INSOMNIUM's VILLE FRIMAN: The 'New Songs Sound Just Amazing'

Finnish melodic death metallers INSOMNIUM have finished recording their new album for a spring release via Century Media Records. In order to achieve the best production in the band's history, they decided to track drums at SF Sound (with Kimmo Perkkiö),located in INSOMNIUM's former hometown (Joensuu),while laying down the remaining instruments at studio Korkeakoski (Kotka) with Teemu Aalto. André Alvinzi (Fascination Street Studios) will now mix the effort.

Says INSOMNIUM guitarist/vocalist Ville Friman: "Again, the process could be described as a battle against time and ever-narrowing deadlines.

"We worked long days and we worked hard. But in the end, it was all worth of it: new songs sound just amazing.

"I think the new material is a bit more atmospheric than before. We explored different directions, and for example, experimented with rhythms a bit more; we even have blast beats on this album. And, of course, Markus Vanhala brought in his influence in terms of songwriting and guitar playing, which is something new. However, I think we did not push it too far, but stayed loyal to our own sound.

"Our intention was never really to change but merely update and revise our sound a bit. And I think we did pretty good job with it."

INSOMNIUM recently released the first song, "Ephemeral", off its forthcoming album. The first track to feature new guitarist Markus Vanhala (also in OMNIUM GATHERUM),who replaced Ville Vänni in 2011, "Ephemeral" was made available digitally in Europe on September 23, 2013 and was accompanied by three bonus tracks — acoustic songs that can be heard in the background of the INSOMNIUM documentary.

Comments the band: "After the success of our last single, 'Weather The Storm', we decided that it would be a good idea to record some new material this summer before releasing the actual new full-length album. This was also a good opportunity to explore different studios and work with different people. Just to explore our sound a bit more in terms of production.

"The drums [were] recorded by Kimmo Perkkiö at SF Sound (Finland). Everything else recorded by Teemu Aalto at Korkeakoski Studios, Kotka (Finland). The song was mixed and mastered by André Alvinzi and Jens Bogren, respectively, at Fascination Street Studios in Sweden.

"It was nice challenge to work on the instrumental side of INSOMNIUM and come up with music that has more cinematic edge to it."

INSOMNIUM's latest album, "One For Sorrow", was released in October 2011 in North America via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded in Gothenburg, Sweden with sound engineer Daniel Antonsson (also bassist in DARK TRANQUILLITY and guitarist in DIMENSION ZERO) and at Fantom studios in Tempere, Finland, where the album was also mixed by Samu Oittisen.