audiObelisk: Swallow the Sun Stream Opening Title-Track from Emerald Forest and the Blackbird
Their sound has never been for everyone, but Finnish six-piece Swallow the Sun stand tall among the heirs to the first wave of European death/doom. Over the course of their five albums, the band has crafted increasingly intricate and lush melodies offset by brutal growling, mournful plod and a flair for the emotionally epic. Their songs bear the weight of loss, perhaps most of all on their latest outing, Emerald Forest and the Blackbird.
The album saw its Euro release back in February, but in order to highlight the upcoming US issue via Spinefarm, Swallow the Sun will hit the road in support of Kreator and Accept (info here). They’re no strangers to the States when it comes to touring, and no doubt this will be their biggest American run yet, as the material on Emerald Forest and the Blackbird is their most refined work to date and its weepy guitar leads, vicious growls and sorrowful atmosphere should provide stark contrast to the thrash and classic metal of their tourmates.
And yeah, we all know the album’s been out in Europe and once a record hits (or more generally, well before) it’s available on YouTube front to back, but I was offered the chance to highlight the opening title-track of Emerald Forest and the Blackbird, and I jumped at it because I’ve been a fan of the band’s balance of extremity and emotion since their first album made it over to North America seven years ago. Regardless of its availability, I hope you dig it as well.
“Emerald Forest and the Blackbird” is available for streaming on the player below, followed by the Teutonic Terror Attack tour dates:
[mp3player width=470 height=150 config=fmp_jw_widget_config.xml playlist=swallow-the-sun.xml]
In addition to the release of the album, we will be joining the legendary KREATOR and ACCEPT on their Teutonic Terror Attack 2012 North American tour! The tour will take place in September and November, starting right after the album release on September 5th from Washington DC! We’re stoked to be back, and here are the dates – including couple of cities we’ve never played before.
5.9. The Howard Theater, Washington, DC
6.9. The Trocadero Theatre, Philadelphia, PA
7.9. Best Buy Theater, New York, NY
8.9. The Palladium, Worcester, MA
9.9. Mavericks, Ottawa, ON
10.9. Metropolis, Montreal, QC
11.9. Imperial De Quebec, Quebec City, QC
12.9. Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, ON
13.9. Station 58, Syracuse, NY
14.9. Newport Music Hall, Columbus, OH
15.9. Mojoes, Joliet, IL
16.9. The Beaumont Club, Kansas City, MO
18.9. Gothic Theatre, Englewood, CO
19.9. The Complex, Salt Lake City, UT
21.9. Rickshaw Theatre, Vancouver, BC
22.9. Showbox at the Market, Seattle, WA
23.9. Roseland Theater, Portland, OR
24.9. Ace of Spades, Sacramento, CA
25.9. The Grand Ballroom, San Francisco, CA
26.9. Avalon, Hollywood, CA
27.9. The Grove, Anaheim, CA
28.9. Marquee Theatre, Tempe, AZ
29.9. Tricky Falls, El Paso, TX
30.9. Emo’s East, Austin, TX
1.10. Trees, Dallas, TX
2.10. House of Blues, New Orleans, LA
3.10. The Masquerade, Atlanta, GA
4.10. Tremont Music Hall, Charlotte, NC