he death/doom luminaries of Finland, Swallow the Sun, started at the turn of the millennium when guitarist Juha Raivio collected a group of friends around him.
The band’s first recording, “Out of this Gloomy Light” demo, was recorded in January 2003 and has become a rare collectors item. This demo also brought them their first record deal with Firebox Records.
With their debut “The Morning Never Came” Swallow the Sun were elected newcomer of the year by Inferno Magazine and received a full 5 K review in Kerrang. The album was quoted: “One of doom metals finest moments to date”.
“Ghosts of loss”, the band’s second full length album climbed to number 8 on the Finnish album charts. This rare occasion, along with heavy touring both in Finland and abroad, laid the groundwork for Swallow the Sun's skyrocketing success.
In September 2006 Swallow the Sun recorded “Hope”, which was released in January 2007, and hit position 3 on the Official Finnish Album Chart, a feat never before achieved anywhere in the world with a doom album and an achievement which "undoubtedly won’t be repeated unless Swallow the Sun do it themselves".
The 2008 release, Plague of Butterflies EP is a 35 minute three part song of crushing gloom, beauty and despair. It is the story of an old hermit, deep woods, loneliness and the plague. The release also included the rare "Out of This Gloomy Light" demo that got them signed back in 2003. Never before has the band shown such polarity, ranging from demented screams of desperation to moving, heartrending melodic passages.
“Plague of Butterflies” was released on September 17th in Europe by Spinefarm Records where it crashed into the Number 1 spot on the Finnish charts in its first week. The EP was released in the US on September 23rd, and was followed by an extensive Finnish and American tour in early 2009.
On May 18th 2009 Swallow the Sun announced that Kai Hahto of Wintersun will be joining to fill the void left by former drummer Pasi Pasanen.
During June and July 2009 Swallow the Sun spent three weeks in Fascination Street studios in Sweden with producer Jens Bogren, recording their new full length release “New Moon”. The album will be released worldwide through Spinefarm records in November 2009.
Visit the official Swallow the Sun website at:
DESCENDING WINTERS
DOOMED TO WALK THE EARTH
DON'T FALL ASLEEP
For CD orders and official band merchandise, visit Swallow the Sun's official webstore at fanzone.fi.
...damn...it's a pity I won't be able to come to your concert in Paris because of my exams...hope you'll have other concerts in France, or better, in Romania...I remeber the STS M&Ms I won almost a year ago...were really cute :)
...congrats for the new album :) hope to see you guys live soon!
new album is just lame. i knew it! i was really hoping that it will sound like "morning never came","ghost of loss" or at least like "hope". "plague..." is great. maybe not great, maybe just good. but "new moon"...why guys? why? its all the same and songs are so similar to each other. where is the old, heavy, slow and sorrowful StS?! :|
i really do not like it. even after 10th time is the same feeling. it seems like your lost it somewhere before "plague..." i know that the bunch people will say that is awesome, great and similar. bit it is not. i do not see it as development at all!
i'm not saying this as some dude who started to listen to you guys few weeks ago... i'm listening StS from the "out of this gloomy light" and i really, but really, like your work but "new moon" will be pure disappointment for me and i think that it will be disappointment for all other REAL fans out there.
Thanks for the new album I've been waiting for the last entire year to get it , it's more black metal and I like that...THANKS AGAIN keep the fuckin' blast on \m/
Masterfuckingpiece ! Can't wait to get my ears ripped live by this beautiful melody. This album is by far the most versatile Sts has made. I miss Pasi though... You guys gave me hell of a good trip deep inside as always.
You are never going to stop to amaze me... With each of your work as you have achieved, always :) This, this is brilliant... Congratulations to all! You to have a great day guys!