Swallow the Sun

E

arly 2000 saw Swallow the Sun formed by Juha Raivio, who was soon joined by Pasi Pasanen (both ex-Plutonium Orange). In 2001 Markus Jämsen, known to Raivio and Pasanen from earlier bands, joined as a second guitarist. Mikko Kotamäki (ex-Funeris Nocturnum) would join soon later as singer. Other ex-Funeris Nocturnum joined in the form of Aleksi Munter (keyboards) and Matti Honkonen (bass), the result of which was their first demo, Out of This Gloomy Light in January of 2003, featuring a melodic death metal style popular in Europe.

Shortly after the demo recording sessions, a record deal with 'Firebox Records' was signed and in late July 2003, over a period of 3 weeks, they completed their first full length album, The Morning Never Came.

In February 2005, Swallow the Sun released their second album, Ghosts of Loss, with their single, Forgive Her..., gaining 4th place on the Finnish Top 20 singles chart in its first week of release, and stayed there for 6 weeks; the album entering the charts at #8.

In 2006 they signed to 'Spinefarm Records'. In January 2007 they released their third album, Hope, which included a cover version of the Timo Rautiainen & Trio Niskalaukaus song Alavilla Mailla (translation: into "These Low Lands") as a bonus track on the digipack edition and sung by Tomi Joutsen of fellow Finnish metal band, Amorphis with another guest appearance by Jonas Renkse of Katatonia on the song The Justice of Suffering. They then commenced a a US tour with Katatonia, Scar Symmetry and Insomnium in late 2007.