The Finnish lads from Swallowed the Sun had just released a new album and so scheduled a tour which started in Rotterdam. So off I went through the rain and wind and somewhat ill towards Rotterdam. The club turned out to be pretty full.

Swallow the Sun brought two Finnish bands as supporting acts. The first beingOmnium Gatherum, typically labelled as melodic death metal but I had never heard them. Well I guess that is correct, lots of melodies, mostly mid-paced metal with some hints of death metal. I don’t really like that style, so Omnium Gatherum were mostly rather boring to me. The band nevertheless seemed to enjoy themselves and most of the audience seem to like it too.

One hour later, Insomnium started – another band I didn’t know. And I now know why. It’s pretty much the same boring style as the first band – overly melodic, mostly mid-paced. And they had keyboards. Now what do keyboards do in a death metal band anyway?

So after a quick change, it was finally time for Swallow the Sun. They started their set with a couple of new songs – These Woords Breathe Evil and Falling World. Which introduced a new vocal style, sounding more like black metal singing instead of grunts. Which he still does too, as well as clean vocals. Musically they didn’t stray far from the sound of their earlier albums, but it all seemed a bit faster. Perhaps that was the influence of the new drummer. Anyway, they played material from their earlier albums as well. Including Hope and Don’t Fall Asleep from their previous, surprisingly Plague of Butterflies and one from the debut. After they concluded their regular set, they came back for two more songs. One more from the debut and Descending Winters of “Ghost of Loss”. Pretty good gig from a band that isn’t and never will be the top of the line when it comes to doom metal, just not enough creativity and originality.