Released 11 years ago this November
Songs from the North I, II & III
Swallow the Sun · 2015
153 min · 21 tracks · doom metal
A haunting blend of melodic doom and atmospheric soundscapes that evoke deep emotional landscapes and stark Finnish winters.
Top tracks — play these first
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With You Came the Whole of the World’s Tears — The opener sets a melancholic tone with its expansive melodies and introspective lyrics, encapsulating the album's thematic exploration of loss and longing.
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The Womb of Winter — This track exemplifies the band’s ability to blend haunting melodies with crushing heaviness, creating a stark contrast that defines much of their sound.
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Gathering of Black Moths — At nearly thirteen minutes long, this epic track showcases the band’s dynamics, shifting from serene passages to powerful climaxes, embodying the album's grand scale.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's atmospheric depth and varied structure contribute to its strong craft and composition.
What we noticed
- Several tracks incorporate lengthy instrumental passages that build atmosphere before introducing vocals, emphasizing the emotional weight of the music.
- The first half of the album is characterized by slower tempos and melancholic melodies, while the latter half introduces more dynamic shifts in intensity.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- wave-like pacing that envelops
- haunting melodies for introspection
- long-form exploration of themes
- cathartic emotional release moments
- immersive listening for solitude
Maybe skip if you
- seeking quick, upbeat tracks
- prefer standalone, concise songs
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on November 13, 2015, 'Songs from the North I, II & III' is Swallow the Sun's fifth studio album and marks their return after a five-year hiatus since 'Emerald Forest and the Blackbird'. This album showcases an artistic evolution as they expand their sound into more atmospheric territory, integrating elements of folk and classical music into their established doom metal foundation.
- Stylistic neighbors
- My Dying Bride· Anathema· Paradise Lost
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
Disc 1
- 1 With You Came the Whole of the World’s Tears 9:01
- 2 10 Silver Bullets 7:11
- 3 Rooms and Shadows 7:19
- 4 Heartstrings Shattering 7:46
- 5 Silhouettes 5:55
- 6 The Memory of Light 6:17
- 7 Lost & Catatonic 7:06
- 8 From Happiness to Dust 8:39
Disc 2
- 1 The Womb of Winter 3:35
- 2 The Heart of a Cold White Land 4:47
- 3 Away 5:22
- 4 Pray for the Winds to Come 5:28
- 5 Songs From the North 5:16
- 6 66°50′N, 28°40′E 6:41
- 7 Autumn Fire 5:46
- 8 Before the Summer Dies 5:37
Disc 3
- 1 Gathering of Black Moths 12:57
- 2 7 Hours Late 10:02
- 3 Empires of Loneliness 11:01
- 4 Abandoned by the Light 8:48
- 5 The Clouds Prepare for Battle 9:05
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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