Swansong – Awakening

Swansong – Awakening
Release Date: 1st December 2023
Label: Noble Demon
Bandcamp
Genre: Melodic Death Metal, Folk Metal, Heavy Metal.
FFO: Arch Enemy, Children of Bodom, Amethyst, Kreator, Amon Amarth.
Review By: Mark Waight

Swansong hail from the bastion of modern-day metal, Finland, which apparently has more Metal bands per head of population than anywhere else on earth. Who am I to argue with stats like that? Anyway, I digress, Swansong were formed in 2020 and to coin their own phrase have been combining beautiful and brutal ever since then. After listening to Awakening, I can concur that they are undoubtedly right, and I think you will agree too once you’ve heard what these guys can do!

Awakening is Swansong’s highly anticipated debut album, which follows on from the bands earlier Winter Maiden EP that was released in 2022. Awakening combines old school 80s/90s riffs with low female death growls and screams to create a high-octane metal fest that will totally blow your socks off!

Swansong is Jemiina (vocals), Topi Pitkanen (guitar), Tuomas Leskinen (guitar), Lauri Huovinen (bass) and Jimi Myohanen (drums).

Straight off the bat, Burning Flame cuts a swathe to your brain with a high tempo, riff-rich melodeath banger that will absolutely blast the cobwebs away as it grabs you by the scruff. Hell yes!

Become brings things slightly down a notch with a superb melodic metal offering, but still with a razor-sharp bite to it. The twin guitars give it that nostalgic old school feel. Growling extravaganza Furiosa will have you on your feet and ready to throwdown in the mosh pit with its pace and relentless energy surging through your veins. Wow, truly sensational!

Shot in the Heart is just that, this tale of lust and murder echoes to the sound of those furious twin guitars playing off against each in a frenzied axe attack which will have those heads banging for all they are worth.

Frost of Winter lives up to Swansong’s ethos by truly combining beautiful and brutal into reality with an outstanding track of deft guitar sequences, brutal vocals all played out to a heavy on the bass/heavy on the hammer backdrop. A mighty fine song is the result!

Swansong up the ante again with Maiden of Death, the speed is cranked right up, and the vocals come so thick and fast at you in waves that will have your head spinning as you enjoy the ride.

One with the Waves is another absolute firecracker of a tune that is sure to lift your spirits on a miserable winter day. No wonder the Finnish produce such awesome quality metal! Album title track Awakening is a full-on TNT loaded track which demonstrates what a very tight band Swansong are and how they plan to rock the world with their own unique blend of metal. If they tour the UK, I will be looking to get tickets for a show. 

Darker track Blood Widow is as black as night, with only a guitar solo that’s as crisp as fresh winter snow adding a lighter moment to this beautifully bleak song that will haunt you to your very soul. Glorious and grim!

Warrior rousing song Fight or Die is a call to arms where the only choice is to stand with Swansong and face your fears! It’s guaranteed you will be punching the air and screaming along with Jemiina by the time the dust settles and this crowd pleaser finishes.

Album closer Fury of the Witch goes more the traditional route with the perfect finale to a thoroughly enjoyable musical journey. Every track on Awakening is solid gold, and those guitars are to die for! Make sure you check it out!

I’m not normally a big fan of death metal and brutal vocals, but Awakening is an extremely outstanding album and Swansong have completely changed my mind, so here’s to new beginnings and a new love of a very exciting emerging band. To put my money where my mouth is, I have pre-ordered a copy of Awakening and am really looking forward to blasting it out loud in the not-too-distant future. Swansong will have a big future ahead of them if they can continue to produce songs of this quality and will certainly ruffle a few feathers along the way, so Arch Enemy beware!

(4.5 / 5)