“MelancHoly, Melancholia/ Will you wash my sins away?
Melancholia, Melancholia/ All these days are here to stay
MelancHoly, Melancholia/ Will you chase the sun away?
My melancholia/ I need you to stay”
With its lyrics, it seeps into our lives once more, just as it begins to evoke the melancholy of autumn. The band from the cold lands of Finland reminds us that winter is near with their ninth studio album, Shining, released on October 18th.
Founded in 2000 by Juha Raivio, Swallow the Sun is a Finnish death-doom band that emphasizes melody and atmosphere within the death-doom style, occasionally venturing into gothic and black metal territory. They have released nine full albums, a triple album, an EP, a demo, and seven singles.
THE BEGINNINGS OF SWALLOW THE SUN
In 2003, the band entered cold and dark realms with their debut album, The Morning Never Came, blending themes of death, love, darkness, and other despairing elements as they made their mark on the metal scene. The delicate intro with piano and guitars, paired with the harsh entry of the vocals, successfully captivated fans of the genre.
The band released their second album, Ghosts of Loss, in February 2005, and their single “Forgive Her” reached fourth place on Finland’s Top 20 singles list in its first week, staying on the charts for six weeks. The album itself also made it onto the charts, placing eighth between Gwen Stefani and System of a Down. Additionally, some of the album’s songs are linked to David Lynch’s TV show Twin Peaks.
After signing with Spinefarm Records in 2006 and embarking on a small European tour, the band released their third album, Hope, in January 2007. This album included a cover of Timo Rautiainen & Trio Niskalaukaus’ song “Alavilla mailla,” translated as “These Low Lands” and performed by Amorphis’ vocalist Tomi Joutsen. Katatonia’s Jonas Renkse also appeared as a guest artist on the song “The Justice of Suffering.” Toward the end of 2007, Swallow the Sun took their first step toward global recognition with a U.S. tour alongside Katatonia, Scar Symmetry, and Insomnium.
In September 2008, the band released an EP titled Plague of Butterflies, followed by a ten-show UK tour supporting Apocalyptica in December. On May 18, 2009, Kai Hahto from Wintersun filled in for former drummer Pasi Pasanen and played on the album New Moon, released on November 10, 2009. Fans described the album as one of the most significant legacies of melodic doom. The band’s fifth studio album, Emerald Forest and the Blackbird, was released in February 2012 via Spinefarm Records, featuring Nightwish’s former vocalist Anette Olzon on the lead single “Cathedral Walls.” Vocalist Mikko’s transition to a softer vocal style in this album did not go unnoticed.
ALEAH’S DEATH : THE GRIEF AND PAIN REFLECTED IN MUSIC
Three years later, on November 13, 2015, the band released a triple album titled Songs from the North I, II & III. Each of the three discs represented a different aspect of the band’s style: Gloom, Beauty, and Despair. Just as everything seemed to be going well, Juha Raivio’s life partner and collaborator, Aleah, passed away due to cancer in April 2016, marking a new era for both Raivio and the band. Swallow the Sun’s single Lumina Aurea, released in December 2018, reflected Raivio’s grief and other emotions following Aleah Stanbridge’s passing in 2016.
(Juha Raivio is known as an artist sensitive to animal rights)
The band released their seventh album, When a Shadow Is Forced into the Light, on January 25, 2019, through Century Media Records. This album again focused on Aleah Stanbridge’s death, Raivio’s grief, and his life after her passing.
To mark the 20th anniversary of their debut album, Gloom, Beauty, and Despair, the band embarked on a tour and released their first live album, 20 Years of Gloom, Beauty and Despair – Live in Helsinki, on April 20. The album was recorded live on February 26, 2020, at Tavastia Club in Helsinki during their 20th-anniversary tour. The first eight tracks were an acoustic set that included the entire second part of the Songs from the North album.
Swallow the Sun’s eighth studio album, Moonflowers, was released on November 19, 2021, with a string version performed by the string trio Trio NOX. After touring in Turkey in 2022, the band announced a North American and European tour to promote the album, followed by a Latin American tour in early 2023. (Moonflowers, which ranked first in Metal Oda’s 2021 Best Albums list, captivated fans with its metal and classical versions. You can find a detailed review on metaloda.com.)
(Moonflowers bloom in misery – Swallow The Sun 2021)
THE NEW ALBUM SHINING
And now we come to the main topic of our article: the band’s ninth studio album, Shining. Released on October 18, the album was created in collaboration with two-time Grammy-nominated producer Dan Lancaster, known for his work with bands like Blink-182 and Muse, suggesting that the band is moving toward new musical territories. With shorter tracks, a much more polished and measured version, and a more radio-friendly sound leaning toward Goth rock, it raises the question, “Will metal fans enjoy this?”
Since their early days of crushing doom-death, Swallow the Sun has been in a slow and steady process of evolution. Over the years, their sound has softened and expanded, incorporating more Goth rock elements along the way. Their 2019 album When a Shadow Is Forced into the Light shifted from raw heaviness to melancholic, introspective soundscapes, and Moonflowers in 2021 continued this drift.
The fluid and polished sound on Shining is particularly evident on the opening track, Innocence Was Long Forgotten, which carries a very depressive tone while still conveying that Finnish coldness. It is filled with gloomy vocals and hopeless melodic harmonies. To avoid giving the impression that the band has abandoned metal, What Have I Become includes mournful piano and sorrowful vocals, as well as present-day Amorphis-style death growls and crackling guitars. Overall, metal remains present in the album’s tracks, yet it seems somewhat lacking in the expected intensity and vitality.
(The Shining & its vinyl version)
Shining still includes some key moments that demonstrate Swallow the Sun’s ability to elevate a song to a higher level. Charcoal Sky delves deeper into death-invoking and dark elements, evoking the feeling that “this is a true Swallow the Sun song.” Mikko’s impressive vocals, roaring over heavy, crackling riffs and delicate orchestration, again echo an Amorphis influence.
According to comments from many fans and critics, Shining gives the impression of being sterile, more populist, and softer, while lacking something special and fundamental. Despite the criticisms, the album managed to captivate me once again. In my opinion, they continue the sound that makes one say, “Yes, this is Swallow the Sun,” creating their signature without deviating from their path. With each album, Swallow the Sun creates an atmosphere that turns summer into winter and day into night, letting me experience melancholy to the core.
Swallow The Sun :
Juha Raivio – lead guitars, rythm guitar, backing vocals and keyboards
Mikko Kotamäki – lead vocals
Matti Honkonen – bass guitar
Juuso Raatikainen – drums
Juho Räihä – rythm guitar
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