Out now is Shining, the latest full-length album from the Finnish death doom pioneers Swallow The Sun, via Century Media Records, and alongside it the band’s latest single, ‘Charcoal Sky’.
Comments on the album release, band member Juha Raivio said: “It feels almost surreal to release one of our best and bravest album 24 years into the band’s existence. Like an ice dagger through a sleeping heart. Sunrise in the night sky. Horns and Halos. Shining dark.”
He added, regarding the new single:“‘Charcoal Sky’ is a true anthem for the autumn and the weight of the coming winter. To recognize and face the killing season within, to be reborn again.”
While Mikko Kotamäki commented”: “’Charcoal Sky’ is musically the heaviest song of the album. Can’t wait to perform this song live. Great riffs and catchy chorus. Future classic so to speak.”
You can stream the single here and check out the video here at RAMzine.
It follows previous single ‘MelancHoly’, about which Raivio said: “This song talks about how melancholy can be comforting, safe and even a beautiful place. But when it turns into your God, it will surely kill you.”
While Kotamäki added”: “I’ve heard these days people call great and catchy songs bangers. Well, this one truly is one.”
You can stream the single here and check out the video here at RAMzine.
For more than two decades Swallow The Sun – featuring Juha Raivio (Guitar, keyboards), Juho Räihä (Guitar), Mikko Kotamäki (Vocals), Matti Honkonen (Bass) and Juuso Raatikainen (Drums) – has been Finland’s melancholy torchbearers, both topping the charts and Grammy nominated twice.
Formed in Jyväskylä in 2000, the quintet has enjoyed numerous fan-lauded music videos (10+ million YouTube views) and streaming dominance (50+ million Spotify plays), while also embarking on a four-continent, 900-show run over the course of their 20-year career. Their new music, however, is the group’s first step on the new path to the unknown.
The first indication of this transformation and rebirth was previous single ‘What I Have Become’ Stream that you can stream here and check out the video to here at RAMzine.
Produced and mixed by Dan Lancaster (Bring Me the Horizon, Muse, Enter Shikari), mastered by Tony Lindgren (Fascination Street Studios) and recorded by Juho Räihä at SoundSpiral Audio, except vocals that were recorded by Dan Lancaster.
Commenting on the single Juha Raivio said: “’What I Have Become` is about that moment when you look yourself deep in the eye from the mirror and your own eyes start to tell what your soul have become instead of what you always wanted it to be. The hardest thing is to forgive yourself and break that circle.”
Regarding the album itself he said: “After our last album it soon became clear to me that writing another Moonflowers album will kill me. So, I made a quiet wish to myself that if there ever will be any new music then please have a little bit of mercy on yourself rather than be that infinite black hole that will suck out the rest of your remaining light and soul just for the sake of it. Musically this album shines like a glacier diamond and has that power and punch that feels like a kick in your face! While lyrically the album deals how fearing life will eventually kill you and how melancholy can become your god.
“We want to thank all the support and trust from Century Media, not to mention our insanely talented producer Dan Lancaster having the balls and guts to jump straight in the deep end with this band and get us out from our comfort zone. This album truly feels like a sunrise in the night sky”.
Other tracks featured on Shining are ‘Innocence Was Long Forgotten’, ‘What I Have Become’, ‘MelancHoly’, ‘Under The Moon & Sun’, ‘Kold’, ‘November Dust’, ‘Velvet Chains’, ‘Tonight Pain Believes’, ‘Charcoal Sky’ and ‘Shining’.
Shining can be pre-ordered here.
The album will see its official launch on 16th October, at the beautiful Aleksanterin Teattteri in Helsinki, where the album will be played in its entirety. For those who can make it, tickets are available here, though it should be noted the band will not perform at the event themselves.
Mikko Kotamäki said of pre-listening session: “Very excited to go back to the very special theater, but this time enjoying the music as a listener! Also cool to meet everyone and talk about the Shining process and how it was working with such people as Dan! See you in Helsinki!”
