"Emerald Forest And The Blackbird" is a captivating album by the Finnish doom metal band Swallow The Sun, released in CD format. This record showcases the band's signature blend of melodic death and doom metal, weaving haunting melodies with powerful lyrics that explore themes of loss, nature, and sorrow. Notably atmospheric and emotionally charged, each track immerses listeners in a dark yet beautiful soundscape. Swallow The Sun has established themselves as one of Finland's leading metal acts since their formation in 2000, earning international acclaim for albums like "The Morning Never Came" and "When A Shadow Is Forced Into The Light." Their music is celebrated for its depth and emotional resonance within the genre. Released under Pias/Spinefarm Records (often stylized as Spine), this label is renowned for supporting innovative artists across various genres?especially rock and metal?and has played an instrumental role in bringing Nordic talent to global audiences.
Suddenly, you can feel the spectrum of feelings that you sought to hide and not show to anyone. And at that moment to think: “Have I not listened to them before? Why did they seem unnecessarily following the fashion? Maybe I was wrong? ”So it can happen with the new album of Finnish metallers Swallow The Sun.
The new Finns album was expected to be censured. Already at the previous work, they began to play something more atmospheric and less death-oriented. A qualitative leap towards emotionality has taken place. It is her, and not commercialization, as many say in music forums. “Emerald Forest and The Blackbird” is a continuation in this plan of its predecessor. Here we see (excuse me, hear) ultra-melodic passages of electric guitars, an abundance of acoustic losses, sometimes somewhat aggressive (but not killing the sensibility of the overall picture) percussion, soft keyboard busts. And the top of it all is vocals. When rage and despair are needed, you can hear growling and screaming; when longing and sadness are needed (here it is bright, on the verge of melancholy), you can hear a clear voice, both male and female. Music and vocals are intertwined into a single canvas, taking the listener into the paintings that the musicians are trying to draw in our imagination. The technique of the game, recording, mixing emphasize the beauty presented to us. The lyrical component as always reflects the fine lines of sadness, despair, pain and loss. Needless to say, you just need to pay attention to such tracks as “Cathedral Walls”, “Labyrinth of London”, “Night Will Forgive Us”, “This Cut Is The Deepest”? Although the first one doesn’t frighten the presence of Mrs. Olzon (the current vocalist of Nightwish), she fit quite well into the overall musical drawing. The second pleases with its assertiveness and insertion of a verse about London. Well, the third is the climax in the emotional sense. I would like to repeat the lyrics: “May the night forgive us ...”. The last song is beautiful with an abundance of acoustics and pure male vocals.
To some extent, this work of the team can be compared with the group Forest of Shadows, but the second is lighter in general atmosphere. The Scandinavians created something more sad and strong. Therefore, it is not always worth listening to what others are saying. It is worth listening to your heart, to your soul and to understand that this music is for you or for someone else ...
Metal
48.941
