REVIEW FOR FEBRUARY 11, 2004 (MARCH 23, 2004)

SWALLOW THE SUN
THE MORNING NEVER CAME
FIREBOX, 2003
5 OUT OF 5
 
I am almost stunned that a band can be this fully formed in the formative years of its development.  Swallow The Sun is a melodic doom metal band with death vocals from Finland who have released an album so powerful that for once I agree with the general 'zine consensus.  To be honest, I have never heard anything from the doom genre so powerful and emotionally packed in a while.  Although the melodies are not bereft of a little redundancy every once in a while The Morning Never Came is one punishing doom release.  Certainly the intricate production on The Morning Never Came is to be commended as it is produced well without being oversaturated with noise, and the arrangements on this disc are intricate and always interesting.  The vocals on The Morning Never Came are just bloody guttural and the the whole atmosphere here is one of utter despair.  Crap, clinical depressives weaker than yours truly (most of you, I imagine) should not listen to this album as picking it up aurally might cause a few more suicides.  Shit, I'm amazed a debut album like this could be so stunning.  If you're a self-respecting doom metal fan and have not listened to The Morning Never Came in the next five years you're either faking it or just extremely lazy.
 
Seriously, I mean this.  I know I sound like I'm fellating label shaft; I always do when I gush over an album.  Still, support Swallow The Sun and Firebox Records.  They truly deserve the hype that's been thrust upon them.  Shit, I'm afraid of what Swallow The Sun will come out with next.  I don't want to end up with a knife in my throat and a bottle of everclear in my hand, mmmkay?
 
FIREBOX RECORDS
Teollisuustie 19
60100 Seinajoki
FINLAND
http://www.firebox.fi/records/
[email protected]
 
SWALLOW THE SUN
c/o Pasi Pasanen
Kiv��ritehtaankatu 10/5 B 18
40100 Jyv�skyl�
FINLAND
http://www.swallowthesun.net/
[email protected]