Article and Photos by: Kyle Ostrander
New York City – Hailing from Finland, doom metal group Swallow the Sun delivered a hard-hitting show at the Gramercy Theater in NYC on Monday night. The band are currently touring across North America in support of their latest release, Shining.
Swallow the Sun have been active for over 20 years, and in that time have built a dedicated following. The venue’s pit was crowded with fans trying to position themselves as close to the stage as possible long before the show began. The lights soon went out as the band, all dressed in dark hoods, took their spots on stage. As their intro music faded, the first guitar notes of “Innocence Was Long Forgotten”, a cut off their aforementioned album, enveloped the room. The atmosphere instantly became electrified, charged with the pulsating energy of the music. Keeping the momentum flowing, the group immediately dove into “What I Have Become”, followed by “Firelights.”
The band’s movements further emphasized the music’s dynamics, with each member wildly thrashing their instruments and frequently racing to the edge of the stage, bringing even more life to the thunderstorm of sound already being presented. Juxtaposed nicely was the band’s vocalist, Mikko Kotamäki, who stood solemnly at his mic stand, exuding a brooding presence while delivering guttural vocal screams. The group let the songs do most of the talking for them, taking just a few moments here and there to thank their fans or introduce the next track. “Some of you might know this next one. It’s off our previous album, and it’s called ‘Woven Into Sorrow’” said Kotamäki midway through the 12 song set, before more sweetly melodic guitar riffs and distorted chords again filled the space.
Swallow the Sun’s North American tour continues through mid-March, before they head back overseas for a European tour starting in April. You can view their full list of upcoming shows here.