The progression Finland’s Swallow the Sun have taken over the course of their now-four full-lengths seems to be one of abandoning many of the lush flourishes their songs contained in their earlier work — keeping the melody — in favor of tighter songwriting and more straightforward songs. Their last album, 2007’s Hope, was a leap in this direction from 2005’s Ghosts of Loss (they apparently like to work on the evens; see you in 2011, boys), and the latest output from the Jyväskylä six-pack, New Moon (Spinefarm), confirms the shift that seemed so sudden last time around.

Of course, there are still melodic/melancholic/melodancholic parts. It wouldn’t be Swallow the Sun without them, but as heard on opener “These Woods Breathe Evil,” it’s much more about the structure of the song, and in this case the catchy chorus, than trading off between heaviness and atmospheric. The atmospheres have become part of the songs, to put it another way. We hear that in the Katatonia-esque “Falling World,” and later in the title track, where vocalist Mikko Kotamהki gives what might be his most accomplished performance yet, showing a melodic range and dynamism with his deathly growls that only speaks to the growth he’s undergone as a performer since the band started out.

What’s happening more than anything else on New Moon is that Swallow the Sun are coming into their own. They’ve toured Europe and the US, they’ve been around the world, they’re coming up on their first decade as a band, and they’re in a position where more and more people know who they are. For melodic death/doom, they might be the top name out of Europe today that hasn’t already been around for 20 years. Are they this generation’s My Dying Bride? Maybe, if you take away some of the gothic drama and consider the fact that while the seminal UK doom act had a full scene supporting them, with bands like Paradise Lost, Katatonia and Anathema to accompany, Swallow the Sun are pretty much doing this with zero companionship on their level. In a way, that makes it all the more admirable.

By H.P. Taskmaster

The Obelisk