Almost a decade ago Swallow The Sun filtered their musical personality into a wealthy and stunning triple-album Songs From The North I, II, III, exploring different aspects of its sound palette. The band continued, despite personnel changes and the death of guitarist Juha Raivio’s life partner and vocalist Aleah Stanbridge at the end of 2016, to produce two more interesting recordings (When a Shadow Is Forced into the Light and Moonflowers).
During the first listening sessions we got a little confused by the softened sound that Finnish quintet produces on their latest album Shining. We recognise of course Swallow The Sun’s typical characteristic sound with tight riffs, melodic guitar solos and the soft piano tunes. Vocalist Mikko Kotamäki still uses his wide ranging voice but seems to have lost his demons. We hear less grunts and screams in the more polished sound the band utters. And yes, this is quite a good album but (and here it comes), we miss the impending doom vibes in this rather progressive sounding album.
Shining has developed a more mainstream approach in their songs and surely the album will get the attention of a broader audience. We can’t hide that we are a little disappointed knowing that this band created some very good albums filled with misanthropic loaded doom and death metal. Well, the band does what it wants and feels to do so, according to their emotional state. Their path with life events was rough and it seems as if the Swallow The Sun members have found some more peace in life. The needles of doom and their wrappings on this recording are, however, only echoes of a glorious past.
Shining feels and sounds like a softer reflection of the ploughing through life’s disillusionments.
