Emerald Forest and the Blackbird, the latest full-length from Finnish death/doom troupe SWALLOW THE SUN, will drop in North American tomorrow, September 4, 2012, via Spinefarm Records U.S. The 10-track offering – which entered the official Finland charts at position No. 2 upon its European release – was recorded during September and October 2011 by Mikko Karmila (Nightwish, Amorphis, Children Of Bodom) and includes a guest appearance by Nightwish singer Anette Olzon (on “Cathedral Walls”).
Said All Music Guide of the release: “Like all of the best SWALLOW THE SUN songs past, these are invariably lush, powerful, cathartic musical statements; rich in texture, multiple emotions, and even nuance…” Adds Stereokiller in a 4.75/5 rating: “It’s rare that a band can capture so many emotions at once. Music is, at heart, an expression of feeling that cannot be communicated by mere words. Nothing exemplifies this more than the fifth album by Finland’s SWALLOW THE SUN. It’s all here… rage, sorrow, pensiveness, and at times, an amazing contrast between the beautiful and the uncomfortable. Emerald Forest And the Blackbird is an album you feel rather than hear, and that is in and of itself a testament to the musicianship and songwriting… Richly textured and beautifully dynamic, STS has created an album that will be difficult to surpass.”
Check out the record, currently streaming in its entirety courtesy of Decibel Magazine HERE.
In conjunction with Emerald Forest and the Blackbird‘s release, the band will tour North America supporting German metal legends Kreator and Accept! The North American Teutonic Terror Attack will commence this Wednesday September 5, 2012 in Washington D.C. Additional support will come from Canadian death metallers Blackguard.
SWALLOW THE SUN – Teutonic Terror Attack 2012 w/ Kreator, Accept, Blackguard:
09/05/2012 Howard Theater – Washington, D.C.
09/06/2012 The Trocadero – Philadelphia, PA
09/07/2012 Best Buy Theater – New York, NY
09/08/2012 The Palladium – Worcester, MA
09/09/2012 Mavericks – Ottawa, ON
09/10/2012 Metropolis – Montreal, QC
09/11/2012 Imperial de Quebec – Quebec City, QC
09/12/2012 Phoenix Concert Theatre – Toronto, ON
09/13/2012 Station 58 – Syracuse, NY
09/14/2012 Newport Music Hall – Columbus, OH
09/15/2012 Mojoe’s – Joliet, IL
09/16/2012 The Beaumont Club – Kansas City, MO
09/18/2012 Gothic Theater – Englewood, CO
09/19/2012 The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT
09/21/2012 Rickshaw Theater – Vancouver, BC
09/22/2012 Showbox at the Market – Seattle, WA
09/23/2012 Roseland Theater – Portland, OR
09/24/2012 Ace of Spades – Sacramento, CA
09/25/2012 The Grand Ballroom – San Francisco, CA
09/26/2012 The Avalon – Hollywood, CA
09/27/2012 The Grove – Anaheim, CA
09/28/2012 Marquee Theatre – Tempe, AZ
09/29/2012 Tricky Falls – El Paso, TX
09/30/2012 Emo’s East – Austin, TX
10/01/2012 Trees – Dallas, TX
10/02/2012 House Of Blues – New Orleans, LA
10/03/2012 The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
10/04/2012 Tremont Music Hall – Charlotte, NC
“Attempting to put a specific genre tag on Emerald Forest and the Blackbird is a difficult proposition. The heavy but melancholy death/doom thing is there, but more as window dressing than a solid foundation. The black metal influence is unmistakable, but this isn’t even close to a full-on frozen black metal release. Atmospheric clean vocals and some female singing make their mark, but this isn’t a gothic metal album. It’s a little bit of everything, but mixed together in the right way so that all the elements work together without conflicting. 4/5″ – Metal Underground
“Over the course of their five albums, the band has crafted increasingly intricate and lush melodies offset by brutal growling, mournful plod and a flair for the emotionally epic. Their songs bear the weight of loss, perhaps most of all on their latest outing.” — The Obelisk
“The album really shines lyrically and it really has expanded to a whole new dimension on the instrumental side. 9.3/10” – Ultimate Guitar
“…rarely has being so sad felt so happy.” – This Is Not A Scene
“Emerald Forest and the Blackbird by SWALLOW THE SUN will satisfy my craving for Finnish quality metal for a long time to come and I wouldn’t be surprised if this record would end up in my year list for 2012.” – Hellbound
“…if you are looking for some well-composed, crawling melodic doom with enough death to keep you on your toes, check this one out.” – Axes to Grind
