Released 7 years ago this October
Heart Like a Grave
Insomnium · 2019
61 min · 10 tracks · melodic death metal
Melodic death metal intertwines with atmospheric elements, creating an immersive soundscape that balances heaviness and lyrical introspection.
Top tracks — play these first
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Valediction — This track encapsulates the album's emotional weight and complexity, combining haunting melodies with powerful riffs that exemplify Insomnium's signature style.
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Pale Morning Star — With its intricate structure and evocative lyrics, this song serves as a centerpiece of the album, highlighting the band's lyrical storytelling.
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Heart Like a Grave — The title track blends melancholic themes with dynamic instrumentation, representing both the album's overarching narrative and musical prowess.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines intricate compositions with atmospheric elements, creating a cohesive and immersive experience.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a lengthy instrumental intro that sets a dark, atmospheric tone before introducing vocals.
- Each track features multiple tempo changes, often shifting from melodic passages to intense, fast-paced sections.
- Lyrical themes of loss and introspection are woven throughout the songs, with verses often contrasting heavy instrumentation.
- The final track is notably longer than the others, allowing for an expansive conclusion that revisits motifs from earlier in the album.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- long, immersive listening sessions
- dynamic emotional journeys
- atmospheric background focus
- gradual builds and payoffs
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Heart Like a Grave is Insomnium's seventh studio album, released after a four-year hiatus following the successful Shadows of the Dying Sun. At this point in their career, the band was solidifying their reputation within the melodic death metal scene while exploring deeper emotional themes through their music.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Swallow the Sun· Dark Tranquillity· Amorphis
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Wail of the North 3:05
- 2 Valediction 5:05
- 3 Neverlast 4:46
- 4 Pale Morning Star 8:58
- 5 And Bells They Toll 6:01
- 6 The Offering 4:59
- 7 Mute Is My Sorrow 6:02
- 8 Twilight Trails 7:06
- 9 Heart Like a Grave 7:05
- 10 Karelia 7:49
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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