Insomnium / Heaven / London
A mid week trip to ol’ London town, for what promises to be a real treat, as Insomnium set out on their 2025 “Beyond the Shadows of the Dying Sun” tour with label-mates Omnium Gatherum. A unique opportunity to see both bands play a classic album in full with “Shadows of the Dying Sun” from Insomnium and “Beyond” from Omnium Gatherum (see what they did with the tour name eh ?!).
We headed to Heaven at Charing Cross, a new venue to us, hidden away in an old brick lined, arched underpass right under Charing Cross station. And what a pleasant surprise, a long arched chamber with unusual two tier stage, with metal stairs up either side. Quite visually striking, and the sound system was excellent.
First up on stage are Omnium Gatherum, a six-piece melodic death metal band from Finland, founded in 1996. Their sound also shows strong influences from progressive metal, especially in their later albums and their sound is influenced by bands such as At the Gates, In Flames, Dissection, and Dark Tranquillity.
They released their first EP “Steal the Light” in 2002, and their first album “Spirits and August Light” in 2003. Their classic album “Beyond” being performed tonight came out in 2014. Their latest release was the “Slasher” EP which came out in 2023.
Omnium Gatherum features Markus Vanhala on guitar who also plays for Insomnium and he certainly demonstrated his versatility in the opening set. The set kicks off with Luoto, a tour de force in power and precise technical skills with powerful crushing riffs mixed with waves of melodies.
For me highlights form the album were Nightwalkers and The Unknowing which were packed with powerful melancholic vibes and fast powerful riffs. The energy levels were brilliant with vocalist Jukka Pelkonen taking every opportunity to engage with the crowd, encouraging us all to chant and shout and raise our metal horns, a grin ever present on his face.
Jukka acknowledges the London crowd and how proud they are to kick off the tour here which gets roars of approval from the crowd.
The set is packed with melodic death metal anthems and the audience are loving it, headbanging along and screaming out the vocals.
The set flew by and soon they were stood on the edge of the stage, guitars in the air saluting the crowd, who lapped up every second. A great set and a reminder of just how good Omnium Gatherum are live.
Setlist
Luoto
New Dynamic
In the Rim
Nightwalkers
Formidable
The Sonic Sign
Who Could Say
The Unknowing
Living in Me
White Palace
A short break as the stage is set up ready, and a trip to the bar to cool down. Heaven is packed, with people packing in the main hall, and craning their necks to see through the arches on the side.
Insomnium are a Finnish melodic death metal band formed in 1997 from Joensuu. Their sound and lyrical themes are of darkness, sorrow, loss, pain, and nature. Their sound includes elements of progressive metal, black metal, folk metal, and doom metal. Their debut album “In the Halls of Awaiting” came out in 2002, and their most recent release is the excellent “Anno 1696” which came out in 2023.
Tonight, they perform the classic “Shadows of the Dying Sun” which was released in 2014.
It was packed, and the crowd were excited as Insomnium stepped out into the lime light, and immediately the crowd responded with cheers and shouts. The set opened with The Primeval Dark which set the scene with it beautiful and haunting melody.
Next was While We Sleep which is a fan favourite and was dominated by a brilliant vocal performance, with Niilo Sevänen delivering a scorching guttural growling performance, backed by some crystal clear vocals from Markus Hirvonen, which set the scene for the rest of the set.
Although some tracks from the album have been played live many times before, there are some new to the live set, such as Lose To Night and Collapsing Words having their first-ever live airings, but fitting in perfectly. I guess I worry sometimes that less well known album tracks will work live, but “Shadows of the Dying Sun” is such a solid album from start to finish, that in this instance the material feels natural and fits in perfectly.
The unusual high stage, when mixed with a striking lighting design, with powerful bright spots from the real, creates a visually imposing and impressive performance, and Insomnium make the most of the surrounds, delivering an immersive experience which was exceptional, immersing the crowd in their dark and doom-laden world. Ephemeralhad the crowd singing along to the chorus with gusto and The Promethean Song had the head bangers in full flow and everyone bouncing along.
The Heaven crowd was entranced, singing along to the haunting melodies of Ephemeral and swaying to the tones of The Promethean Song. They closed out the set with another first time live track One for Sorrow.
Heaven was roasting by the end, and having delivered stunning sets, both Insomnium and Onmium Gatherum left the crowd breathless. The performance was powerful, emotional and breathless.
Unfortunately this was the only UK date on this tour, but I hope they’ll be back to perform “Shadows of the Dying Sun” again soon, as the performance was fresh, exciting and exhilarating from start to finish.
I’m not sure there’s any better live melodic death metal around at the mo. A stunning night !
Setlist
The Primeval Dark
While We Sleep
Revelation
Black Heart Rebellion (First time in front of a live audience since 2018)
Lose to Night (First time in front of a live audience)
Collapsing Words (First time in front of a live audience)
The River (First time in front of a live audience since 2014)
Ephemeral
The Promethean Song (First time in front of a live audience since 2019)
Shadows of the Dying Sun
Out to the Sea (First time in front of a live audience since 2016)
Encore
Lilian
One for Sorrow (First time in front of a live audience since 2019)
