One for Sorrow

This album is much less generic melodeath than their past albums, and that can be good or bad. The songs on this album change from pure melody to old school melodeath.For example, "Decoherence," a slower instrumental piece with a orchestral melody in the background sounds like something a contemporary post rock band would come out with. The opening song, "Inertia," has definite similarities to bands like Explosions in the Sky or Pelican.On the flip side, songs like "Through the Shadows," and "Song of the Blackest Bird," are some of the best pure melodeath I've heard in a long time. The guitar riffs, the grooving rhythm; it's just perfect. The vocals are some of the best I've heard from Insomnium since "In the Halls of Awaiting." There is a good mix of death growls and clean singing that just works well with the music.Insomnium doesn't fail to disappoint. If you like any of Insomnium's older albums, pick this up.

For those who are familiar with Insomnium, you know that they are relentless with their signiture take on Melodic Death Metal; Pounding drums, deep and unique vocals, and haunting and powerful riffs and melodies. What makes Insomnium Insomnium can be hard to explain, as by discription they sound like many other MDM bands. However, when put into practice, they have a unique and masterful grasp on the genre that not all have. This album, One For Sorrow, is similar to their other releases in that it features more haunting melodies on guitars and keyboard, the same sytle of vocals by Nillo Sevanen, and lyrics that are sorrowful and poetic. However, on this release, especially when compared to their last, the songs are more fast-paced, hard, and driven. To be sure, there are still the quiet interludes to add atmosphere, but the riffing is heavier than ever in places as well, particularly on songs like Only One Who Waits and Every Hour Wounds. This is a bit of a plus and a minus to me, as I am more fond of the more progressive, melodic, and atmospheric pieces in their catalog, yet at the same time it also gives your Insomnium listening experience a little more variety. My favorite songs off the album are Song Of The Blackest Bird, Unsung, both of which compare with the best Insomnium has ever done. The only reason I'm giving this a 4 star instead of 5 is that it doesn't have the same "I can listen to all the songs without skipping" feeling that Across The Dark and Above The Weeping World have.

A long time fan. This is just another of those incredible Insomnium albums that explores different themes and motifs. Engaging from start to finish, this is for any fans (new or old) of melodic death metal. And I cannot imagine anyone doing melo-death better than this group of Finns. A must own.

I'm an old dude who grew up on metal. Back then it was all about Maiden and such and so melody and an awesome voice were vital. I didn't even know about death metal til much later on, and I just could never get into the grunt / growl style of vocals. Some bands seem to have a good mix of the "ugly vocals" coupled w/ excellent music though, and Insomnium is one of them. I think maybe it's because of the mixing; the vocals don't drown out the music. Powerful album. Heavy and nuanced.

Like every Insomnium album, this delivers with great songwriting and musicianship, while failing in post production. These guys should find a new studio.

Insomnium delivers from front to back. If you're a fan of melodic death metal at all, you'll love this album.

great

I have been a fan of Insomnium since the very beginning, and "In the Halls..." still remains one of my absolute favorite albums of all time. I have been introducing people to this band since I first heard them, and the response is always the same: sheer wonder and delight. I'm so pleased to see the band continuing to do well and perfecting their unique sound. It's not often that a band can kick your ass and make you admire the beauty of it all at the same time. This is a band that needs to be heard to be believed, and I am convinced, after 33 years of metal music, that my ear is tuned in to the excellence that only this music can create when it's power and beauty are harnessed by respectful, skilled practitioners. You wanted the best? Well here they are. Insomnium - best in the world at what they do.

I have been a fan of Insomnium ever since hearing Above The Weeping World and it is still my favourite album of all time. Across The Dark was a good album, but didn't come close to matching Above The Weeping World. I sort of expected the same of this album, where it would improve on Across The Dark yet still fall short of Above The Weeping World's standard.I have been pleasantly surprised as it well exceeded all my expectations and is beginning to contend with Above The Weeping World in my favourite album spot. The clean vocals are really well used and add a little bit of variety to a couple of songs. Insomnium also seem to have made songs that are heavier and faster than their previous works. Only One Who Waits or Every Hour Wounds are prime examples. The real selling point of this album, for me, is that the album varies from these faster songs, to the typical Insomnium melodic gems, and a few songs that revisit the sound of their albums before Above The Weeping World Too.All in all I would say it's a must have for any Insomnium fan, any Melodic Death Metal fan and any Metal fan at all really. There isn't a single song I could call disappointing and the album as a whole is consistent, varied and brilliant. The packaging of the special edition looks really good and comes with a couple of really cool accessories. The album is well worth the cheapish price and a must have.

Great album feels like its up there with the early stuff.

Brilliant album.

I kid you not when I say that this is without doubt the best album that I have ever heard.

Great price, fast international delivery. Thank you.