Tag Archives: Juha Raivio

SWALLOW THE SUN release first single and music video “Innocence Was Long Forgotten”


photo: Jussi Ratilainen

Finnish melo-doom metallers Swallow the Sun released the first single “Innocence Was Long Forgotten” from their upcoming album on July 2nd accompanied by a breathtaking video.

“All the new music from Swallow The Sun felt like an ice dagger through a sleeping heart. So we wanted to work with influential producer Dan Lancaster (Bring Me the Horizon, Muse, Enter Shikari etc.) to drive this dagger even deeper into our hearts.”

Those ideas and feelings were successfully portrayed in the single as well as in the music video directed by Vesa Ranta, which was a spot on visual representation of the sounds and lyrical themes. Stark duality of dark and light, new and old, familiar and foreign sounds all blend together to deliver a staggering ice bath of new music from the band. Many fans were taken aback, but are eagerly waiting to hear the new album in its entity.

Swallow the Sun have been torchbearers of melodic doom since 2000. Beauty in Gloom has been a running theme in their identity, lyrics and sound for almost twenty four years. Reaching global fame with fan-praised music videos (10+ million YouTube views) and streaming dominance (50+ million Spotify plays) and has played more than 900 gigs on four continents during their 20-year career. However this new single suggests their sound might have gone through some form of metamorphosis and will emerge with something new and unfamiliar yet no less visceral and striking as their previous music.

Their only current live date is at Hellsinki Metal Festival on August 9th. More info on future dates to come.

Swallow The Sun:

Juha Raivio –Guitars, Keyboards 
Juho Räihä – Guitars
Mikko Kotamäki – Vocals
Matti Honkonen – Bass
Juuso Raatikainen – Drums

Interview and Photo Report: Hallatar


Interview – Juha Raivio (Hallatar/Swallow the Sun/Trees of Eternity)
Photos – The Nightingale plays Aleah and Hallatar- 23.2.2018 – Turku, Finland
Interview and Photos by Serena Solomon


I had the amazing opportunity to meet with Juha Raivio in the cold, quiet, graffiti covered back stage loft of Gong in Turku, Finland, and discuss the present and future of Hallatar, the meaning behind the music and future plans for Juha and the music Aleah left behind for us.

Continue reading Interview and Photo Report: Hallatar