Release:

Spinefarm Records / Universal
03.02.2012 (GER)

Info:

The death/doom luminaries of Finland, Swallow the Sun, started in the turn of the millennium when guitarist Juha Raivio collected a group of friends around him.

With their debut “The Morning Never Came” Swallow the Sun got chosen the newcomer of the year in Inferno Magazine and received a full 5 K's review in Kerrang! the album was quoted as “One of the doom metals finest moments to date”. 2nd album “Ghosts of loss” climbed to #8 on Finnish album charts. This rare occasion, together 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 of 2007 and impressively hit position #3 on the Official Finnish Album Chart, a feat never before achieved anywhere in the world with a doom album.

A year after Swallow the Sun recorded ambitiously “Plague of Butterflies” –EP, which was released by Spinefarm Records in Europe, “Plague of Butterflies” 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.

During June and July 2009 Swallow the Sun spent three weeks in Fascination Street studios in Sweden with producer Jens Bogren, recording their fourth full length release “New Moon”. This was also the debut of Finnish drummer virtuoso Kai Hahto(Wintersun and ex-Rotten Sound),
Album was released worldwide through Spinefarm records in November 2009 and in Finland it debuted in charts at position 10.

Here is what main songwriter Juha Raivio tells about the new album: "I found myself listening to an old Finnish lullaby called 'Sininen Uni' over and over again, and suddenly images started pouring into my mind of a dad reading a tale to his dying child, trying to explain where the child is going that night, the tale of Emerald Forest and the Blackbird.
We are extremely honoured to have Anette Olzon of NIGHTWISH featuring on vocals on CATHEDRAL WALLS. Her recognizable voice gives the song the depth and the angelic character it demands.”

New album “Emerald Forest and the Blackbird” was recorded during September and October 2011 by the legendary Mikko Karmila (Nightwish, Amorphis and Children of Bodom, to name a few) at Drumforest Studios in Viitasaari and Sonic Pump 2 in Helsinki, and by Hannu Honkonen at Noisework Studios in Helsinki.

Tracklist:

1. Emeral Forest And The Blackbird
2. This Cut Is The Deepest
3. Hate, Lead The Way
4. Cathedral Walls (feat. Anette Olzon)
5. Hearts Wide Shut
6. Silent Towers
7. Labyrinth Of London (Horror Pt. IV)
8. Of Death And Corruption
9. April 14th
10. Night Will Forgive Us

Line-up:

Juha Raivio - Guitar
Mikko Kotamäki - vocals
Kai Hahto - drums
Markus Jämsen - Guitar
Matti Honkonen - Bass
Aleksi Munter – Keyboards

Discography:

Emerald Forest And The Blackbird (2012, Spinefarm)
New Moon (2009, Spinefarm)
Plague of Butterflies (2008, Spinefarm)
Hope (2007, Spinefarm)
Ghosts of Loss (2055, Firebox)
The Morning Never Came (2003, Firebox)