Review INSOMNIUM ‘Songs From the Dusk’ – EP

Insomnium’s session for ‘Anno 1696’ was a very productive one. Not only did the best songs end up on the album; there were also some tracks that remained waiting to come to light. Instead of just dropping the songs into the ring as bonus material, the Finns have opted to release them on an EP.

‘Songs From the Dusk’ is the name of this EP and there are three songs that once again demonstrate the whole caliber of the band. With a total of 22 minutes of playing time, you also get a good deal and if you want, you can consider ‘Songs From the Dusk’ as a kind of director’s cut to the album.

It starts with ‘Flowers of the Night’. On the one hand there are calm and nature-related sounds while the growled vocals on the one hand represent the roughness of Scandinavian nature and at the same time give the song the necessary hardness.

Insomnium are masters of the interaction of loud and soft and/or calm and explosive, which is also evident in ‘Stained in Red’ followed by the cinematic title track, which unfolds its full glory.

In almost 10 minutes the Finns present the entire spectrum of their musical bandwidth. Melodic and melancholic, the song generates a very special atmosphere. Wrapped in a blanket of darkness, the song is an epic gem that once again shows the entire greatness of the band and it would have been a pity to let these songs languish in the closet.

‘Songs From the Dusk’ is a felicitous extension of the ‘Anno 1696’ listening pleasure and those who like the latest studio album of the Finns, can also grab this album with a positive expectation.