Photos and Words: Kyle Mueller
After being canceled in 2020 due to the global pandemic, the highly anticipated “Insomnium Gatherum” tour is finally here. Over the course of 30 days, get ready for 25 nights of melodic metal. April 16th marked their Chicago stop at the House of Blues. It was a rather wet evening, but that didn’t stop anyone from lining up before the doors opened.
Wilderun
Opening the night was Wilderun, a Boston-based Prog/Folk metal group. Splitting their four-song set between their albums “Epigone” and “Veil of Imagination,” they came out ready to wake the snoozy Tuesday crowd. Evan Anderson Berry, Wayne Ingram, Daniel Müller, and Jonathan Teachy of Wilderun put on a great performance. While we didn’t see any moshing yet, everyone’s heads were bobbing to the punchy sounds and were getting amped up for what was to come.
Setlist:
Distraction II
Identifier
The Tyranny of Imagination
Far From Where Dreams Unfurl
Omnium Gatherum
If you’re even remotely into the metal scene, you know Omnium Gatherum, a.k.a. OG Band. Hailing from Finland, they’re back in the States briefly, and they were ready to blow the roof off the House. The lights went black for all of 15 seconds, just long enough for the band to literally run onto the stage. The lights flashed to life, green and yellow, and the band was off, opening their set with “Slasher,” the title of their 2023 EP of the same name.
Playing songs across their discography, any fan would have been happy. Jukka Pelkonen was born to be on stage. Running side to side of the stage the entire set, roaring every lyric seemingly without struggle–the man was a machine! The crowd instantly matched his energy, opening the pit and starting the moshing. Guitarists Markus Vanhala and Nick Cordle had no issues shredding the night away, each giving the other time to rip a solo center stage. The band’s energy and crowd interactions hyped the crowd for the headlining show.
Setlist:
Slasher
Paragon
Reckoning
Sacred
Soul Journeys
Gods Go First
Planet Scale
Frontiers
White Palace
New Dynamic
Insomnium
Now it was time for the main event. Insomnium kicked off the set with “1696,” “Ephemeral,” and “White Christ.” The dark mood of the songs and the red lighting didn’t keep the fans from getting into it. Niilo Sevänen serves as both lead vocals and bass, and he didn’t miss. Growling his way through the set, if you weren’t moshing, you were transfixed watching him work.
Guitarist Markus Vanhala (yes, the very same from OG Band) was back and kicking more ass. After a quick outfit change, he was on stage alongside Brandon Ellis, who had joined the tour the previous night. Playing their way through songs ranging from their latest EP “Songs of the Dusk,” to music over a decade old now, Insomnium put on one hell of a show.
After constant horns and endless hair flying through the air, we reached the encore. After finishing their set with “The Primeval Dark,” “While We Sleep,” and “Heart Like a Grave,” it was time to say goodbye to our friends from across the pond.
Setlist:
1696
Ephemeral
White Christ
Change of Heart
Lilian
And Bells They Toll
The Rapids
The Gale
Mortal Share
Song of the Dusk
Encore:
The Primeval Dark
While We Sleep
Heart Like a Grave
They promise to be back soon, but how SOON is soon? No one can know, so if they’re hitting up your city on this tour, don’t miss it. It could be another four years before Insomnium visits the States again.
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