Insomnium – Anno 1696 - 2023 Melodic Death Metal - Black Vinyl - Sealed 180 Grm 2LP + Booklet

C3 The Rapids

 

 

 

''As confirmed in the album's press release, Anno 1696 draws on the culture and mythology of the band's native country. Specifically, it "summon[s] a manifesto of grief and hope from the ever fertile and melancholic Finnish soil" by taking listeners into "a dark and troublesome past in Northern Europe, a time of witches, of superstition, of bloodlust and frenzy. And of werewolves." To that end, frontman Niilo Sevänen has even penned an accompanying short story that, despite not being reviewed here, definitely enhances the rich themes and vibe of the record itself. 

 

That emphasis on rougher edge and macabre storytelling are apparent straight away, as the introductory title track prioritizes hyperactive percussion, crushing guitar riffs, downright demonic singing, and lycanthropic narration. Verses such as "Hour of bloodshed, hour of lies / The hour of murders and vile crimes / No redemption and no pity / No forgiveness of the White Christ” are deeply visceral and compelling. Naturally, subsequent pieces such as “White Christ” and “Godforsaken”—which feature guest singers Sakis Tolis (Rotting Christ) and Johanna Kurkela, respectively—maintain that brutality amidst injecting their own specialties. In particular, Kurkela's ethereal crooning (alongside an especially emotive and mystical arrangement) is a standout of the whole LP.

 

Anno 1696 is a highpoint of modern Finnish melodic death metal as a whole. The quintet's characteristic artistry permeates the whole sequence not only musically but also narratively; as a result, it's a meticulously crafted and ceaselessly mesmerizing journey that embodies the best of what Insomnium—and the genre to which they belong—can do.'' (MetalInjection)