Band:	Insomnium
Album:	Since The Day It All Came Down
Style:	Melodic death metal
Release date:	April 05, 2004
Guest review by:	Homer S.

01. Nocturne
02. The Day It All Came Down
03. Daughter Of The Moon
04. The Moment Of Reckoning
05. Bereavement
06. Under The Plaintive Sky
07. Resonance
08. Death Walked The Earth
09. Disengagement
10. Closing Words
11. Song Of The Forlorn Son

Before taking on a more accessible albeit controversial route of music perceived in the eyes of "traditional" metalheads, In Flames were heralded as one of the pioneers of a genre that underwent more changes than Wacko Jacko's wardrobe; having said that, the music in its pristine form is to this day a refreshing blend of melody and aggression. It may seem out of place for me to ramble on and on about In Flames here, but Insomnium's Since The Day It All Came Down is, quite bluntly put, a more darker and mellower evolution of the In Flames sound of yore. This does not mean that it is a rip-off; on the contrary, Insomnium has managed to hone this style of music in their own, unique mold. The result, ladies and gentleman, is a pure masterpiece.

Since The Day It All Came Down is a DRASTIC improvement from their sophomore debut album In The Halls Of The Awaiting. For starters, the production is much better, doing nothing to take off the shine of the music as opposed to its predecessor. The songwriting has become more mature and varied, so you can listen to the album from start to finish without any hurdles. The lyrical content is what you'd expect from Insomnium; sadness, despair, loneliness and all other misanthropic feelings you can think of. Whenever I listen to this album, I imagine myself being teleported in a beautiful, sun-forsaken Finnish forest, surrounded by lush evergreen trees and breathtaking landscapes, such is the strong atmosphere of nature it invokes. The perfect album for camping/hiking, methinks?

What really stands out about Since The Day It All Came Down is its remarkable consistency; I LOVE all the songs on display except for the last three songs which are less frequent on my playlist (even those aren't mere fillers, believe you me!). The songs are all beautifully crafted and diverse, from the soul-crushing brutality of "The Day It All Came Down" and "The Moment Of Reckoning," to the melancholic grandeur of "Daughter Of The Moon" and the wonderfully placed interlude "Resonance," it is a very well-balanced album. Niilo's voice is perfect here, and really adds to the despair-invoking atmosphere of the album.

Okay, bitchin' time! Let's see?the influences are all too obvious, so the overall originality of the music might be a tad less?okay, I can't find any other faults, so BUY IT, BUY IT NOW!

All in all, I dare say this is Insomnium's magnum opus to date, the jewel in their majestic crown. This is the album that set the benchmark sky high and made everyone anxiously longing for their subsequent releases. I HIGHLY recommend this album to anyone who likes their metal drenched in dark melancholic bliss... A must-have for all Melodeath/Gothenborg fans.

Believe you me!