That's What I Expected From Swallow the Sun

Swallow the Sun is a Finnish Melodic Death/Doom Metal band.The Band's first work was a Demo Album released in 2003 named "Out Of This Gloomy Light".Then their first full-length album was released in the same year.The album got many top rated reviews and Swallow the Sun was introduced to Doom Metal's world.When their second album was released it got the number 8 on the Finnish album charts.The band did gigs in Finland and aboard.They worked hard and increased their skills and when the "Hope" was released in 2007 it climbed to number 3 on the Official Finnish Album Chart.A year later their EP album "Plague of Butterflies" was released.the album was in Number 1 spot on the Finnish charts in its first week.Now after a year Swallow the Sun is back with "New Moon".Till know this album has been reviewed in many websites and most of reviews have given the album a top rate.Now here is my short review of album and some tracks 

As many (or all) of you know,Swallow the Sun has released their 4th Full-Length album entitled "New Moon".The title of the album has nothing to do with the so called movie "New Moon".If you listen to this album for times and care about the lyrics you'll notice that this is the title that fits the album

The band has released some great albums before,but now swallow the Sun is shining more than ever.With some changes in vocals and guitars and drums (Drums was better before in my opinion),Swallow the Sun is becoming more flexible to expose their feeling.For Mikko Kotamäki's Vocals I have to say his Harsh vocals is great,but greater is his clean vocals.The highlights of his clean vocals are in two tracks "New Moon" and "Falling World".Guitars are more in a melancholic and slow/heavy mood than before.But with changing drummer I guess the drum hits has became  predictable

Track "Lights on the Lake (Horror pt iii)" maybe is what I expected from Swallow the Sun,or maybe is more than what I expected. The first time you listen to this track you'll be waiting for Mikko to start vocals,but you'll get surprised with the female vocal.The female weak clean voice has really made the song more emotional

Track "New Moon" is the 6th track in their 8-track album.Mikko's Clean vocal and the music itself clearly show some changes in Swallow the Sun which I mentioned at first.I'm sure Progressive Metal/Rock fans will enjoy this track

Track "And The Heavens Cried Blood" is a good keyboard experience. if you have noticed Mikko has two different harsh vocal types.one type is really close to black metal vocals,and the other is the type we hear in most death/doom metal band.Changing from on type of singing to the other is really difficult and that's what Mikko has done perfectly.Not only for this song,the whole album is really in control of Mikko's vocal

Track "Falling world" is one of those popular tracks,I mean even those who don't like swallow the sun will enjoy this track.Excellent guitar riffs and vocals.Especially clean vocals in this track.the lyric and music accompany vocals to draw a world that really is falling

Maybe you will see some changes in this album,but the band's attitude and lyrical themes are almost the same.Most song are about grief,death,horror and the atmosphere is kinda hopeless,melancholic and aggressive

New Moon is not perfect in all respects,but surely it's a masterpiece in Melodic Doom/Death Metal and the best Swallow the Sun album till now

Rating : 85%

Review by : Kalt.Dunkelheit