Words by Samantha Wolstenholme
Hailing all the way from fair Finland, Insomnium have been long established as a distinctive jewel in the crown of Europe’s most distinguished melodic death metal acts. For almost three decades now, the quartet have steadily and surely carved a unique path in the multitudinous sea of folk-infused Nordic extreme metal. The last time they voyaged Down Under was in 2017 – those heady pre-pandemic days. Now, after 8 long years, the Finns are finally returning for a whirlwind Australian tour, bringing with them close compatriots Omnium Gatherum for double the death metal and double the fun. Tonight at The Triffid is the first night of the tour, and happily, a decent crowd is trickling in despite it being a Tuesday.
Brisbane’s LARP-tastic blackened symphonic fantasy metal outfit Darklore have been lucky enough to snag the local support slot. Initially, the quartet are a little stiff in their performance and the guitar solos dissolve in the overly bass-heavy live mix. However, they gather power and confidence after a few numbers, and the mix steadily improves; at about the halfway mark, they’re clearly getting into the zone and moving around much more. Kitted up in spiky black armour and corpse paint, with a sword embedded in frontman Raiven Dark’s mic stand, the quartet makes quite the memorable impression and demonstrates solid musical chops too. Props to Luna for her relentless tremolo picking – I can’t imagine how taxing that would be on the forearms – and to bassist Hargoth for the addition of his Deafheaven-esque shrieks. Darklore has been a mainstay in the Brisbane metal scene for a fair while now, and it’s clear that playing the long game is starting to pay off.
Soon it’s time for Omnium Gatherum to take the stage. Tonight they only have a 45-minute set, and with nine studio albums’ worth of material to choose from, it’s likely been a challenge to choose which bangers will make the cut. What transpires is a greatest hits set that explodes with energy and catapults the atmosphere in the room sky high. It’s instantly a flurry of windmilling locks and lightning shreds. The live mix is less than ideal to begin with – I’m yearning for those beautiful keyboards and vocal harmonies to cut through! – but the crowd doesn’t seem to mind as multitudes of horns are raised in the air, encouraged by Jukka Pelkonen’s monstrously loud growls. Lead axeman Markus Vanhala is double-billed tonight, and boy, does he have his work cut out for him. However, this seasoned rock god is here to show us just how it’s done as he blisters through one mind-boggling guitar solo after another.
The sextet really does not waste a second of their set, barreling through career highlights spanning almost 20 years. Drummer Atte Pesonen, possibly the smiliest drummer I’ve ever seen in an extreme metal band, is a beast of the double kicks in Reckoning, and Refining Fire is similarly fast and furious. Maybe it’s because it’s a Tuesday night, but I’m starting to wonder why the crowd isn’t moshing more; and just as I’m pondering this, a circle pit finally breaks out halfway through the set. We get a deep cut with Into Sea from 2007’s ‘Stuck Here On Snakes Way’, and Soul Journeys, announced by Pelkonen as “a headbanger one”, keeps the crowd jostling with its insane double kicks and harmonised shreds. Then after New Dynamic, we’re led to a rollicking close with Skyline. It’s a brilliant, energising set from Omnium Gatherum tonight, and one of those rare occasions where I personally feel that the live performance of their music outshines what’s on the records, live mix quality notwithstanding.
Spooky red lights and the melancholy acoustic intro to 1696 strums, and then death metal mayhem ensues as Insomnium burst onto the stage. Thankfully, they benefit from a more balanced live mix, with guitars searing through like lasers, including the familiar face of Vanhala in his second act of the night. Frontman/bassist Niilo Sevänen has an endearing charisma about him – with his imposing figure and colossal growls, he seems formidable, yet he has a twinkle in his eye. He leads us through the quartet’s somewhat whimsical set tonight that has a strong focus on numbers from their groundbreaking, aforementioned 2023 release ‘Anno 1696′. White Christ is a moody, stately dirge culminating in massive final guitar chugs, followed by my personal all-time favourite Insomnium banger Ephemeral. Sevänen declares that “it’s moshpit time” for Lilian, which is driven by thunderous drums from Markus Hirvonen and a particularly seductive solo from Vanhala.
Insomnium conjures less of the chaotic vibes of their predecessors, instead conveying more of a grounded, self-assured presence with an inexplicably mystical quality. Older hits such as Unsung and Mortal Share are dug out from the archives, with the latter offering some interesting feel and time signature changes, and Vanhala powering through increasingly elaborate and glorious guitar solos like his life depends on it. Touring guitarist Tomy Laisto finally gets a solo of his own, which is met with great praise. It’s his first time in Australia, so hopefully this leaves a highly positive impression on him! After Song of the Dusk, the band retreats for an ostensible ending, but soon returns with tinnies in hand to toast us, then keep us awake with a triple encore of heavies. Several heroes in the front give it one last windmill to megahit While We Sleep, with Heart Like A Grave wrapping up the set.
Has there ever been a more iconic duo than Insomnium and Omnium Gatherum on tour together? Not for melodeath fans! The Omnium Squared effect has certainly made for a thoroughly enjoyable night of shreds, growls and windmills, brought to us all the way from Northern Scandinavia.
Thanks to Qona Creative
