Swallow the Sun
Encyclopedia
Swallow the Sun is a Finnish
melodic death
/ doom metal
band.
A record deal with Firebox Records
was signed a few months after the recordings of the demo, and Swallow the Sun entered studio at late July 2003. During the following three weeks they recorded their debut album, The Morning Never Came
.
In February 2005, Swallow the Sun released their second album, Ghosts of Loss
. Their single, "Forgive Her...
," gained 4th place on the Finnish Top 20 singles chart in its first week of release, and stayed on the charts for 6 weeks. Their album entered the charts as well: #8 in between Gwen Stefani
and System of a Down
.
During the year 2006 they signed to Spinefarm Records
and did a small European tour. In January 2007 they released their third album, Hope
, which includes a cover version of the Timo Rautiainen & Trio Niskalaukaus
song "Alavilla mailla" (which they translated into "These Low Lands") as a bonus track on the digipack edition, sung by Tomi Joutsen
, the frontman of fellow Finnish metal band, Amorphis
. There is also a guest appearance by Jonas Renkse
of Katatonia
on the song "The Justice of Suffering." They went on a US tour with Katatonia
, Scar Symmetry
and Insomnium
in late 2007.
In September 2008, they released an EP called Plague of Butterflies
. In October, they announced a December tour of the UK of ten live shows supporting Apocalyptica
.
On May 18, 2009 Swallow the Sun announced that Kai Hahto
of Wintersun
will be joining to fill the void left by former drummer Pasi Pasanen.
Swallow the Sun confirmed on 12 June that their next album would be entitled New Moon
and is being produced by Jens Bogren, they also stated that Kai Hahto would be doing the drums on this album.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
melodic death
Melodic death metal
Melodic death metal is a heavy metal music style that combines elements from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with elements of death metal. The style was developed during the early and mid-1990s, primarily in England and Scandinavia...
/ doom metal
Doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
band.
Biography
Swallow the Sun was formed in early 2000 by Juha Raivio, joined soon by Pasi Pasanen came along (both had played in Plutonium Orange). They rehearsed a couple of songs, one of them being "Through Her Silvery Body" which would end up on their first demo,Out of This Gloomy Light. In 2001 Markus Jämsen, whom Raivio and Pasanen already knew from their earlier bands, joined as a second guitarist, and Mikko Kotamäki from Funeris Nocturnum as singer; then Aleksi Munter (keyboards) and Matti Honkonen (bass), also of Funeris Nocturnum, joined the band. In the spring of 2002 they started arranging songs for the demo, which was recorded in January 2003 at Sam's Workshop with Sami Kokko, who also mixed the demo.A record deal with Firebox Records
Firebox Records
Firebox Records is a Finnish record label based in Seinäjoki, Southern Ostrobothnia. The label is well known in the underground heavy metal scene. They specialize in doom metal....
was signed a few months after the recordings of the demo, and Swallow the Sun entered studio at late July 2003. During the following three weeks they recorded their debut album, The Morning Never Came
The Morning Never Came
The Morning Never Came is the debut album by Swallow the Sun which was released in 2003.-Track listing:*All songs written by Juha Raivio, except where noted.# "Through Her Silvery Body" – 8:40# "Deadly Nightshade" – 5:49...
.
In February 2005, Swallow the Sun released their second album, Ghosts of Loss
Ghosts of Loss
Ghosts of Loss is the second album by Swallow the Sun, released in 2005. Compared with their debut, this album has more influences of funeral doom metal...
. Their single, "Forgive Her...
Forgive Her...
"Forgive Her..." is a CD single by Swallow the Sun, released in 2005 by Firebox Records. The single was released only in Finland, where it reached number 4 in the charts. In a bid for publicity, guest vocals by Albert Witchfinder of the Finnish doom metal band Reverend Bizarre were featured on the...
," gained 4th place on the Finnish Top 20 singles chart in its first week of release, and stayed on the charts for 6 weeks. Their album entered the charts as well: #8 in between Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Renée Stefani is an American singer-songwriter and fashion designer. Stefani is the lead vocalist for the rock and ska band No Doubt. Stefani recorded her first solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. in 2004. The album was inspired by music of the 1980s, and was a success with sales of over...
and System of a Down
System of a Down
System of a Down, also known by the acronym SOAD and often shortened to System, is a rock band from Southern California. The band was formed in 1994. It consists of Serj Tankian , Daron Malakian , Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan...
.
During the year 2006 they signed to Spinefarm Records
Spinefarm Records
Spinefarm Records is a Finland-based record label focusing mainly on heavy metal artists. In 1999, a sub-label titled Spikefarm Records was started by Sami Tenetz from Thy Serpent...
and did a small European tour. In January 2007 they released their third album, Hope
Hope (Swallow the Sun album)
Hope is the third album by Finnish melodic death metal / doom metal band Swallow the Sun. It was released February 7, 2007. Guest vocals by Jonas Renkse of Katatonia were featured on "The Justice of Suffering"...
, which includes a cover version of the Timo Rautiainen & Trio Niskalaukaus
Timo Rautiainen & Trio Niskalaukaus
Timo Rautiainen & Trio Niskalaukaus was a metal music band from Finland, formed in 1997. The band was led by Timo Rautiainen, leading member of Finnish metallers Lyijykomppania, a band which still has an underground cult following in the scene. The musical influence of the band ranges from Black...
song "Alavilla mailla" (which they translated into "These Low Lands") as a bonus track on the digipack edition, sung by Tomi Joutsen
Tomi Joutsen
Tomi Joutsen is the vocalist for the bands Amorphis and Sinisthra. In 1999, he founded Sinisthra with Markku Mäkinen under the name Nevergreen. His vocal style is very different comparing to traditional heavy metal and punk rock stylish high-pitched voice of former Amorphis singer Pasi Koskinen...
, the frontman of fellow Finnish metal band, Amorphis
Amorphis
Amorphis is a Finnish heavy metal band started by Jan Rechberger, Tomi Koivusaari, and Esa Holopainen in 1990. Initially, the band was a death metal act, but on later albums they evolved into playing other types of genres, which include heavy metal, progressive metal, and folk metal...
. There is also a guest appearance by Jonas Renkse
Jonas Renkse
Jonas Petter Renkse is a founding member, songwriter, lead vocalist and ex-drummer of the band Katatonia, founding member, songwriter, bassist, backing vocalist, ex-guitarist of the band Bloodbath and member of Sailors With Wax Wings.He was also the founding member, drummer, vocalist, guitarist...
of Katatonia
Katatonia
Katatonia is a Swedish metal band formed in Stockholm in 1991 by Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström .-1991-1993:The early Katatonia releases, such as the EP Jhva Elohim Meth.....
on the song "The Justice of Suffering." They went on a US tour with Katatonia
Katatonia
Katatonia is a Swedish metal band formed in Stockholm in 1991 by Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström .-1991-1993:The early Katatonia releases, such as the EP Jhva Elohim Meth.....
, Scar Symmetry
Scar Symmetry
Scar Symmetry is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Avesta in Dalarna County, formed in 2004. The band has released five albums, with six released singles...
and Insomnium
Insomnium
Insomnium is a Finnish melodic death metal band from Joensuu, Finland. Their new album "One for Sorrow" was released October 2011. On September 9th, 2011 Insomnium released the music video Through The Shadows from their 2011 album One For Sorrow....
in late 2007.
In September 2008, they released an EP called Plague of Butterflies
Plague of Butterflies
Plague of Butterflies is the first EP by the melodic death metal/doom metal band Swallow the Sun. It was released on September 17, 2008 in Finland and September 23, 2008 worldwide through Spinefarm Records...
. In October, they announced a December tour of the UK of ten live shows supporting Apocalyptica
Apocalyptica
Apocalyptica is a band from Helsinki, Finland, formed in 1993. The band is composed of classically trained cellists Eicca Toppinen, Paavo Lötjönen, and Perttu Kivilaakso and drummer Mikko Sirén...
.
On May 18, 2009 Swallow the Sun announced that Kai Hahto
Kai Hahto
Kai Hahto is a Finnish musician and drummer.-Career:Hahto starting playing drums using a handmade Kumu drumkit.Hahto was a member of the grindcore band Rotten Sound....
of Wintersun
Wintersun
Wintersun is an extreme metal band from Helsinki, Finland.Wintersun was originally created by guitarist Jari Mäenpää as a side project to folk metal band Ensiferum, for whom he was lead singer and guitarist. In 2003, Mäenpää began culling together songs that he'd been working on since 1995. These...
will be joining to fill the void left by former drummer Pasi Pasanen.
Swallow the Sun confirmed on 12 June that their next album would be entitled New Moon
New Moon (Swallow the Sun album)
New Moon is the fourth studio album by Finnish band 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...
and is being produced by Jens Bogren, they also stated that Kai Hahto would be doing the drums on this album.
Current line-up
- Matti Honkonen - bass guitar
- Markus Jämsen - guitar
- Mikko Kotamäki - vocals
- Aleksi Munter - keyboards
- Juha Raivio - guitar
- Kai Hahto - drums
Albums
- The Morning Never CameThe Morning Never CameThe Morning Never Came is the debut album by Swallow the Sun which was released in 2003.-Track listing:*All songs written by Juha Raivio, except where noted.# "Through Her Silvery Body" – 8:40# "Deadly Nightshade" – 5:49...
(2003) - Ghosts of LossGhosts of LossGhosts of Loss is the second album by Swallow the Sun, released in 2005. Compared with their debut, this album has more influences of funeral doom metal...
(2005) - HopeHope (Swallow the Sun album)Hope is the third album by Finnish melodic death metal / doom metal band Swallow the Sun. It was released February 7, 2007. Guest vocals by Jonas Renkse of Katatonia were featured on "The Justice of Suffering"...
(2007) - New MoonNew Moon (Swallow the Sun album)New Moon is the fourth studio album by Finnish band 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...
(2009) - Emerald Forest and the Blackbird (2012)
Videos
- "Descending Winters" (2005)
- "Don't Fall Asleep" (2007)
- "Doomed to Walk the Earth" (2007)
- "Falling World" (2009)
External links
- Official web site
- Official Fan Club
- Interview with Juha Raivio and Matti Honkonen received on 08/09/2010