What makes Sundown by Cemetary notable?

Sundown received critical acclaim for its innovative approach to death metal, helping to set the stage for the melodic death metal movement that gained traction in the late 90s. The album's unique sound contributed to its lasting influence on subsequent Swedish metal bands and is often cited by fans as a significant entry in the genre. Released in 1996, Sundown marked Cemetary's third studio album, following the notable success of their previous release, Annihilation. At this point in their career, the band was solidifying their unique sound within the death metal scene, blending melodic elements with darker lyrical themes.

How many songs are on Sundown?

Sundown has 10 tracks, running approximately 40 minutes.

Released 30 years ago

Sundown

Cemetary · 1996

40 min · 10 tracks · death metal

A haunting blend of melodic death metal and atmospheric soundscapes, rich with dark themes and intricate instrumentation.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Sundown — The title track encapsulates the album's atmospheric essence while showcasing the band's signature blend of melody and heaviness. Its haunting melodies create a vivid emotional landscape.
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Elysia — Opening the album, Elysia sets a compelling tone with its ethereal intro and powerful riffs, establishing the thematic depth explored throughout Sundown.
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Closer to the Pain — This track highlights the band's lyrical exploration of sorrow and despair, featuring dynamic shifts that enhance its emotional weight and complexity.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

64 /100

Treeline

Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

Sundown combines melodic elements with atmospheric depth, marking it as a notable entry in the death metal genre.

What we noticed

The album opens with a slow, atmospheric intro that builds tension before transitioning into aggressive guitar riffs and growled vocals.
Several tracks feature intricate guitar harmonies layered over blast beats, creating a dense sound that contrasts with melodic interludes.
The final track includes an extended outro that fades out slowly, leaving a lingering sense of unease.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. 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.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Elysia 2:36
2 Closer to the Pain 3:39
3 Last Transmission 3:19
4 Sundown 3:51
5 Ophidian 5:33
6 Primal 2:18
7 New Dawn Coming 5:03
8 The Embrace 4:02
9 Morningstar 3:57
10 The Wake 5:43

What to play next

Go back to

Black Vanity

1994

Full Cemetary discography Artists like Cemetary

death metal

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata