Anno 1696

Anno 1696
Studio album by
Insomnium
Released24 February 2023 (2023-02-24)
Recorded2022
StudioSonic Pump Studios (Helsinki, Finland)
Teemu Aalto Music Productions (Kotka, Finland)
GenreMelodic death metal[1][2]
Length50:26
LabelCentury Media
Insomnium chronology
Heart Like a Grave
(2019) 		Anno 1696
(2023)
Singles from Anno 1696
  1. "Lillian"
    Released: 4 November 2022[3]
  2. "White Christ"
    Released: 14 December 2022[4]
  3. "The Witch Hunter"
    Released: 17 January 2023[5]
  4. "Godforsaken"
    Released: 24 February 2023[6]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Blabbermouth.net8.5/10[1]
Metal Injection8.5/10[7]

Anno 1696 is the ninth studio album by Finnish melodic death metal band Insomnium, released on 24 February 2023 via Century Media.[8] Insomnium began working on the album shortly before the release of Argent Moon, in 2021, with the album originally planned to be released in 2022.[9] Like their 2016 album Winter's Gate, the album is based on a short story by vocalist/bassist Niilo Sevänen,[3] first hinted on October 24, 2022, less than two weeks before the album's official announcement.[10] It is the final release to feature guitarist Jani Liimatainen.[11]

Release and promotion

In April 2023, the band embarked on a North American tour to promote Anno 1696, together with Enslaved, whose album Heimdal released a week after the release of Anno 1696, with support from Black Anvil.[12]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Niilo Sevänen

Anno 1696 track listing
No.TitleMusicLength
1."1696"Markus Vanhala6:18
2."White Christ"Vanhala6:03
3."Godforsaken"Vanhala8:35
4."Lilian"Ville Friman4:29
5."Starless Paths"
7:48
6."The Witch Hunter"Vanhala5:43
7."The Unrest"Liimatainen3:52
8."The Rapids"Vanhala7:38
Total length:50:26
Deluxe artbook and Japanese edition bonus CD (Songs of the Dusk EP)[13]
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Flowers of the Night"Vanhala5:26
2."Stained in Red"Friman6:50
3."Song of the Dusk"
  • Sevänen
  • Vanhala
9:43
Total length:21:59

Personnel

Insomnium

Additional musician

Production and design

  • Insomnium – production
  • Teemu Aalto – recording (acoustic guitars, bass, vocals)
  • Jaime Gomez Arellano – recording (drums, acoustic guitars), mixing
  • Coen Janssen – recording (keyboards)
  • Ville Friman – recording (electric guitars)
  • Markus Vanhala – recording (electric guitars)
  • Jani Liimatainen – recording (electric guitars)
  • Tony Lindgren – mastering
  • Sami Makkonen – artwork
  • Terhi Ylimäinen – photography
  • hafensatz.de – layout

Charts

Chart performance for Anno 1696
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Australian Digital Albums (ARIA)[14] 38
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[15] 15
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[16] 165
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[17] 1
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[18] 5
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] 10

References

  1. ^ a b "Reviews - Anno 1696". Blabbermouth.net. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  2. ^ Daniel Cordava (24 February 2023). "The Weekly Injection: New Releases From Insomnium, Godsmack & More Out Today 2/24". Metal Injection. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  3. ^ a b Greg Kennelty (4 November 2022). "Insomnium Streams "Lilian," Announces New Record Anno 1696". Metal Injection. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  4. ^ "Insomnium Premier Official Music Video For "White Christ" Feat. Rotting Christ Frontman Sakis Tolis". Bravewords. 14 December 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Insomnium Release New Single "The Witch Hunter"; Visualizer Video Posted". Bravewords. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Insomnium Release Music Video For "Godforsaken" Feat. Johanna Kurkela; Anno 1696 Album Out Now". Bravewords. 24 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  7. ^ "Album Review: Insomnium Anno 1696". metalinjection.net. 20 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  8. ^ "2023 Hard Rock + Metal Album Release Calendar". Loudwire. 24 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  9. ^ "Insomnium - To Release Ninth Studio Album Next Year". Metal Storm. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  10. ^ Greg Kennelty (24 October 2022). "Looks Like Insomnium Is Teasing The Plot To A New Album". Metal Injection. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  11. ^ Keenan, Hesher (16 February 2024). "Insomnium Address Guitarist Jani Liimatainen's Absence". MetalSucks. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Enslaved Announces 2023 North American Co-Headlining Tour With Insomnium". Blabbermouth.net. 14 December 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  13. ^ James Weaver (1 September 2023). "Insomnium announce new EP 'Songs Of The Dusk'". Distorted Sound. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  14. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 6 March 2023". The ARIA Report. No. 1722. Australian Recording Industry Association. 6 March 2023. p. 10.
  15. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Insomnium – Anno 1696" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  16. ^ "Ultratop.be – Insomnium – Anno 1696" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  17. ^ "Insomnium: Anno 1696" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  18. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Insomnium – Anno 1696" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  19. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Insomnium – Anno 1696". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 March 2023.