Swallow the Sun

STYLE: , ORIGIN: FinlandFORMED: 2000LABEL: Century Media Records
  • MEMBERS:
  • Mikko Kotamäki-Vocals
  • Juha Raivio-Guitars
  • Juho Räihä-Guitars
  • Matti Honkonen-Bass
  • Juuso Raatikainen-Drums
BIOGRAPHY

When Juha Raivio and Pasi Pasanen formed Swallow the Sun in the quaint city of Jyväskylä before the turn of the millenium, the duo’s ambition was no wider than writing a few tunes in the vein of their heroes, My Dying Bride. Between 2000 and 2003, Swallow the Sun honed their doom-inspired songwriting skills and welcomed, with dark menace, gradations of death, black, and funeral doom—a Finnish pastime, actually—to round out the sonic scope. Like their chief influence, by the time the ultra-limited demo Out of This Gloomy Light hit label desks in 2003, Swallow the Sun defied easy categorization.

“All I wanted is a channel to put these demons [to rest] and make a music that matters,” ponders primary songwriter Raivio from his woodland home. “Who cares if its doom or if it’s pop? As long as its 100% from the heart, then the goal is reached.”

Clearly, Swallow the Sun was, in sound and sight, unequivocally from the darkest of hearts. After signing to small Finnish independent Firebox Records, Swallow the Sun rapidly became an underground sensation. The group’s debut album, The Morning Never Came, was a haunting reminder doom-death had legs after the Peaceville Three (Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, Anathema) had largely moved on. Fans, sensing greatness in Swallow the Sun, couldn’t get enough of the epic opener “Through Her Silvery Body”, the insanely dark “Out of This Gloomy Light”, and the Lovecraftian closing title track. By winter 2003, The Morning Never Came earned Top 10 placement in lists all over metaldom, while long-standing publications like Kerrang! honored the debut as “one of doom metal’s finest moments to date”.

“We had no expectations at the time,” singer Mikko Kotamäki admits. “We were just a bunch of young blokes doing what we wanted. So, in that sense nothing’s changed, except we’re not so young anymore. Of course, it made us hungrier and now we are here with a triple album. More passionate than ever.”

From The Morning Never Came through 2012’s universally lauded Emerald Forest and the Blackbird, Swallow the Sun’s ascendancy has been like no other. The group’s sophomore album, Ghosts of Loss, placed within the Top 10 in Finland’s Top 40 chart, sandwiched with woe between System of a Down and Gwen Stefani. The same year, Swallow the Sun was nominated by the Finnish Metal Awards for “best cover art” and “best band”. Chart success continued unabated. With Hope—the group’s first for Spinefarm Records—Swallow the Sun burned up the Finnish charts, landing in the Top 3. But that wasn’t enough. When the Plague of Butterflies EP landed in September 2008, the 35-minute epic splashed at Number 1, cementing the group as serious contenders to Nightwish, Children of Bodom, and Amorphis. Follow-up full-length, New Moon, also placed easily in the Top 10 when it marched glumly into stores in 2009. Some three years later, Emerald Forest and the Blackbird also hit the upper echelons of chartdom, morosely peaking at Number 2. There was no stopping golden hand of Swallow the Sun’s doom. Even in the U.S., where the group has had marginal label support, they completed successful tours with Soilwork, Katatonia, Insomnium, and Kreator.

“During 2007-2012 we toured so much from our own pockets, it’s a miracle we’re alive,” says Kotamäki. “Some of us even have stable relationships, places to crash after all those years on the road. And now it’s time to do it again after a few quiet godforsaken years. I guess we’re still willing to risk it all.”

Swallow the Sun might not be labeled as risk takers, but they are. First of all, doom-death isn’t exactly a lucrative genre. Even My Dying Bride had to re-prioritize the band years ago to make ends meet. Second of all, Swallow the Sun touring the world—particularly the U.S., where costs are exorbitant—with limited label backing is no mean feat either. Third of all and perhaps most significant, Swallow the Sun have announced the follow-up to Emerald Forest and the Blackbird as a triple full-length titled, Songs from the North I, II & III. The group’s sixth full-length isn’t a compilation, an anthology, a live overview, or a boxed set. Songs from the North I, II & III is a legitimate triple album. With it, they join The Smashing Pumpkins, George Harrison, Tom Waits, among few others as artists willing to risk it all with a single release spanning three long-players. Whatever game Swallow the Sun are playing with their music and personal sanity, it’s paying off.

“It sure is pretty much full-on madness to do a triple album these days,” grins Raivio. “When bands want to release only one or two songs online because people would not have enough patience or time to listen full albums anymore. What bullshit. I think many bands are not respecting their fans at all to think that way. Or, they are just lazy bastards. I’m all about albums being whole experiences. Something you need to live through to be able really understand the depths and meaning of music and lyrics. Who would want to read a book just from the middle, or just watch the end of the movie? Music is holy, albums are holy. But it’s a triple album and all the albums make one big picture. One long journey through the light and dark. It is not a concept album that would have continuing story, but all the albums are connected to each other.”

Make no mistake, Songs from the North I, II & III features a complete Swallow the Sun experience. One album continues in the vein of Emerald Forest and the Blackbird and the albums before it. Meaning, it’ll be jaw-dropping, first-rate doom-death. Another album is an acoustic foray representing the group’s ability to unplug and enchant in the darkness. The final part of Songs from the North I, II & III is the most extreme, a complete ride into Swallow the Sun’s most horrific abyss. In the same vein as countrymen Thergothon, Unholy, and Skepticism, the third part is finely-crafted, conscience-crushing funeral doom.

“We have always been known for these words: gloom, beauty, and despair,” Raivio says. “That really says it all. As you get older and older, the wounds will just get deeper and deeper. The hell of living will take you into the depths you would never believe you have to travel in this lifetime, but at the same time you learn to respect the beauty more and more. All these things evolve. Like the music as the years pass. But I would give it away in a heartbeat if it would end these journeys in the dark. But it sure is good for the soul and heart of the music. No great art comes without great pain. Sad but so true.”

Songs from the North I, II & III is Swallow the Sun’s first for new label Century Media. Chuffed as Finland is cold in the winter, the Finns’ move from Spinefarm to Century Media was smart. In their new label, they’ll have a team dedicated to making sure Swallow the Sun’s black-hearted music is heard far and wide. Mostly written by Raivio following the Emerald Forest and the Blackbird tour cycle, Songs from the North I, II & III is an album that has taken time to perfect. Actually, that’s not entirely true.

“To be honest, we could have released this album over a year ago already,” reveals Raivio. “I think 90% of the music was written almost two years ago, but we had huge problems with our ex-record label and we could not enter the studio and go ahead. But now we are in the wonderful hands of Century Media. Nothing is holding us back now.”

Indeed, Swallow the Sun’s chains have broken. Even a drummer switch from Kai Hahto to newcomer Juuso Raatikainen won’t impede on the Finns’ venture. Whereas other doom-death metallers have made waves with violins, female vocals, and orchestras, Swallow the Sun are making their mark indelible with Songs from the North I, II & III.

“It’s such a massive album,” Kotamäki says. “Definitely not the easiest piece to swallow. I hope people will appreciate the amount of work we put into it after hearing it. It’s real music with real thoughts behind it. From uplifting to depressing and everything between. Like human life. No disposable shit.”

In a world crass, judgmental, and myopic, Songs from the North I, II & III will expand minds, release souls, and cleanse hearts. Let’s fall into the all-encompassing dark of Swallow the Sun together.

VIDEOS
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DISCOGRAPHY

Moonflowers / 2021

  • Album Info
  • 2021
  • Century Media

1. Moonflowers Bloom In Misery (6:19)
2. Enemy (5:39
3. Woven Into Sorrow (7:46)
4. Keep Your Heart Safe From Me (7:47)
5. All Hallows’ Grieve (5:37)
6. The Void (5:39)
7. The Fight Of Your Life (7:13)
8. This House Has No Home (6:40)


Swallow The Sun Moonflowers (Bonus)
Trio N O X plays Moonflowers Live At Sipoo
Church (32:08)

1. Moonflowers Bloom In Misery (4:52)
2. Enemy (3:06)
3. Woven Into Sorrow (4:39)
4. Keep Your Heart Safe From Me (3:13)
5. All Hallows’ Grieve (4:58)
6. The Void (4:01)
7. The Fight Of Your Life (4:16)
8. This House Has No Home (3:03)

When A Shadow Is Forced Into The Light / 2019

Swallow2019
  • Album Info
  • 2019
  • Century Media

When a Shadow Is Forced into the Light is the seventh studio album by Finnish melodic/doom metal band Swallow the Sun. It was released on January 25, 2019, by Century Media. The album deals directly with the death of Juha Raivio’s partner, the singer Aleah Stanbridge. It is their shortest studio album release to date, and also the first to have a much more prominent emphasis on clean vocals

Songs From The North (I, II, III) / 2015

Swallow The Sun-Songs From The North (I, II, III)
  • Album Info
  • 2015
  • Century Media Records

Songs from the North I, II & III is the sixth studio album by Finnish melodic death metal band Swallow the Sun. It is a triple album and was released on November 13, 2015, via Century Media. This is the last release with Aleksi Munter, who quit Swallow the Sun afterward.

Emerald Forest and the Blackbird / 2012

Swallow The Sun-Emerald Forest And The Blackbird
  • Album Info
  • 2012
  • Spinefarm Records

Emerald Forest and the Blackbird is the fifth studio album by Finnish melodic doom metal band Swallow The SunThe album was released February 1, 2012, by Spinefarm Records. It was also released on limited LP on both green and white vinyl by Svart Records.

The Horror Series concludes from this album, also being on The Morning Never CameHope New Moon.

On January 3, 2012, a music video for the track “Cathedral Walls” was released by the band. The song features guest vocals by former Nightwish vocalist Anette Olzon. The band made the entire album available for streaming on the Finnish metal magazine Inferno’s website, from January 25 until its release a week later on February 1.

This is the last release with Kai Hahto, as he would quit to work with Nightwish two years later.

New Moon / 2009

Swallow The Sun-New Moon
  • Album Info
  • 2009
  • Spinefarm Records

New Moon is the fourth studio album by Swallow the Sun.

The album was released on November 4, 2009 in Finland, November 9, 2009 in Europe, and November 10, 2009 in the United States.  Recording of the album commenced on June 15 at Fascination Street Studios with Jens Bogren as executive producer. Wintersun drummer Kai Hahto replaced Pasi Pasanen and contributed drums on the album. Some versions of the album contain an alternate recording of “Servant of Sorrow“, which features a guitar solo by Steve Rothery.

The Horror Series continued from this album, also being on The Morning Never CameHope Emerald Forest and the Blackbird.

On February 1, 2012, Svart Records released the album on LP, limited to 500 copies.

Hope / 2007

Swallow The Sun-Hope
  • Album Info
  • 2007
  • Spinefarm Records

Hope is the third album by Finnish melodic death metal / doom metal band Swallow the Sun. It was released February 7, 2007.

The Horror Series continues from this album, also being on The Morning Never CameNew Moon & Emerald Forest and the Blackbird.

The Limited Edition version includes “These Low lands”, a Timo Rautiainen & Trio Niskalaukaus cover that is originally named “Alavilla mailla”, Swallow the Sun translated the song into English for this version.

Ghosts Of Loss / 2005

Swallow The Sun-Ghosts Of Loss
  • Album Info
  • 2005
  • Firebox Records

Ghosts of Loss is the second studio album by Swallow the Sun, released on August 24, 2005. Compared with their debut, this album has more influences of gothic metal. Some of its themes are greatly influenced by the 1990-91 TV serial Twin Peaks.

The Morning Never Came / 2003

Swallow The Sun-The Morning Never Came
  • Album Info
  • 2003
  • Firebox Records

The Morning Never Came is the debut studio album by Swallow the Sun which was released on November 15, 2003. Tracks 1, 3, 4 & 7 are all rerecorded versions from this band’s first demo, Out of This Gloomy Light.

REVIEWS AND INTERVIEWS

In August 2021, Swallow the Sun announced their next studio album Moonflowers, would be released on November 19, 2021. They revealed that there would be two separate albums: a classical

November 14, 2021 by Serena

We caught up with Mikko Kotamäki and Jaani Peuhu of Swallow the Sun for a quick chat about the success of the new album When A Shadow Is Forced Into The

February 13, 2019 by Serena

Swallow the Sun released their seventh studio album When A Shadow Is Forced Into The Light at the end of January. They played the second show of their album tour

by Serena

It was a bit difficult for me to listen to this album with a critical ear. Swallow the Sun (along with Trees of Eternity and Hallatar) have a deep personal

January 28, 2019 by Serena
TOURDATES
Date Venue City Country Info Tickets
2025-02-20T18:00:00Swallow The Sun, Harakiri For The Sky, Ghost Bath, Snakes of RussiaHamtramckUnited StatesInfoTickets
2025-02-21T17:30:00Swallow The Sun, Harakiri For The Sky, Ghost Bath, Snakes of RussiaTorontoCanadaInfoTickets
2025-02-22T17:30:00Swallow The Sun, Harakiri For The Sky, Ghost Bath, Snakes of RussiaMontrealCanadaInfoTickets
2025-02-23T17:30:00Swallow The Sun, Harakiri For The Sky, Ghost Bath, Snakes of RussiaAllstonUnited StatesInfoTickets
2025-02-24T17:30:00Swallow The Sun, Harakiri For The Sky, Ghost Bath, Snakes of RussiaNew YorkUnited StatesInfoTickets
2025-02-25T18:30:00Swallow The Sun, Harakiri For The Sky, Ghost Bath, Snakes of RussiaBaltimoreUnited StatesInfoTickets
2025-02-26T17:30:00Swallow The Sun, Harakiri For The Sky, Ghost Bath, Snakes of RussiaGreensboroUnited StatesInfoTickets
2025-02-27T19:00:00Swallow The Sun, Harakiri For The Sky, Ghost Bath, Snakes of RussiaAtlantaUnited StatesInfoTickets
2025-02-28T19:00:00Swallow The Sun, Harakiri For The Sky, Ghost Bath, Snakes of RussiaWinter ParkUnited StatesInfoTickets
2025-03-01T19:00:00Swallow The Sun, Harakiri For The Sky, Ghost Bath, Snakes of RussiaPensacolaUnited StatesInfoTickets
2025-03-02T19:00:00Swallow The Sun, Harakiri For The Sky, Ghost Bath, Snakes of RussiaHoustonUnited StatesInfoTickets
2025-03-03T17:30:00Swallow The Sun, Harakiri For The Sky, Ghost Bath, Snakes of RussiaAustinUnited StatesInfoTickets
2025-03-04T19:00:00Swallow The Sun, Harakiri For The Sky, Ghost Bath, Snakes of RussiaAlbuquerqueUnited StatesInfoTickets
2025-03-05T17:30:00Swallow The Sun, Harakiri For The Sky, Ghost Bath, Snakes of RussiaPhoenixUnited StatesInfoTickets
2025-03-06T17:30:00Swallow The Sun, Harakiri For The Sky, Ghost Bath, Snakes of RussiaSan DiegoUnited StatesInfoTickets
2025-03-07T17:30:00Swallow The Sun, Harakiri For The Sky, Ghost Bath, Snakes of RussiaLos AngelesUnited StatesInfoTickets
2025-03-08T17:30:00Swallow The Sun, Harakiri For The Sky, Ghost Bath, Snakes of RussiaSan FranciscoUnited StatesInfoTickets
2025-03-09T18:30:00Swallow The Sun, Harakiri For The Sky, Ghost Bath, Snakes of RussiaPortlandUnited StatesInfoTickets
2025-03-10T17:30:00Swallow The Sun, Harakiri For The Sky, Ghost Bath, Snakes of RussiaSeattleUnited StatesInfoTickets
2025-03-12T18:00:00Swallow The Sun, Harakiri For The Sky, Ghost Bath, Snakes of RussiaSalt Lake CityUnited StatesInfoTickets
2025-03-13T17:30:00Swallow The Sun, Harakiri For The Sky, Ghost Bath, Snakes of RussiaDenverUnited StatesInfoTickets
2025-03-14T17:30:00Swallow The Sun, Harakiri For The Sky, Ghost Bath, Snakes of RussiaOmahaUnited StatesInfoTickets
2025-03-15T18:00:00Swallow The Sun, Harakiri For The Sky, Ghost Bath, Snakes of RussiaChicagoUnited StatesInfoTickets
2025-04-14T19:00:00Swallow The Sun, Before The Dawn, Stam1naAntwerpenBelgiumInfoTickets
2025-04-15T20:00:00Swallow The Sun, Before The Dawn, Stam1naCologneGermanyInfoTickets
2025-04-16T20:00:00Swallow The Sun, Before The Dawn, Stam1naBerlinGermanyInfoTickets
2025-04-17T17:00:00Swallow The Sun, Before The Dawn, Stam1naPoznańPolandInfoTickets
2025-04-18T17:00:00Swallow The Sun, Before The Dawn, Stam1naPrahaCzech RepublicInfoTickets
2025-04-19T17:00:00Swallow The Sun, Before The Dawn, Stam1naBratislava ISlovakiaInfoTickets
2025-04-20T19:00:00Swallow The Sun, Before The Dawn, Stam1naBudapestHungaryInfoTickets
2025-04-22T20:00:00Swallow The Sun, Before The Dawn, Stam1naViennaAustriaInfoTickets
2025-04-23T20:00:00Swallow The Sun, Before The Dawn, Stam1naMunichGermanyInfoTickets
2025-04-24T19:00:00Swallow The Sun, Before The Dawn, Stam1naAarauSwitzerlandInfoTickets
2025-04-25T20:00:00Swallow The Sun, Before The Dawn, Stam1naMilanoItalyInfoTickets
2025-04-26T20:30:00Swallow The Sun, Before The Dawn, Stam1naMarseilleFranceInfoTickets
2025-04-27T17:00:00Swallow The Sun, Before The Dawn, Stam1naBarcelonaSpainInfoTickets
2025-04-29T17:00:00Swallow The Sun, Before The Dawn, Stam1naMadridSpainInfoTickets
2025-04-30T17:00:00Swallow The Sun, Before The Dawn, Stam1naToulouseFranceInfoTickets
2025-05-01T20:00:00Swallow The Sun, Before The Dawn, Stam1naNantesFranceInfoTickets
2025-05-02T19:00:00Swallow The Sun, Before The Dawn, Stam1naParisFranceInfoTickets
2025-05-04T19:00:00Swallow The Sun, Before The Dawn, Stam1naTilburgNetherlandsInfoTickets
2025-05-05T19:00:00Swallow The Sun, Before The Dawn, Stam1naAmsterdamNetherlandsInfoTickets
2025-05-06T20:00:00Swallow The Sun, Before The Dawn, Stam1naHamburgGermanyInfoTickets
2025-06-26T23:30:00Provinssi 2025SeinäjokiFinlandInfoTickets
2025-07-10T19:00:00Dark River Festival 2025KotkaFinlandInfoTickets
2025-07-18T19:00:00Ilosaarirock 2025JoensuuFinlandInfoTickets
2025-07-25T19:00:00Qstock 2025OuluFinlandInfoTickets
2025-08-01T19:00:00Saarihelvetti 2025TampereFinlandInfoTickets
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