Hey, remember “Weather the Storm,” that awesome new single Insomnium recorded with Dark Tranquillity’s Mikael Stanne last year to promote the bands’ European tour? Well, it has a video now! And that video is… well, honestly, it’s not all that great. It’s just a live video, and not a very dynamic one at that.

But guess what? Insomnium get a free pass. In fact, Insomnium get a million free passes. As Vince put it, “Insomnium is never a bad idea.” They are always at the awesome top of the awesome awesomeness heap. I think I could learn that they’ve been going around Dutch ovening adorable kittens to death and I’d probably forgive them. They just make life so much better, I’d be like, “Whatever, did you see the way that pussy was looking at them? Fucker had it coming.”

(Side note: there’s apparently a digital single of the song available, too, but I’m not seeing it on iTunes or Amazon, so… maybe it’s just available to Europeans?)

So that was just the best part of your day.

-AR

There’s this amazing falafel joint in NYC called Mamoun‘s (“mah-MOONS”) that Axl and I have been frequenting since we were kids. It’s open all night, the service is snappy, the price of a falafel sandwich is still a whoppingly cheap $2.50 ($5 for a shawarma cut fresh off the spit) and most importantly of all, it’s fucking delicious. There is no better falafel in all of Manhattan. After years of debating late-night drunken journeys to Mamoun’s and always being happy I decided in favor of them, I coined the phrase “Mamoun’s: never a bad idea,” because really, if I make the decision to go to Mamoun’s I will never be let down.

Insomnium are like the Mamoun’s of metal; there is no situation I can possibly imagine in which someone could put on an Insomnium track and I’d go “Nah, I’m just not feeling that right now.” Insomnium hit the spot — every fucking time! Without fail.

The writers of No Clean Singing know this all too well, so naturally they’ve included a post about Insomnium as part of their Finland Tribute Week feature. And who knew — there’s a brand new Insomnium track called “Weather the Storm” that features Dark Tranquillity’s Mikael Stanne on a guest vocal spot. Apparently Century Media released it earlier this fall to promote an Insomnium / Dark Tranquillity European tour in September and October. It sounds purely Insomnium and it sounds purely great; I love Stanne’s added vocal snarl too. Stream it above, because…. Insomnium, never a bad idea.

-VN

A reader calling himself “Ross UK” tipped us off that Insomnium have released “Weather the Storm,” a new song featuring guest vocals by Dark Tranquillity’s Mikael Stanne, apparently in anticipation of DT’s upcoming European “Where Death is Most Alive” tour. And that’s really all the info I have. But it’s an awesome new Insomnium song, so, really, what else do you need to know? Sometimes, in my darkest moments, I’ve considered suicide, or, worse, taking a job at a hip-hop magazine, and it’s only the thought of all the new Insomnium music I’d miss that keeps me off the ledge.

Somebody e-mail me an mp3 of this please.

-AR

So Vince is now out of town. Again. Luckily, we really do take after our namesakes; he loves to be out there among the people, partying like he might die tomorrow, and I am a grumpy, mean-spirited recluse. So expect lots of Axl crankiness next week.

In the meantime, here are some things that happened this week:

• Genetic’s Dallas Coyle discussed the importance of positive thinking, As I Lay Dying’s Nick Hipa pondered the various timelines on L O S T, Intronaut’s Sacha Dunable listed the five raddest sets of teeth in metal, Eyal Levi from Daath and Levi/Werstler wondered if anyone cares about guitar solos, and adult film actress Bobbi Starr told us the ten metal bands she wishes would gangbang her.
• We debuted new music by The Dillinger Escape Plan, Landmine Marathon, and Jucifer.
• MetalSucks readers interviewed Dark Tranquillity’s Mikael Stanne and Vince interviewed Sevendust’s Clint Lowery.
• Sammy O’Hagar reviewed Ov Hell’s The Underworld Regime.
• Is Nergal from Behemoth going to jail for destroying a Bible?
• The singer from DragonForce is available for a White Lion reunion.
• We raged against “Rage.”

And that’s it! Next week will see the debut of our irritating new list, as well as some other fun shit. Have a nice weekend…

-AR

Ye asked… and ye shall get answers. We solicited reader questions for frontman Mikael Stanne of Dark Tranquillity — whose new album We Are the Void comes out today – and in turn Mikael has answered them for you in equal helpings of funny and serious.

Your questions, his answers; does he ever get mistaken for Chad Kroeger? how does he write lyrics? what’s the new album like? what does he think of modern-day In Flames?

After the jump.

Click to read more…

Dark Tranquillity’s new album, We are the Void, doesn’t come out ’til March 9, but, of course, the band is now streaming the entire album here. Go listen to it. If you don’t like it, you don’t support metal. Or something.

And don’t forget that you can still ask DT front man Mikael Stanne a question! If it’s good, he might even answer it and give your pathetic little existence meaning! GO DO IT!!!

-AR

Melodeath fans! Have you heard about Solution .45, the new kinda-sorta supergroup featuring Christian Alvestam (ex-Death Jovi Scar Symmetry) on vocals and Miseration’s Jani Stefanovic on guitars? Clearly this band is gonna get a lot of attention – as if their all-star line-up wasn’t enough, Dark Tranquillity’s Mikael Stanne wrote all the lyrics for the group’s debut album, For Aeons Past.

Our bestest buds over at Metal Injection have an exclusive download of a new song by the band, entitled “Gravitational_Lensing.” If you like bands like Scar Symmetry and DT, it’s really, really hard for me to believe you won’t dig this.

Download the song here, then let us know what you think in the comments section below!

-AR

I mean, just watch Dark Tranquillity’s new video, for “Shadow in our Blood,” and tell me I’m wrong. The dude couldn’t even be bothered to stand up to shoot the video! “No, I’m just gonna lie down and you film me,” he must’ve told the director. Amazing that he could even be bothered to lip sync. The nerve!

“Shadow in our Blood” comes off of Dark Tranquillity’s new album, We are the Void, which is out March 9 on Century Media. While you’re waiting, don’t forget that you can ask Mr. Stanne a question right here!

-AR