When I heard that Spinefarm were re-issuing the first two albums from these Finnish gloom mongers I was most pleased. Hope was one of my most played albums of last year and aside from that I simply have to consider that Swallow The Sun are one of the most exciting bands of the moment and one of the rare occasions when I can say that any hype is totally 100% justified! They have the kind of strong, distinctive sound that you can’t help but fall for assuming you have any kind of penchant for all things dark and miserable and personally I had very high expectations for these two albums; neither of which disappointed.
Fast approaching deadline is never my favourite time to review an album, or more specifically there is a certain type of album that I hate to review under pressure and STS fit right into that category. Perhaps it is simply that the sluggish pace is a little too inspiring but to me an STS review isn’t one to be rushed. The main reason though I think is simply that neither of these albums are the kind you can stick on the stereo and reap instant rewards from and to even attempt to do it any justice after only a couple of half-assed listens would be absolutely criminal. Several hours and days and in fact a deadline passed later, I finally decide that while I could easily listen to these another dozen times I would just be procrastinating.
Originally released in 2003, ‘The Morning Never Came’ is the first of these releases and from the opening bars it is clear that this band had something about them right from the start. Instantly I’m taken in by the lullaby –esque sounds of ‘Through her Silvery Body’ which finds me enveloped within its sorrow-tinged beauty. Soon the ears are introduced to a crushing doom riff that sluggishly prevails beneath the deathly growls. ‘Swallow (Horror Pt.1)’ similarly fuses catastrophic, bone-shaking riffs with a truly resplendent melody that makes this track so mesmerising. While the music sounds utterly despondent and at times joyless what really strikes me is the way they manage to capture that glimmer of hope that lays deep within, comforting and soothing the listener throughout. ‘Out Of The Gloomy Light’ very much gives that impression as though actually searching for a way out of the gloom.
‘Under the Waves’ mixes in a slice of classic Candlemass style doom, while overall it has a really haunting melody and I’d say they definitely achieved what they were going for here as the sound seems to sweep over me like waves washing up against the shore and there is something of an oceanic flavour throughout the track. The album has a generally nice and steady flow though the oceanic waves crashing out of this one make the booming intro of ‘The Morning Never Came’ seem rather alarming which actually works. The fragile clean vocals on this track have a Katatonia vibe to them and contrast nicely against the more deathly output that pervades while there is a huge, sweeping chorus that really takes the album out nicely.
‘Ghosts Of Loss’ followed in 2005 and actually trying to choose a favourite between these two isn’t easy as it seems to change along with the disc number! In actual fact I think this is slightly better of the two, and perhaps more mournful that the debut as well. ‘The Giant’ is an opener of epic proportions and at 11 minutes it manages to sustain its strength right to the end. The guitars on this track weep uncontrollably and leave a trail of tears behind it all the way. This album is just great for cranking up full volume and sitting back to soak in the atmosphere. There is quite a romantic feel to this album, much more so than the first, not least in the lyrical content which seems to be pieced together like a tragic love story. ‘Fragile’ starts off reminding me of the excellent ‘Don’t Fall Asleep’ from 2007 album Hope, and sounds especially forlorn with dark and mellow sound and the verse vocals that are expressed with an emotional fragility as suggested in the name.
The overall style isn’t too dissimilar to the first album in that it again entwines two disparate extremes; ‘Descending Winters’ comes at the senses with its deathly doom that literally crushes, while the keyboards float in the mix, softening the intense blows with a soothing caress. ‘The Ghost of Laura Palmer?’ well, a quick scan of t’internet throws up only lots of stuff about a character from Twin Peaks, other than that I’m none the wiser as to who this is about but it doesn’t make it any less haunting or stunning. Certainly ‘Gloom, Beauty and Despair’ could describe this album in its entirety, and there is quite a harsh vocal sound that introduces this one that soon gets swallowed up by the beauty.
Neither of these albums outstay their welcome, and while I’ve wrapped up the Ghosts Of Loss review rather quickly I feel I’ve said all that needs to be said without repeating much of the earlier stuff, so all that remains is for me to say that as with their later releases, these are nothing less than essential albums for any doom collection. With a full UK tour later this year plus a new album on the horizons things are looking very sunny indeed.
http://www.myspace.com/swallowthesundoom
http://www.swallowthesun.net
http://www.spinefarmrecords.co.uk
