{"title":"A Swarm Of The Sun","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"a-swarm-of-the-sun-the-rifts-gatefold-2x12","title":"A Swarm Of The Sun \"The Rifts (gatefold)\" 2x12\"","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis item is on pre-order. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eIt will be available January 29, 2020.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNote: Orders cannot be split into several shipments. Your order will be dispatched when the item with the latest release date is available. Final products might slightly differ from mockups!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\/\/\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe Rifts is the 3rd album of Swedish duo \u003cstrong\u003eA SWARM OF THE SUN\u003c\/strong\u003e and was originally released in 2015. The Rifts is sombre and brooding, heavy and melancholic, crushing and fragile in equal measure: a bleak and beautiful journey through the battered inner landscapes of the heart and soul: a dolorous tale of lost hopes, dreams falling apart, final moments of clarity and redemption... and appositely reflecting the current state of the world 5, years after its release – isolation.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe Rifts is the sonic manifestation of a heavy black cloud of abstract yet overwhelming feelings, thoughts, hopes and fears-- a collection of intimate reflections on a very specific, profound and personal struggle which needs to stay somewhat untouchable and diffuse, as further verbal explanations would be divesting this immense work of art of its sheer and raw emotional impact.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eWhat initially was a handful of piano sketches, nine song titles, a few lines of lyrics and a notebook full of script-like visual references slowly evolved into something much more dense and layered. With Karl Daniel Lidén (The Old Wind, ex- Terra Tenebrosa) on drums, the band also had an immensely talented recording engineer and producer (Crippled Black Phoenix, Bloodbath, Breach), within their own ranks, and access to David Castillo and Jens Bogren's studio Gröndahl in Stockholm. The sessions culminated with the recording of the pipe organ. The result is absolutely massive, overwhelming, cinematic and pummeling; a sinister foreboding of the emotional truths at the core of this tremendous album.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA SWARM OF THE SUN\u003c\/strong\u003e is Erik Nilsson and Jakob Berglund. In 2007 the debut EP The King of Everything was released, followed by full-length album Zenith in 2010. The Rifts was written \u0026amp; produced by the band and recorded by Erik Nilsson and Karl Daniel Lidén at Studio Gröndahl, mixed \u0026amp; mastered by Cult Of Luna's Magnus Lindberg. Further contributing musicians are Anders Carlström on bass, Anna Carlsson on vocals, Minna Heimo on pipe organ and Robin Bergh on vibraphone. All artwork and videos directed and produced by the band's own Jakob Berglund.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eWhy are we releasing this, 5 years later? Because everyone here at Pelagic agrees that in the nebulous world of post-metal, The Rifts is one of the 5 best albums ever made. We're honored to add this masterpiece to our catalogue.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"A Swarm Of The Sun","offers":[{"title":"Black","offer_id":43863373742358,"sku":"445646","price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Blue Rifts Edition","offer_id":43863373775126,"sku":"445647","price":33.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0690\/8939\/4966\/products\/16eca006d626c67a9b794b1d585cf227.jpg?v=1670559443"},{"product_id":"a-swarm-of-the-sun-the-woods-gatefold-12","title":"A Swarm Of The Sun \"The Woods (gatefold)\" 12\"","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis item is on pre-order. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eIt will be available January 29, 2020.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNote: Orders cannot be split into several shipments. Your order will be dispatched when the item with the latest release date is available. Final products might slightly differ from mockups!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\/\/\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe Woods is the 4th album of the Swedish duo \u003cstrong\u003eA SWARM OF THE SUN\u003c\/strong\u003e, originally released in 2019 via the band's own label, and now reissued on vinyl via Pelagic. The album is the follow-up to the critically acclaimed 2015 release, The Rifts. The Woods expands on it's predecessor’s signature sound of cold, emotional and heavy instrumental rock and completes the painting of a bleak and deeply unsettling winter landscape, in sound.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe Woods consists of only three 13- minute pieces. With patient restraint undertones, A SWARM OF THE SUN create a colossal album that immerses the listeners and drags them deeper and deeper into the band's dark waters, from the very beginning of the record until the end. In all the desolation there is a faint glimmer of comfort, the bare comfort of knowing you’re not alone, that you have a companion in the dark.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe album oscillates between moments of stillness and outbreaks of violence and chaos, seamlessly sewn together by a grandiose mix and master realized by long-time collaborator Karl Daniel Lidén (Crippled Black Phoenix, Bloodbath, Breach), who also played drums on the recordings.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA SWARM OF THE SUN\u003c\/strong\u003e is Erik Nilsson and Jakob Berglund. In 2007 the debut EP The King of Everything was released, followed by the critically acclaimed full-length album Zenith in 2010, and the monumental The Rifts in 2015.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"A Swarm Of The Sun","offers":[{"title":"Black","offer_id":43863373807894,"sku":"445648","price":23.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Silver Woods Edition","offer_id":43863373840662,"sku":"445649","price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0690\/8939\/4966\/products\/848eb612f05a7ed42b8ca28e2418e0c5.jpg?v=1670559448"},{"product_id":"a-swarm-of-the-sun-iris-t-shirt","title":"A Swarm Of The Sun \"Iris\" T-Shirt","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePrinted on \u003cstrong\u003eGildan 5000\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"A Swarm Of The Sun","offers":[{"title":"Black \/ S","offer_id":43863374364950,"sku":"448872","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Black \/ M","offer_id":43863374397718,"sku":"448873","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Black \/ L","offer_id":43863374430486,"sku":"448874","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Black \/ XL","offer_id":43863374463254,"sku":"448875","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Black \/ 2XL","offer_id":43863374496022,"sku":"448876","price":26.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0690\/8939\/4966\/products\/1424e102d9d2e00610581655b6ca188b.jpg?v=1670559469"},{"product_id":"a-swarm-of-the-sun-an-empire-2x12","title":"A Swarm Of The Sun \"An Empire\" 2x12\"","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReturning from time apart to a world forever changed, dread-fuelled duo A SWARM OF THE SUN bring with them their fourth studio album, ‘An Empire’; its brooding, yet beautiful, melancholic narrative arc allows the band to dig ever deeper into desolation whilst a newfound lyrical focus adds a tenderness that is both harrowing and heartwarming at once.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eWith the early bones of forthcoming ‘An Empire’ tabled by events beyond their control in 2019, Erik and Jakob came together years later and scrapped them in favour of creating something entirely new; something distinctly different to break the cycle, defy categorisation and reflect the uncomfortable uncertainties of the times we now live in. The result is astounding; continuing the thread of narrative composition seen on ‘The Woods’, ‘An Empire’ is a six-track tale told in four distinct movements that are nothing short of devastating, from plaintive piano ballads to raw, full-band fury.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003ePreviously used to setting ‘ground rules’ or establishing a thematic framework for each project, the unexpected slow-burn process and surrounding air of trepidation meant that the A Swarm of the Sun’s rules for ‘An Empire’ were written as the album took on form. One early direction was to develop the album’s instrumentation purely in terms of texture; refining its sounds without compromising for the sake of convenience of familiarity. As such, ‘An Empire’ sees the band achieve a remarkable depth of orchestration that feels at once comforting and alien.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eWhilst providing vocals, guitars, synth textures, piano, vibraphone, harmonium and musical saw parts themselves, Erik and Jakob are joined once again by long-time collaborators Karl Daniel Lidén (drums, mixing\/mastering), Anders Carlström (bass) and Minna Larsson Heimo (pipeorgan) whilst also welcoming Vilhelm Weréen on trombone to produce an utterly unique sonic palette that crucially also leaves latent space for Jakob’s voice to shine.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eTaken from the album’s third side, lead single ‘The Burning Wall’ embodies this sprawling compositional feat perfectly, with the painfully frank opening couplet of “I know I fail you \/ I know that I run” establishing a gripping narrative trajectory backed by a simmering, impatient pulse that slowly and inevitably rises to an inescapable crescendo of cymbal chaos and wall-of-sound guitar drone. Elsewhere, 18-minute epic ‘The Pyre’ represents Side B of ‘An Empire’ with the confessional intimacy of a waltz-time ballad; the raw, wavering emotion of Jakob’s words accompanied only by a haunting, lilting piano refrain before it too is consumed by the bittersweet might of post-rock euphoria to leave only embers of the apocalyptic lyrics in its wake...\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e‘An Empire’ marks a significant evolution of A Swarm of the Sun’s already indelible post-metal sound. With increasingly bleak times forcing the band to reassess their relationship with creativity and suffering, this new body of work captures all the anthemic, intimate highs and crushing, debilitating lows of modern life on a knife edge.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"A Swarm Of The Sun","offers":[{"title":"Transparent White Edition","offer_id":51709294641430,"sku":"603552","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0690\/8939\/4966\/files\/c11975b7d550f124e20c3f35f078d2da.jpg?v=1786645732"},{"product_id":"a-swarm-of-the-sun-an-empire-cd","title":"A Swarm Of The Sun \"An Empire\" CD","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReturning from time apart to a world forever changed, dread-fuelled duo A SWARM OF THE SUN bring with them their fourth studio album, ‘An Empire’; its brooding, yet beautiful, melancholic narrative arc allows the band to dig ever deeper into desolation whilst a newfound lyrical focus adds a tenderness that is both harrowing and heartwarming at once.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eWith the early bones of forthcoming ‘An Empire’ tabled by events beyond their control in 2019, Erik and Jakob came together years later and scrapped them in favour of creating something entirely new; something distinctly different to break the cycle, defy categorisation and reflect the uncomfortable uncertainties of the times we now live in. The result is astounding; continuing the thread of narrative composition seen on ‘The Woods’, ‘An Empire’ is a six-track tale told in four distinct movements that are nothing short of devastating, from plaintive piano ballads to raw, full-band fury.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003ePreviously used to setting ‘ground rules’ or establishing a thematic framework for each project, the unexpected slow-burn process and surrounding air of trepidation meant that the A Swarm of the Sun’s rules for ‘An Empire’ were written as the album took on form. One early direction was to develop the album’s instrumentation purely in terms of texture; refining its sounds without compromising for the sake of convenience of familiarity. As such, ‘An Empire’ sees the band achieve a remarkable depth of orchestration that feels at once comforting and alien.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eWhilst providing vocals, guitars, synth textures, piano, vibraphone, harmonium and musical saw parts themselves, Erik and Jakob are joined once again by long-time collaborators Karl Daniel Lidén (drums, mixing\/mastering), Anders Carlström (bass) and Minna Larsson Heimo (pipeorgan) whilst also welcoming Vilhelm Weréen on trombone to produce an utterly unique sonic palette that crucially also leaves latent space for Jakob’s voice to shine.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eTaken from the album’s third side, lead single ‘The Burning Wall’ embodies this sprawling compositional feat perfectly, with the painfully frank opening couplet of “I know I fail you \/ I know that I run” establishing a gripping narrative trajectory backed by a simmering, impatient pulse that slowly and inevitably rises to an inescapable crescendo of cymbal chaos and wall-of-sound guitar drone. 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