Swallow the Sun was formed in early 2000 by Juha Raivio, joined soon by Pasi Pasanen came along (both had played in Plutonium Orange). They rehearsed a couple of songs, one of them being "Through Her Silvery Body" which would end up on their first demo, Out of This Gloomy Light. In 2001 Markus Jämsen, whom Raivio and Pasanen already knew from their earlier bands, joined as a second guitarist, and Mikko Kotamäki from Funeris Nocturnum as singer; then Aleksi Munter (keyboards) and Matti Honkonen (bass), also of Funeris Nocturnum, joined the band. In the spring of 2002 they started arranging songs for the demo, which was recorded in January 2003 at Sam's Workshop with Sami Kokko, who also mixed the demo.
A record deal with Firebox Records was signed a few months after the recordings of the demo, and Swallow the Sun entered studio at late July 2003. During the following three weeks they recorded their debut album, The Morning Never Came.
In February 2005, Swallow the Sun released their second album, Ghosts of Loss. Their single, "Forgive Her..." gained 4th place on the Finnish Top 20 singles chart in its first week of release, and stayed on the charts for 6 weeks. Their album entered the charts as well: #8 in between Gwen Stefani and System of a Down.
During the year 2006 they signed to Spinefarm Records and did a small European tour. In January 2007 they released their third album, Hope, which includes a cover version of the Timo Rautiainen & Trio Niskalaukaus song "Alavilla mailla" (which they translated into "These Low Lands") as a bonus track on the digipack edition, sung by Tomi Joutsen, the frontman of fellow Finnish metal band, Amorphis. There is also a guest appearance by Jonas Renkse of Katatonia on the song "The Justice of Suffering". They went on a US tour with Katatonia, Scar Symmetry and Insomnium in late 2007.
In September 2008, they released an EP called Plague of Butterflies. In October, they announced a December tour of the UK of ten live shows supporting Apocalyptica.
On May 18, 2009 Swallow the Sun announced that Kai Hahto of Wintersun will be joining to fill the void left by former drummer Pasi Pasanen. Swallow the Sun confirmed on 12 June that their next album would be entitled New Moon and is being produced by Jens Bogren, they also stated that Kai Hahto would be doing the drums on this album.
Emerald Forest and the Blackbird is their fifth studio album. The album was released February 1, 2012, by Spinefarm Records. It was also released on limited LP on both green and white vinyl by Svart Records.
Official site: http://www.swallowthesun.net
Silence Of The Womb
Swallow the Sun Lyrics
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Bereaved by their last days
The empty seeds, the curse of man
mourning for this given hand
Lonely steps across the land
Trembling heart in the ocean sand
The voice of despair echoes loud here
For mother earth we fall
To the last of man, she'll take us all
Poisoned air, the wasted land
Turns to our tomb
The silence of the womb
The skies blow the last light away
Summer exists only in the writings of the wise
We prepare for our final run
When the winter swallows the sun
The song "Silence of the Womb" by Swallow the Sun is a melancholic and introspective piece that reflects upon the transience of life, the inevitability of death, and the impact of human actions on the environment. The lyrics reference the imagery of the wandering old shapes, which may represent the fleeting memories of the past, or the remnants of a dying civilization that is losing its grip on reality. The empty seeds and the curse of man portray the human race as a source of destruction and suffering, perpetuating the cycle of despair and mourning.
The following verses describe the lonely steps taken across the land, and the trembling heart that seeks refuge in the ocean's sand. The voice of despair echoes loud here, suggesting the overwhelming sense of hopelessness that surrounds the singer. The waves carry the old, symbolizing the inevitability of death and the inability to escape it. The chorus portrays the image of mother earth, the ultimate nurturer and destroyer, who will take us all to our final resting place. The poisoned air, the wasted land, and the silence of the womb represent the devastating effects of human recklessness and the impending doom that awaits us all.
Overall, the song's lyrics are a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of respecting and protecting the environment. It is a warning against the human tendency to exploit and destroy the natural world, and a call to embrace our mortality and appreciate the beauty and wonder of existence while we still can.
Line by Line Meaning
The wandering old shapes
The aimless figures of the elderly
Bereaved by their last days
Saddened by their final moments on earth
The empty seeds, the curse of man
The infertile crops, result of humanity's misfortune
mourning for this given hand
Grieving for this dealt fate
Lonely steps across the land
Solitary strides on the soil
Trembling heart in the ocean sand
Fearful core amidst the shoreline
The voice of despair echoes loud here
The sound of hopelessness resounds heavily in this place
When the waves carry the old
As the tides transport the elderly
For mother earth we fall
We perish for the wellbeing of the planet
To the last of man, she'll take us all
The very last human, she'll eventually claim
Poisoned air, the wasted land
Harmful atmosphere, the depleted territory
Turns to our tomb
Becomes our final resting place
The silence of the womb
The stillness of the earth
The skies blow the last light away
The heavens obliterate the final light
Summer exists only in the writings of the wise
The warmth of summer only remains through history's records
We prepare for our final run
We ready ourselves for our ultimate departure
When the winter swallows the sun
As the frost consumes the sun
Contributed by Lila N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.