Insomnium “Argent Moon” Review: “…this EP does offer some comfort for fans who are in need of some new Insomnium material.”
Insomnium is a band that’s always consistent. Their sublime melodies can pull in any listener and unleash all emotion. The “Argent Moon” EP is an example of this, though not every song is as powerful. Some songs are masterpieces, such as “The Conjurer.” Other songs aren’t as good, such as “The Reticent.” While it’s only a four-song EP (and three of the four songs are already out), this EP does offer some comfort for fans who are in need of some new Insomnium material.
The EP opens up with “The Conjurer” and it’s the best song on the album. Insomnium has a special way of unleashing the listener’s emotions with their music, and this song is the best example. While the song has some heavy parts, the intoxicating melodies immediately pull you in.
However, this can describe a myriad of Insomnium songs. What stands out with this track is how it weaves in and out of typical Insomnium melodies and very dark parts. It’s rich with parts that will leave you with chills up and down your spine, then it will suddenly explode into amazing heavy parts. Not only that, but they unleashed one of the most powerful solos in all of Insomnium’s discography. It’s definitely one of the more progressive tracks that Insomnium released.
After that masterpiece of a song, I had high hopes for the rest of the EP. While the EP isn’t bad, no other song tops this one.
Take “The Reticent” as an example. The song starts off beautifully, with atmospheric elements and soft guitars. But once the vocals kick in, I can’t help but shy away. I’m not a fan of the clean vocals here; I would prefer if bass player/vocalist Niilo Sevänen handled all harsh vocals for this song. I’m not saying it’s a bad song — the composition is completely beautiful. The clean vocals just do nothing for me.
“The Antagonist” is better. With first listen, I thought this song was a little cheesy. However, this is one you have to listen to a few times to really appreciate it. “The Antagonist” is probably one of their saddest songs, about a person who realizes they will die alone. It’s a truly haunting song with a lot of feeling in the lyrics and composition. There’s also an abundance of clean vocals here, but this song is a bit heavier than the last.
The EP ends with “The Wanderer.” It starts off a little heavy and coercive, though it’s a generally quiet song. The song opens up with clean vocals; while the clean vocals are very melancholic, it doesn’t give me the enthusiasm that Niilo’s harsh vocals give me. Toward the end of the song, the catchiness kicks in. Niilo’s vocals ring over lively riffing, breathing new life into this song. It takes a long time to get to this point, but is a great way to conclude this EP.
While Insomnium has had better albums, the “Argent Moon” EP is definitely not bad at all. You do have to listen to this EP a few times to appreciate the emotional depth that Insomnium lays out for us. While “Argent Moon” won’t be the first Insomnium album I’ll want to hear, it’s definitely a continuation of their forlorn sound.
Rating: 7/10
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