«Swallow The Sun - Shining»
The new album by Finnish masters Swallow the Sun, titled Shining, has already caused quite a stir among fans and music critics. Known for their dark and emotionally heavy releases in the genres of death-doom and gothic metal, the band took a bold step in 2024 by inviting Dan Lancaster, a producer famous for his work with Blink-182, Muse, and Bring Me the Horizon, to helm the project. This collaboration promised something both new and risky: for two decades, Swallow the Sun had carefully cultivated their signature sonic cocktail of despair, melancholy, and heaviness, but now they opted to add more polish and a touch of "radio-friendly" allure.
From the very first singles—Innocence Was Long Forgotten, What Have I Become, and MelancHoly—it became evident that the band was venturing into brighter and even gothic rock territories. At the same time, some hallmarks of the classic Swallow the Sun remain: heavy riffs alternating with rich keyboard atmospheres and the distinctive growling interjections of vocalist Mikko Kotamäki. However, the influence of their new producer is unmistakable: the overall sound is more meticulously refined, with the inclusion of autotune and smoothed-out sections that longtime fans might not have expected from a band known for crafting relentlessly bleak anthems.
Take the opening track, Innocence Was Long Forgotten, for example. It greets listeners with warm synthesizer tones and an almost anthem-like chorus that stands well on its own but might perplex longtime fans. The absence of harsh vocals and the pronounced gothic emotionality create a dual impression: on the one hand, Swallow the Sun has always experimented and softened their sound in select tracks; on the other hand, such a bold pop-metal leaning feels uncharacteristically alien for them.
The next track, What Have I Become, restores some faith. Heavy riffs bring the band back to familiar territory, and Mikko’s signature growl makes a triumphant return, almost as if declaring, "We’re not going fully mainstream." The pop aesthetics remain—catchy choruses that don’t alienate fans of harder material. Both the vocal performance and instrumental arrangements convincingly showcase the band’s attempt to balance emotional depth with potential radio appeal.
MelancHoly, the third single, pushes the experiment even further, veering into near pop-rock melodicism. There’s plenty to ponder here: on one hand, the track feels lighter and more accessible to a broader audience; on the other hand, the risk of "losing" old-school fans grows. Still, the song retains a distinctly Finnish sadness—piercing atmosphere and lush guitar parts conjure familiar cold landscapes, albeit now tinged with slightly more optimistic notes.
As the album progresses, heavier tracks like Charcoal Sky and Kold serve as reminders that Swallow the Sun’s roots lie in powerful death/doom sounds, and their signature dark melancholy remains intact. Charcoal Sky, for instance, flirts with black metal, demonstrating that the band can still crush listeners with dense guitar work and aggressive vocals. These moments reassure fans that "Yes, this is still Swallow the Sun."
The production work by Lancaster has sparked heated debates: some praise the professionalism, the polished sonic landscape, and the layered synthesizer effects that make Shining more accessible and diverse. Others criticize the band for the sterility of the sound and excessive "plasticity," particularly targeting the use of autotune and the overly polished vocals. However, it’s undeniable that the emotional fragility the band carried through Moonflowers (2021), When a Shadow Is Forced into the Light (2019), and even earlier releases like The Morning Never Came is still present. It’s just now wrapped in a slightly glossier package.
The most intriguing aspect of Shining is its ability to merge mainstream and traditionally dark potentials. The band aptly described this release as the "Black Album of Death Doom," referencing the polarizing reception of Metallica’s Black Album in 1991. Back then, Metallica significantly broadened their audience while disappointing some longtime fans. Swallow the Sun likely aims for something similar: to attract new listeners open to lighter formats while retaining the core audience that appreciates Finnish bleakness, doom, and majestic melancholy.
In the end, Shining is a bold step toward a more contemporary, polished sound that might provoke mixed feelings. On the one hand, it retains powerful guitar work, familiar despair, and heavy riffs; on the other, it leans toward pop-metal with glossy production, catchy choruses, and shorter tracks that forgo the expansive atmospheric buildup of earlier releases. This duality has the potential to attract new fans to Swallow the Sun while alienating the most conservative followers of their early death-doom sound. Yet, the album is far from a failure. It’s a daring experiment that deserves respect, even if it won’t please everyone.
If you love the dark romance of Swallow the Sun, don’t be afraid to give Shining a chance. Beneath the glossy production lies the sadness and bitterness that made the band famous worldwide. By shedding some of their previous weight, they’ve taken a pause from unrelenting darkness and tried to view their music from a different perspective. History shows that such decisions sometimes lead to the most intriguing creative turns. Perhaps this is how a new face of Swallow the Sun is born—and who knows what horizons lie ahead for them?
From the very first singles—Innocence Was Long Forgotten, What Have I Become, and MelancHoly—it became evident that the band was venturing into brighter and even gothic rock territories. At the same time, some hallmarks of the classic Swallow the Sun remain: heavy riffs alternating with rich keyboard atmospheres and the distinctive growling interjections of vocalist Mikko Kotamäki. However, the influence of their new producer is unmistakable: the overall sound is more meticulously refined, with the inclusion of autotune and smoothed-out sections that longtime fans might not have expected from a band known for crafting relentlessly bleak anthems.
Take the opening track, Innocence Was Long Forgotten, for example. It greets listeners with warm synthesizer tones and an almost anthem-like chorus that stands well on its own but might perplex longtime fans. The absence of harsh vocals and the pronounced gothic emotionality create a dual impression: on the one hand, Swallow the Sun has always experimented and softened their sound in select tracks; on the other hand, such a bold pop-metal leaning feels uncharacteristically alien for them.
The next track, What Have I Become, restores some faith. Heavy riffs bring the band back to familiar territory, and Mikko’s signature growl makes a triumphant return, almost as if declaring, "We’re not going fully mainstream." The pop aesthetics remain—catchy choruses that don’t alienate fans of harder material. Both the vocal performance and instrumental arrangements convincingly showcase the band’s attempt to balance emotional depth with potential radio appeal.
MelancHoly, the third single, pushes the experiment even further, veering into near pop-rock melodicism. There’s plenty to ponder here: on one hand, the track feels lighter and more accessible to a broader audience; on the other hand, the risk of "losing" old-school fans grows. Still, the song retains a distinctly Finnish sadness—piercing atmosphere and lush guitar parts conjure familiar cold landscapes, albeit now tinged with slightly more optimistic notes.
As the album progresses, heavier tracks like Charcoal Sky and Kold serve as reminders that Swallow the Sun’s roots lie in powerful death/doom sounds, and their signature dark melancholy remains intact. Charcoal Sky, for instance, flirts with black metal, demonstrating that the band can still crush listeners with dense guitar work and aggressive vocals. These moments reassure fans that "Yes, this is still Swallow the Sun."
The production work by Lancaster has sparked heated debates: some praise the professionalism, the polished sonic landscape, and the layered synthesizer effects that make Shining more accessible and diverse. Others criticize the band for the sterility of the sound and excessive "plasticity," particularly targeting the use of autotune and the overly polished vocals. However, it’s undeniable that the emotional fragility the band carried through Moonflowers (2021), When a Shadow Is Forced into the Light (2019), and even earlier releases like The Morning Never Came is still present. It’s just now wrapped in a slightly glossier package.
The most intriguing aspect of Shining is its ability to merge mainstream and traditionally dark potentials. The band aptly described this release as the "Black Album of Death Doom," referencing the polarizing reception of Metallica’s Black Album in 1991. Back then, Metallica significantly broadened their audience while disappointing some longtime fans. Swallow the Sun likely aims for something similar: to attract new listeners open to lighter formats while retaining the core audience that appreciates Finnish bleakness, doom, and majestic melancholy.
In the end, Shining is a bold step toward a more contemporary, polished sound that might provoke mixed feelings. On the one hand, it retains powerful guitar work, familiar despair, and heavy riffs; on the other, it leans toward pop-metal with glossy production, catchy choruses, and shorter tracks that forgo the expansive atmospheric buildup of earlier releases. This duality has the potential to attract new fans to Swallow the Sun while alienating the most conservative followers of their early death-doom sound. Yet, the album is far from a failure. It’s a daring experiment that deserves respect, even if it won’t please everyone.
If you love the dark romance of Swallow the Sun, don’t be afraid to give Shining a chance. Beneath the glossy production lies the sadness and bitterness that made the band famous worldwide. By shedding some of their previous weight, they’ve taken a pause from unrelenting darkness and tried to view their music from a different perspective. History shows that such decisions sometimes lead to the most intriguing creative turns. Perhaps this is how a new face of Swallow the Sun is born—and who knows what horizons lie ahead for them?
Rating: 6/10
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