's End".
Rather than closing with another overwhelming display of heaviness, Insomnium choose something far more affecting. Almost whispered vocals, lingering notes and a profound sense of calm transform the album's final moments into a peaceful acceptance of mortality. It feels less like an ending and more like finally finding rest after a long journey through darkness.
A Monument to Melancholy
Produced by Miiro Varjus and mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren, Netherworlds achieves a remarkable balance between the nostalgia of Insomnium's finest work and the freshness brought by their evolving line-up.
Moving away from the grand historical narratives of previous releases, the band embrace something more intimate and existential, exploring memory, mortality and the relentless passage of time.
The result is not simply their strongest album in years, but a serious contender for one of the finest melodic death metal releases of the decade.
Some bands write songs about darkness. Insomnium have mastered the art of making it beautiful.
Jaime Gomez for The Riff Collective
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