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.