THE HILLS ARE ALIVE…

Hammer is relaxing in a hot tub on the balcony of a luxurious spa, drinking champagne with a view of the lush pine forests and lakes that lead to the Russian border, a mere 40 miles away. We’re in Finland and in fine company, part of a group of fans and journalists here at the invite of Insomnium to hear their forthcoming eighth album, Heart Like A Grave, in the beautiful environs that inspired it.

Conversation veers from the serious (tales of people who’ve tried to sneak across the Russian border, never to be seen again) to the ridiculous (guitarist Markus Vanhala sticking a champagne bottle between his legs and offering people refills of his “penis wine”). Then the band retreat to the sauna, where in Finland, as we would soon learn, most ideas begin and end.

After a long day,, and finally get a chance to speak with good-natured vocalist/bassist Niilo Sevänen and softly spoken guitarist Ville Friman, holing up away from the party in a control booth. “We got the idea in the sauna,” remembers Niilo of the band’s decision to bring us all to visit their hometown of Joensuu, east Finland. “It’s the only place we discuss our feelings,” laughs Ville. “ is a very Finnish-themed album, so we figured the logical thing to do would be to bring you here.”