Since forming in 2000, Swallow the Sun have gained a reputation as one of the leading doom/gothic acts. Known for their gloomy and dark explorations, they’ve never really limited themselves to any sort of sound. Doom, gothic, acoustic, classical – they are willing to dabble in it with genuine vision. Shining, their ninth album, may prove itself still to be a divisive release for the veteran act in their attempt to bring in new colors to their sound. Of course, we are speaking of the ultimate metal taboo, pop influences. But for those willing to follow the band down the rabbit hole, you’ll likely agree it’s their strongest effort to date.
It would be silly to think that the long-standing doomsters of Swallow the Sun are going to put out anything remotely uplifting and well, poppy, and that’s where the reinvented contrasts and dynamics come into play. Producer Dan Lancaster (Muse, Bring Me the Horizon) doesn’t seem a likely candidate for this task, but it’s through this that the StS filter gets changed. There’s still soul-crushingly heavy riffs, with “Kold” and “Charcoal Sky” offering that earth-shaking sense of power that the band has always held, with the latter almost tip-toeing into black metal territory at times. It’s a familiar feeling, yet something’s different. Mikko Kotamaki’s clean vocals speak with greater prominence and urgency. It gives the group a slightly new element that stands out more so on the gentler cuts. Opener “Innocence Was Long Forgotten” already ruffled some feathers with it’s entirely-clean vocal work that feels more vulnerable and modern, alongside the band’s signature downtrodden melodies and lyrics.
There’s a certain feeling of ethereal warmth that comes through the band’s usual bleakness. Recent single “MelancHoly” revels in heavy, depressive riffing, but literally shines with it’s chorus that is all but guaranteed to linger in your head long after it ends. When coupled with the following track, “Under the Moon & Sun,” it delivers another potent chorus that glimmers in contrast to its more mellow and wandering melodies elsewhere in the track. “November Dust” is the closest to a traditional doomy track, with its plodding and methodical tone but there’s still some melancholic beauty to the track with it’s soaring guitar solo and Kotamaki’s vocals. Likewise, the stomping energy of “What I Have Become” operates under the band’s usual attack at their most abrasive, yet the dynamic with the melodies delivers much more contrast than what has been offered previously, with a more noticeable hook in the chorus. To close the album is the almost 9-minute title track, which does a fantastic job of claiming its “Shining” status with appropriately expressive guitar melodies as it ebbs and flows through more brutal sections and moments of poignancy, showcasing all of the evolution the band took for this release.
Shining is a beautiful example of what can happen when a veteran band is comfortable stepping a bit outside of their comfort zone. It’s full of the same gloom and doom that Swallow the Sun has always provided, but it’s showcased in a bit of a different light that provides a stark but promising contrast. This album has given them the opportunity to take their powerful and emotionally charged music and really spread their wings. In short, it’s an incredible release, if you are willing to adjust to the changes, that is going to really captivate and impress.