Album Review // 2021-10-31

Swallow the Sun

Moonflowers

Released: 2021-11-19

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I can't help but think of the forest when I think of Swallow the Sun. I did a full album review for When A Shadow Is Forced Into the Light, when I had my YouTube channel. I recorded it while snowshoeing through the woods. They seemed to work so well together.

I had tickets to see them right as the world shut down...

I went into this review with an open mind. I didn't know which way they would go. I didn't know how it would feel after their last incredibly emotional release.

I like the name, Swallow the Sun. It speaks to the dark place this music goes, sometimes. For me, it puts a picture in my mind of the sunset, taken to an extreme: instead of going down, it disappears.

The name of the album, Moonflowers, though we have heard bands use flower names before, this type of flower is a clever choice. They can be described as opening up and spreading out when the sun goes down. They flower all through the night.

This band has been together for more than 20 years! I actually think their description of themselves makes a lot of sense: Gloom, Beauty and Despair.

Album Art

I like how the moon and moonflowers take centre stage on this artwork, amid the dark background. Care was taken to have gradients of lighter colour around the words. The delicate titles make a lot of sense.

I was surprised to hear that this was made with dried flowers and Juha's own blood for the red. Ouch!

Mood

There is a piece of classical music that I really like, called Moonlight Sonata, by Beethoven. The emotion in this piece can be described as soft and sombre, to powerful. It is quite melancholy. 

I think this album fits this mood for me, but taken to another level with the added harsh elements. There is a clear picture of grieving.

I think that this is Juha, still working through his grief, having lost his partner. The reality is that grief doesn't just end; it is a part of you. This album seems to manifest some of the pain of sorrow. In contrast to When A Shadow Is Forced Into the Light, it was actually reaching out and saying goodbye to the person that was lost. And generally there is a lot of other grief that has hit people hard these past few years. I think this mood is something many can relate to.

For Juha, this is an unpleasant thing to look back on. He has been said to hate this album for how it makes him feel, and what it stands for. The honesty of it is what draws us to it. I appreciate the realness!

Vocals

There were some very noticeable things about Mikko's vocals. He uses some varied singing and some deeper, lower growling. We don't see too many moments with his higher scream, though there are a few (the last song being the best use of this). We also don't see harmonization with Jaani as a focal point on this album. I am just saying these as facts because, in my eyes, though contrasted against the last album, I am not sure which I like better overall, vocally. It just makes me anticipate what they could do on another album.

I noticed in the song Enemy that there was a strong use of echo effects on Mikko's voice. It made me want to have that effect on a mic and be left alone to sing and experiment. Would be fun! I heard it throughout, but this was the song that brought it to my attention.

I found myself picking up these songs and singing along in no time.

The use of Cammie Gilbert in All Hallow's Grieve was actually pretty good. I am not much of a fan of mixing male and female vocals, but I actually get this song stuck in my head, and it's something they like to do as a band. I certainly wouldn't pass up being asked by Swallow the Sun to sing on an album! What an honour.

Music

Obviously, this time around they drew quite a bit of attention to the string instrumentation. They released the string versions throughout several weeks. It is certainly not new for them to use other artists and instruments in their music, but the tactic was very different. I actually found the opening song was my favourite example of a great integration of these instruments melded together with more traditional guitars.

There is something about the use of space that I think is done well here. Though, at times, the music comes to a stop in a quiet moment, it seems to start back up at the right instant.

They are very good at creating atmosphere that you can get lost in. There is usually a melody or two playing that I find my brain latches onto.

I was pleased with the mixture of harsh and softer songs. The singles they have released are pretty good examples of what they did on the album. Sometimes you enjoy a single by a band, but then can't get into the album.

Moonflowers Bloom in Misery

These lyrics seem to touch on the state of depression and grief you can find yourself in, even years after losing someone. 

Will you die in misery
wash over me, wash over me
will you die of a broken heart, it tears you apart
You drag your heart behind like a wounded kill
can you dream, can you breathe, with a broken will

Enemy

I think this is talking about how we can actually be our own enemy. We can do things and believe things about ourselves that hurt us in the end. It makes me think of self hatred and how that can feed depression. We can end up feeling like everyone is the enemy. It can be hard to untangle yourself and see your worth.

Enemy, inside of me
Torn from a trail of light
Grail of serpents lies

Enemy, inside of me
No redemption in sight
In this tomb of light

Enemy

Woven into Sorrow

I think the light that is piercing through is the person you have loved and lost. You are struggling in grief, but you get a glimpse of what you had.

The light that pierces through broken skies
Lay your eyes upon me
And find this pain, this grave where I hide

And lift me back to you
I'm woven into sorrow
I'm woven into sorrow
My eyes can't see

I'm woven into sorrow
I'm woven into sorrow

Keep Your Heart Safe from Me

When I heard this title, I thought this would be a favourite track because I feel like I am always trying to guard my heart from people. The idea that a person knows that they will harm you, they actually put out a warning to you. They struggle to be nice, and you fall prey to their hurt.

Hide, hide from my sight 
Leave here before I die with the sun
I, I see the lines deep into the eyes, ghost in my sight

Crown me, throw me into the sea, chain  into the pain I feel
keep your light safe from me

see my eyes dim the blue, I will never see how I saw with you and how could I go so blind? 
when the eyes light the sea
I will keep your heart safe from me
I carve myself blind, grieving the sunrise

All Hallow's Grieve

This song makes me envision people that know they are going to die, or maybe they are going to kill themselves together because, ironically, they realize they can't be together. They are anticipating the grief.

before I go I will let you know
my heart was honest for you
for you my heart was cruel
You believed I'm a soul
of a ghost to fight for
I believe, I believe
lost my will to fight for

And I know your sorrow
do you fear the fires of the past had died
and I know your sorrow
hallowed grieve upon upon me
I believe I died for

behind the dark I still had heart hold on
to behind the lines where I am torn apart
will you last through winter
keep your fire burning
hold on to me

they will never find my remains
if I walk out through the door 
so hold on all hallow's grieve

The Void

I think this song speaks to not be able to fill a void that someone leaves. It changes things when they aren't here anymore. You can try to ignore it, but you have been changed.

The void sinks into my heart
the void anchored to my arms
the voice echoes through the stars
the voice cries out through the scars

Save me from myself
I can't let this out of me
Gaberielle, lay your eyes on me
Lay me down to the hallowed ground so I can find the island sky

The void sealed in this fallen heart
the void where death did us part
Devoid salvation for the scars
Avoid love for a grieving heart

The Fight of Your Life

I am not sure what is going on here, but it makes me envision someone floating away, out of reach.

And the fight of your life has just begun
while the world burns around your arms
Sealed in the black fire the spark that burns us blind
I reach for the old sky set alight

Please hold the white fire for me gone too far to see
Push the night beyond the sky set alight
And the fight of your life has just begun
as the wrath of gods
of the crown has brought me down 

This House Has No Home

I think this is about being alone in a home that once held life. You have now lost a person and are alone. It completely transforms the way you view the place you live. 

I know some people pack up and move on after someone dies. They change everything. Yet some stay in the same place, without it being the same. Either way, it is how people cope.

This house has no home, this home has no heart
This house has no home, this home has no heart
This heart has no soul, this soul has no part
This soul has no part

I failed to see to believe, to breath, to heal seal the eyes that can see
You're alone with your thoughts, to end it all

I curse that I feel that I cursed, all that I loved here I buried here first
All that I love

I failed to see, I failed to feel inside, these crosses I loved, I held on my side, I kept on my side
And I need to go where I don't have to fight inside

but I still bleed the fire, I still bleed the fire, I still bleed this fire

Playlist Pick

Moonflowers Bloom in Misery will be on my playlist. It was a great opener and drew me in, made me breathe a sigh of relief that this would indeed be a good album.

The second was a hard decision. I settled on Woven into Sorrow. It is a well put together song. Some nice contrast.