When I first heard this cd I had to see them Live on that same evening, New Year's Eve 2003 in Hellsinki, I just had an hour to listen to it before I was going out to celebrate with friends, and then go to the show at Stella Star.

And what came out from the stereo was just amazing...Probably one album that will pass time and stay, at least for myself, in albums to remember in the future.

Swallow the Sun is from Finland, they formed in 2000 and play a real passionate dark atmospheric metal. The eight compositions, with an average lenght of six minutes, are excellently structured, they deliver a mix of melody and death and the power that is released just captivates the listener from start 'til end. The musicianship is well togheter and written with a real amount of feeling that just crawls up the path to perfection. Nothing is difficult with them, the melodies just grab the soul and deliver a beautiful moment to share with melancholy and darkness.

The album starts with it's chilling piano intro. And then the atmosphere is set and intesifies throughout the whole album.

The guitars are sharp and melodic. The keyboard floats like a ghost. The drums are dynamic.The voice is guttural to almost tortured, not to forget the real soft parts that enchants this great record.

My favourite kind of doom is the kind that is made to hide the sun for days, with repetitive riffing that never get a mark of passing time and could be forever played.

Also to mention that this release from Firebox holds one of the greatest cover art I've seen. And the show delivered that night was just amazing.

[This review was first published on the now defunct scandinavianmetal.info webzine]