• New Music Reviews
• |
• Archives
• |
• News
• |
• Submissions
• |
• About
• |
• 
• |
• 

July 2024

• Ironflame: Kingdom Torn Asunder
• Spektra: Hypnotized
• (Michael) Palace: Reckless Heart
• Mr. Big: Ten
• Dark Mile: Dark Mile

June 2024

• Kaipa: Sommargryningsljus
• Sunbomb: Light Up The Sky
• Seven Spires: A Fortress Called Home
• Atlantic: Another World
• Xeneris: Eternal Rising
• New Horizon: Conquerors
• Issa: Another World

May 2024

• Rhapsody Of Fire: Challenge The Wind
• Cloven Hoof: Heathen Cross
• Perseus: Into The Silence
• Yes: Talk (1994/2024) Reissue
• Marty Friedman: Drama
• Demon: Invincible
• The Treatment: Wake Up The Neighbourhood
• The Tangent: To Follow Polaris
• Riot V: Mean Streets
• Anette Olzon: Rapture
• FM: Old Habits Die Hard

April 2024

• War Grave: War Grave EP
• Six By Six: Beyond Shadowland
• Vanden Plas: The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things
• Praying Mantis: Defiance
• King Zebra: Between The Shadows
• About Us: Take A Piece
• Blue Oyster Cult: Ghost Stories

March 2024

• Cruzh: The Jungle Revolution
• Whom Gods Destroy: Insanium
• The Prog Collective: Dark Encounters
• Lords Of Black: Mechanics Of Predacity
• Lipz: Changing The Melody
• The End Machine: The Quantum Phase
• Stargate: Escaping The Illusion
• Turbulence: Binary Dream
• Sonata Arctica: Clear Cold Beyond
• D'Luna: Monster
• Big Big Train: The Likes Of Us
• Benjamin Croft: We Are Here To Help

February 2024

• Traveler: Prequel To Madness
• Lionheart: The Grace Of A Dragonfly
• Honeymoon Suite: Alive
• Durbin: Screaming Steel
• Smoking Snakes: Danger Zone
• Revolution Saints: Against The Winds
• Striker: Ultrapower
• Show N Tell: The Ritual Has Begun
• Robert Hart: Circus Life

[ More Music Reviews ]

Swallow the Sun: New Moon

Melodic Death/Doom Metal

Rating: 3.75/5.0

Spinefarm Records
www.myspace.com/swallowthesundoom
Review: Craig Hartranft,  11.15.2009

Finland's most promising heralds of doom and death metal, Swallow the Sun, are back with their fourth full length album, New Moon. Lead guitarist Juha Raivio describes the new work: 'This is the most progressive, sorrowful, beautiful and evil sounding album we have done so far. This time around, you can never be sure where the songs are going to take you. The depths of hell and heaven are carved deep into these songs.' Don't you love the way metal dudes talk with equal amounts of poetic conundrum and contrast. Nevertheless, Raivo description pretty much nails the character of New Moon.

The music is intriguing and expansive, enough to turn notions of conventional death or doom metal on its proverbial head. These Wood Breath Evil, Sleepless Swans, and mysterious and creepy Weight of the Dead turn more on somber and sorrowful melody than upon the plodding mire of doom (though it is present). Aleksi Munter's keyboards are fluid, tangible, and spooky throughout. On the death metal side, Mikko Kotamaki works his way through with the typical demonic growling and/or screaming. However, it's a shame to hear this as Kotamaki, when singing normally, is brilliant and compelling. Vocals withstanding, musically speaking New Moon is a terrific work, and fans of melodic death and doom metal should love it.

Swallow the Sun's fourth work New Moon is epic and compelling melodic death and doom metal, possibly their best album to date. However, it's weakened by the incessant growling and screaming vocals of Kotamaki who, when singing normally, has a compelling vocal style.

Alphabetical Index

We have to dig deep, three decades, to find the origins of Atlantic, a project of songwriter, musician, and producer Simon Harrison (then Stranger, Wisht). Initially thought to be a one-off recording, Harrison ... [ Read More ]