Insomnium share cinematic video for “Lilian,” new album with blast beats arriving in February 2023

Photo by Terhi Ylimäinen

The wait is finally over! Finnish melodic death metal masters Insomnium have announced their next melancholic full-length masterpiece, Anno 1696, will arrive on February 24, 2023 via Century Media Records. For their overall ninth full-length album, Insomnium will share a tale based on a short story by bassist/vocalist Niilo Sevänen, as the press release explains:

“And as if a stunning feat like Anno 1696 is not enough, Insomnium continue the epic story on their addendum-like EP Songs of the Dusk, featuring three more journeys into a dark and foggy past. “We simply had eleven great songs, and we thought that this material is too good to be ‘just’ bonus tracks,” Sevänen states. “They are part of the big story, so you can think of them as the director’s cut material that tells a little extra. For those who want to have more.

Mixed by Jaime Gomez Arellano (Orgone Studios) and mastered by Tony Lindgren (Fascination Street Studios), Anno 1696 is a tornado of tormented souls, set to a tragedy of Greek proportions. No doubt: this is Insomnium’s most delicate tightrope walk yet – between sadness and anger, between silent desperation and cries of anguish. Trying to reach that fading light that still glimmers from beyond the trees. And at that, it’s the epitome of the Finnish melancholy. ‘can’t deny it,’ guitarist Markus Vanhala laughs. ‘Insomnium is a soundtrack to both the Finnish mental and physical landscape. We all are strongly feeling melancholic Finns.’

Woven with sorrow and the last crumbling vestiges of hope, plus wrath and morbid lullabies. Welcome to 1696. Welcome to hell. This is an age of unrest. The age of great famine in the North. The witch hunt is in full swing all across Europe and the gruesome witch trials have even reached the remote and majestic landscapes of Finland and Sweden.”

Sevänen goes into detail explaining:

“The Torsåker witch trials were a horrible source of nightmarish inspiration. All that talk about 70 women beheaded in this small Swedish parish? It’s real stuff from history! And as if that weren’t enough, there are also some very dark tales of cannibalism and child murder from the years of the great famine.”

To celebrate the announcement of their next gem, Insomnium have unveiled a cinematic video, directed by Riivata Visuals, for their first single “Lilian.”

Guitarist Markus Vanhala comments on the song:

“‘Lilian’ is probably the most traditional Insomnium hit song on the album – and an easy starter as single – before the heavier main course comes in. It shows the lighter shade of the album, before all hope leaves.”

Sevänen adds:

“This is Ville’s composition, and it has some of that old Insomnium feel in it. Felt like a video-song from the start. Lyrically, it tells how the tragic couple in the story met each other in the first place.”

Guitarist Ville Friman states:

“One of the first songs to emerge during the pandemic era. It has this old Insomnium vibe and tonality that I tend to steer towards every time I pick up the guitar.”

Metal Insider have already listened to “Lilian,” and it definitely gives that old Insomnium feel. These guys do not disappoint. And we believe when Sevänen assured us the next Insomnium album will be full of blast beats.

Watch the video below and pre-order the album here: