Swallow the Sun – Moonflowers
Release Date: 19th November 2021
Label: Century Media
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Genre: Melodic Doom, Death Metal.
FFO: My Dying Bride, Draconian, Insomnium.
Review By: Rick Farley
This is Swallow the Suns most accessible album to date. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, either, depending of course on where you stand within the bands illustrious catalogue. Moonflowers is a stripped down, bare-bones kind of Swallow the Sun that’s incredibly real sounding and very personal. So personal that it doesn’t completely feel as ambitious as previous releases. Again, that’s not always a bad thing. In terms of their catalogue, songwriting wise, it feels like a continuation of the previous album. Although simpler, and less memorable. It settles itself in and keeps partially covered in the shadows, not wanting to expose all its vulnerabilities. While being reflective, and cautious at the same time, there is real pain felt here. Overall, it’s pleasantly grim but a bit faulted. Nevertheless, it’s still Swallow the Sun and Moonflowers remains a superb release from one of Metal’s most endeared bands.
Considering the tragedy that main songwriter/guitarist Juha Raivio experienced, this is the album where it seems to be the most realized. Real sorrow, denial, hope, despair, and acceptance. He seems to be somewhat working through his grief on this record. Because of this, Moonflowers overall sounds a bit restrained and guarded. It never fully lets itself go, quite like the way “When a Shadow is Forced into the Light” does. That’s not to say that Moonflowers doesn’t create an atmosphere to get lost in, to go down a very dark path to only end up finding a beautiful light somewhere along the way. The lushness, the melodies, the heaviness, the melancholy is all here, but the guitarists’ songwriting this time around is just a little reluctant and fragile.
Keep Your Heart Safe From Me is the best example of this. Starts with a basic mid paced chugging riff into an effect laden clean sounding loose guitar melody. It’s sung quietly with a slow-moving bass line. A heavier riff follows with growled vocals that are then repeated with clean singing. Followed by a mildly catchy chorus. It just sounds a bit inhibited and reticent. I wouldn’t call it filler, though; it never fully realizes its potential. It’s not a bad song by any means, but by Swallow the Suns prestigiousness, it’s markedly constrained. It doesn’t really go anywhere interesting until near the 5-minute mark, where it goes into a beautiful, crafted solo over rich textured chords and continues into a lush prog style bridge. It just repeats the chorus once again, and it ends. The Void also suffers a bit of this as well, the song musically and vocally is a bit Katatonia sounding, it’s noticeable enough to take you out of the mood of the album for a moment. There is a catchy chorus, but overall, the song is a bit repetitive. There are too few layers to unravel.
Though even with flaws, this album is still incredibly good. To contrast some of the negatives that have been mentioned, there are several songs that are absolute masterpieces. Woven into Sorrow, All Hallows’ Grieve, The Fight of Your Life and This House has no Home which masterfully adds bits of Black Metal verses into its existence, are all examples of near perfect songwriting. All are stunningly beautiful amidst the darkness. Delicate ethereal passages burst into Doom laden Melodic Death Metal. Rich layered strings accompany the harsh atmospheres and heavy riffs, rewarding the listener with true feelings of sadness, pain and strangely, comfort. If you’re already familiar with Swallow the Sun, you know exactly what this means. The Fight of Your Life is so heart wrenchingly beautiful. Its acoustic guitars weave seamlessly into thick walls of distortion. Sorrow filled lyrical content; you will feel this song. Moonflowers Bloom in Misery sets the pace and mood of the record with delicate verses and brutal growls. The albums new single Enemy will be a fan favourite, especially live. It’s heavy, dramatic and with great hooks throughout. Be sure to check out the video as well.
Juha Raivio wrote a condensed instrumental version of Moonflowers presented in a rearranged classical form with violin, cello, viola, and piano. It was then performed and recorded live in a church by Finnish string outfit Trio NOX. It comes as a bonus disc. Each Instrumental track was also launched as an animated video, once a week, until the band’s first single release of Woven into Sorrow from the main album.
With an extremely loyal fanbase, Moonflowers will be well received. At first listen its immersive and enticing. It continues to grow and reveal more of itself with repeated listens. It’s relatable to the emotions of being a human and suffering real loss, feeling despair, and equally having hope. The bleak darkness is often followed by a light, sometimes dim but still there. The flaws here can be forgiven just for the authenticity felt within most of the songs. I suspect even upon the next release; this album will still stand on its own merits as a strong album within the Swallow the Sun catalogue. Immerse yourself in the sorrow. 
(4 / 5)
