Pasi at Sauna

Niko: There I was standing in a melting pot; it was hot, sultry hot. My skin was burning and it was nearly too hard to breath. I was waiting to see Swallow the Sun next; this Finnish ´Legion of Doom´ to start their set. First I got guided into the band´s forthcoming set by an instrumental intro called “Love Theme of Laura Palmer” from the Twin Peaks soundtrack. It worked out as a fine intro before the band itself marched on the stage.

We got “Descending Winters” for starters; I was personally expecting to hear “The Giant” first to start their set as the band that particular song first in the aftershow party at Tulliklubi last year. I was one of those people who were thinking that band could be at their best when playing in dark clubs. Afterwards I had to confess that I was partly wrong. Namely Swallow the Sun´s show was a pretty good one. Of course, the best possible outcome for a Swallow the Sun gig is a club atmosphere but this was a good hit to my nose to prove me wrong. Swallow the Sun can sound pretty impressive at an outdoor festival as well. “Out of This Gloomy Light” from their first album, THE MORNING NEVER CAME was next in turn. There was also a female vocalist in Swallow the Sun´s live line-up. Her vocal parts fit and supported surprisingly well the songs, kind of taking band´s music out of this certain doomy mould.

Mikko at Sauna

After “Out of This Gloomy Light”, it was time take a more serious look at Swallow the Sun’s latest album, HOPE. “Don’t Fall Asleep (Horror Pt.2)” came next and it got followed by “Too Cold for Tears” and a somewhat bouncing song, “These Hours of Despair”. In the end of the band´s set Swalow the Sun performed exhaustive “Doomed to Walk The Earth” and “Swallow (Horror Pt.1)”, a cut from Swallow the Sun’s debut album. When the whole fun was over, I was pretty much gasping for air (as said, the hot weather was killing us).

Swallow the Sun has definitely its own style, you could say it’s a sort of mix of Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride if you want to judge the band shortly. However, the truth is that Swallow the Sun are great with what they do. Also, Swallow the Sun offer lots of aggressive elements through their music unlike those two doom legends from England mentioned earlier. Mostly Swallow the Sun deliver their stuff in the heaviest and doomiest form. When you hear the band´s music, it’s like you get nearly physically hit when these doomsters are on the run. You don’t have to play fast to be credible…

Swallow the Sun was playing about 45 to 50 minutes, and for me it just looked that they just got themselves warmed up. The show was over way too soon. For all those who don’t have a clue what I’m talking about, I urge you to check out this ´doomed diamond´ from Finland immediately. And hey… I also mean it!

Intro: Twin Peaks
Descending Winters
Out of This Gloomy Light
Don’t Fall Asleep (Horror Pt.2)
Too Cold for Tears / These Hours of Despair
Doomed to Walk the Earth / Swallow (Horror Pt.1)
Outro: Twin Peaks

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