As bands evolve, some fans understandably get left by the wayside if their tastes can’t evolve with them. Swallow the Sun is a legendary band in their own right, but their music has changed somewhat over the years. The new album is called Shining, and it releases on October 18th through Century Media Records.
Swallow the Sun hails from Finland and has been around for almost 25 years now. The current lineup includes Juha Raivio on guitars, keys, and backing vocals, Mikko Kotamäki on vocals, Matti Honkonen on bass, Juuso Raatikainen on drums, and Juho Räihä on guitars. The album is produced by Dan Lancaster, known for his work with Muse, Bring Me the Horizon, Blink 182, and more. Keep that in mind when taking the plunge on this album.
A producer really can steer a band’s sound. Swallow the Sun is well-known for the death doom metal, even producing a triple record featuring a harrowing and brilliant exploration of the genre. More and more, though, they are moving towards clean vocals and a smooth, gothic metal sound. On Shining, I feel they have found a balance between the two: there are plenty of harsh vox and heavier portions, but much of the album is extremely accessible and sing-able, too.
I understand how fans of their earlier style could be upset with this. Some of their earlier albums are textured, darkened shadowscapes full of brutal melancholy. Shining is definitely more of a catchy offering, though it is still quite emotional. The band never fully loses their old darkness, though.
The album has ten songs, the first three being the singles. The opener “Innocence Was Long Forgotten” is perhaps the most accessible song on the album, but, my God, I love it. It is incredibly catchy, not just in the vocal melodies, but even the well-time blast beats that serve as a hook on their own. “What I Have Become” is more like their older stuff with raspy harsh vox and meaty guitars, but the chorus still smooths out satisfyingly. “MelancHoly” is something of a gimmick in its title and chorus, but I can’t stop singing the song at all hours.
The album gets down to business after this. I really like “Under the Moon & Sun” with its piano and smooth atmosphere; it rolls on by in elegant fashion. “Kold” is mostly riffs and harsh vox, and I love it. The chugging, blast beat-heavy song is perfect in this position on the album. “November Dust” honestly reminds me of a Type O Negative song with its ambient, pealing guitars and lower range vocals. It has some nuance, so give it a few listens before making a judgment.
The last four songs are all good to great. “Velvet Chains” is a reserved, floating piece with great vocals (I’m not sure who the female vocalist is), and has plenty of character. “Tonight Pain Believes” reminds me of something from Moonflowers with its potently gothic, almost Romantic sound; I love the chorus and the guitar hook. “Charcoal Sky” could be grouped with “What I Have Become” as it balances harsh vox and heavy guitars with an illustrious and thoughtful clean chorus. I think I might like it a bit better than the single. The closer “Shining” is terrific; it’s about nine minutes in length, and it uses that time to bring melodies slowly and poetically to our ears. I like how atmospheric and graceful it is, even with the rocking instrumental in the second part. It’s a great closer.
Shining is definitely a more accessible version of Swallow the Sun, but it’s not unlike their last couple albums. If you liked Moonflowers, you will probably like this, too. The raw edges are still there, but the emotions are more reserved and sophisticated. I hope fans will embrace this side of them.
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