New Moon (Swallow the Sun album)

New Moon is the fourth studio album by Finnish band Swallow the Sun. The album was released on November 4, 2009 in Finland, November 9, 2009 in Europe, and November 10, 2009 in the United States.[4] Recording of the album commenced on June 15 at Fascination Street Studios with Jens Bogren as executive producer.[4] Wintersun drummer Kai Hahto replaced Pasi Pasanen and contributed drums on the album.[4] Some versions of the album contain an alternate recording of "Servant of Sorrow", which features a guitar solo by Steve Rothery.

New Moon
Studio album by Swallow the Sun
Released	November 4, 2009
Recorded	15 June - Mid-July, Fascination Street Studios, Örebro, Sweden
Genre	Death/doom, melodic death metal, gothic metal
Length	53:50
Label	Spinefarm, Svart Records
Producer	Jens Bogren
Swallow the Sun chronology
Plague of Butterflies (2008) New Moon (2009) Emerald Forest and the Blackbird (2012)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Guitarist	[2]
Rock Sound	[3]

The Horror Songs continued from this Album which would be Horror Pt. III, and also previously being on The Morning Never Came - Horror I, Hope - Horror Pt. 2, then finally later on Emerald Forest and the Blackbird - Horror Pt IV.

On February 1, 2012, Svart Records released the album on LP, limited to 500 copies.[5]

Track listing

All songs written by Juha Raivio, except where noted.[4]

1. "These Woods Breathe Evil" – 6:43
2. "Falling World" (Mikko Kotamäki, Raivio) – 5:08
3. "Sleepless Swans" – 7:23
4. "...And Heavens Cried Blood" (Kotamäki, Raivio) – 6:17
5. "Lights on the Lake (Horror pt. III)" – 7:45
6. "New Moon" – 5:00
7. "Servant of Sorrow" – 6:25
8. "Weight of the Dead" – 9:04
9. "Servant of Sorrow (Alternate Version)" (bonus track) - 6:25

Personnel

Swallow The Sun

• Mikko Kotamäki - vocals
• Markus Jämsen - guitar
• Juha Raivio - guitar
• Aleksi Munter - keyboards
• Matti Honkonen - bass
• Kai Hahto - drums

Additional Personnel

• Aleah Stanbridge - guest vocals on "Lights on the Lake"
• Dan Swano - backing vocals on "Falling World"
• Steve Rothery - guitar solo/lead guitar/guitars on "Servant of Sorrow"

Lyrical themes

Generally, the songs mainly focus on themes of depression, death, mourning, and loss, with each song telling a story. These themes are often told with themes of horror, the paranormal and supernatural, such as the first track "These Woods Breathe Evil" describing a man's confession to a murder that he claims was motivated by the constant demands of the ghosts of a haunted forest that persist to possess him. This song is heavily influenced by the 90's television series "Twin Peaks" and the phrase "The owls are not what they seem" in the lyrics support this connection. Another example is "Lights on the Lake (Horror. pt III)" told from two points of view, one of the ghosts of a young woman who haunts a lake demanding to know why she was murdered by her father. The other point of view is of the father who describes his intentions for the murder were to save his daughter's soul from possession.

Charts

Chart (2009)	Peak position
Finnish Albums Chart	10[6]

References

1. Rivadavia, Eduardo. Retrieved on 2010-31-12.
2. Guitarist Magazine, Issue 323, December 2009, p.198
3. Alderslade, Merlin. New Moon review rocksound.tv. Retrieved on 2009-12-05.
4. "Swallow the Sun : New Album Details Revealed". blabbermouth.net. June 12, 2009. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
5. "Swallow the Sun: New Moon LP - Svart Records". Svart Records. December 24, 2011. Retrieved on January 22, 2012.
6. Suomen virallinen lista yle.yle.fi. Retrieved on 2009-11-11. (Finnish)