The song “Cathedral Walls” comes off Swallow the Sun‘s forthcoming fifth record, Emerald Forest and the Blackbird, and as if the death/doomers needed to be any more Finnish, they got Anette Olzon from Nightwish to do guest vocals. Accordingly, the clip features scattering ashes, candlelight brutality and interpretive dance in the rain. Scandinavia is so badass.

Emerald Forest and the Blackbird is due out Feb. 1 on Spinefarm. Hope you dig the clip:

The progression Finland?s Swallow the Sun have taken over the course of their now-four full-lengths seems to be one of abandoning many of the lush flourishes their songs contained in their earlier work — keeping the melody — in favor of tighter songwriting and more straightforward songs. Their last album, 2007?s Hope, was a leap in this direction from 2005?s Ghosts of Loss (they apparently like to work on the evens; see you in 2011, boys), and the latest output from the Jyv?skyl? six-pack, New Moon (Spinefarm), confirms the shift that seemed so sudden last time around.

Of course, there are still melodic/melancholic/melodancholic parts. It wouldn?t be Swallow the Sun without them, but as heard on opener ?These Woods Breathe Evil,? it?s much more about the structure of the song, and in this case the catchy chorus, than trading off between heaviness and atmospheric. The atmospheres have become part of the songs, to put it another way. We hear that in the Katatonia-esque ?Falling World,? and later in the title track, where vocalist Mikko Kotam?ki gives what might be his most accomplished performance yet, showing a melodic range and dynamism with his deathly growls that only speaks to the growth he?s undergone as a performer since the band started out.

What?s happening more than anything else on New Moon is that Swallow the Sun are coming into their own. They?ve toured Europe and the US, they?ve been around the world, they?re coming up on their first decade as a band, and they?re in a position where more and more people know who they are. For melodic death/doom, they might be the top name out of Europe today that hasn?t already been around for 20 years. Are they this generation?s My Dying Bride? Maybe, if you take away some of the gothic drama and consider the fact that while the seminal UK doom act had a full scene supporting them, with bands like Paradise Lost, Katatonia and Anathema to accompany, Swallow the Sun are pretty much doing this with zero companionship on their level. In a way, that makes it all the more admirable.

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This probably could just as easily have come from the PR wire, but I’m not cool enough to be on Spinefarm‘s list, so I got it from Blabbermouth that Finland‘s top melo-doomers Swallow the Sun have put up the new song, “Falling World” from their forthcoming fourth album, New Moon, on their MySpace. If you haven’t heard it yet, the track “These Woods Breathe Evil” is new too.

“Falling World,” a brand new song from Finnish doom metallers Swallow the Sun, is available for streaming on the band’s MySpace page. The track comes off the group’s fifth (sic) album, New Moon, which is scheduled for release on November 10 via Spinefarm Records. The CD was recorded at Fascination Street studios in ?rebro, Sweden with Jens Bogren, who has previously worked with such acts as Katatonia, Opeth, Paradise Lost and Amon Amarth. Kai Hahto (Wintersun, ex-Rotten Sound) has been recruited to play drums on the album following the recent departure of longtime skinsman Pasi Pasanen.

New Moon track listing:
01. These Woods Breathe Evil
02. Falling World
03. Sleepless Swans
04. And Heavens Cried Blood
05. Lights on the Lake (Horror Pt. III)
06. New Moon
07. Servant of Sorrow
08. Weight of the Dead