Insomnium - Ephemeral EP

Insomnium seem to be confident of a strong album release in 2014, with the as yet unnamed project touted by the band to be sounding amazing on their Twitter and Facebook pages. If there's anything to get excited about (apart from all the great records they have created in the past) there is a teaser EP, Ephemeral which contains the title track and three acoustic instrumentals. Whether or not this track appears on the anticipated new album is subject to speculation, but either way it documents a band on form.

There is a subtle haunting in the vein of Dark Tranquility (no strangers - see below) that echoes though the opening passages of 'Ephemeral'. It has all the elements of a fantastic Insomnium tune, pacy heavy yet beautiful in so many ways, so much so it could probably slip into their most complete album to date, Above The Weeping World (2006) The screams and growls are all perfectly timed and punched though the mix by the pounding percussion. Even the interlude/bridge whatever you want to call it is just as strong as the rest o the song which is a failing of so many melodic death metal bands.

Weather the Storm featuring Mikael Stanne of Dark Tranquility (2011)

The three acoustic tracks that follow Ephemeral are undeniably quality pieces and can be listened to as one track with three parts, but surely unnecessary considering the amount of acoustic interludes and tracks across all the Insomnium catalogue. They are worth a listen nonetheless. This EP serves as a window to the highs and lows, emotionally speaking we can come to expect in 2014 from this remarkable band.

Moonsorrow - Tulimyrsky EP Review (from 2009)

Originally posted on Blistering.com, 2009.

Tulimyrsky from Finnish band Moonsorrow is an EP with only one track of new material and in the style of the last full-length is longer - around the half hour mark. This song is (as most of the other material) written in Finnish and has several ‘stages’ separated by interludes of Finnish narration.

We need to question how well this works, in comparison to the might of the five full lengths that have preceded it, form Suden Uni (2001) to V: Hävitetty (2007), however after the initial narration, the title track starts off with the closest to black metal sounding material they have produced since the demo days.

A really bold move and a perfectly executed one, with the vehement opener. After the final narration and chant section followed by a little ending to what could be a 50’s epic movie based on Biblical times, the listener will feel a sense of victory and elation and 29 minutes will have seemed like a snap. 

Now what else do you get? ‘Tulimyrsky’ is track one of 5 I hear you bellow. Well fair maidens and noble men, what lies after the first track are two covers and two revamps of demo age songs. ‘Taistelu Pohjolasta’ and ‘Hvergelmir’ are from the Tämä Ikuinen Talvi (1999) and Metsä (1997) demos respectively.

So the Metallica cover? ‘For Whom The Bell Tolls’? Recorded in 2005 around the time of Verisäkeet, it’s a bit like Metallica meets Hall of the Mountain King. Exaggerating the riffs that make more sense played in Moonsorrow style and with layers of keyboard coupled with the Sorvali cousins’ mighty wails it is quite a transformation.

More black metal for your dollar than you bargained for due to the inclusion of the rerecorded demo songs, Tulimyrsky really is a “firestorm” and not just a filler before the 6th chapter in the history of this great band is told. There really are far too many quality riffs for this to be dismissed as a stepping stone, in-between material, or quick cash in. All in all a fantastic little adventure.