Here we have yet more emotionally literate metal. Those of you who still think that heavy metal is a Neanderthal, knuckle-dragging male toxicity drenched preserve then I’m hoping that the three albums we have just had will make you think again. With Swallow The Sun we head back to those desolate icy plains of the North. They hail from Finland and over the last few years have produced some of the best and most intelligent doom metal. 2019’s “When A Shadow Is Forced Into The Light” was my album of the year and 2021’s “Moonflowers” came incredibly close to being the first band to claim my album of the year accolade twice.

“Shining” continues their utterly incredible run of form. As with the previous two albums it is a deeply personal piece of work that retains its focus on band leader Juha Raivio state of mind since the loss of his life partner Aleah Stanbridge in 2016. It is the third part of this makeshift trilogy and fittingly brings it to an end by being very much the light at the end of the tunnel. It is much more positive and life affirming album than its two predecessors. It finds Juha starting to find joy in life again.

Now this is a Finnish doom metal band so don't expect high-energy euphoric dance. The tracks are shorter, slicker and far more polished than usual and I would go so far as to say it is the most radio-friendly of all the albums they have produced. It retains its mellow melancholic charm but does so in Technicolor rather than monochrome. Another stunning release from the band that in my eyes can do no wrong.

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