After the disappointing "Ghosts of Loss" I very nearly washed my hands of this band. But then I remembered their debut album "The Morning Never Came" was magnificent Doom Metal of the highest quality and I decided to give these guys another chance. Their third album "Hope" is dark, oppressive Doom Metal that very nearly rekindles the magic of their debut release, though at times there are sections that drone on a bit too long and become boring much like their second album "Ghosts of Loss". These moments are infrequent, however, so the majority of the album is recommendable. "Hope" is solid Doom Metal, though rarely amazing, it flows along pitch black waves of rage and loss occassionally mixing the two together into a tidal surge of crushing depression.

Anyone who's heard "Ghosts Of Loss" or the magnificent "The Morning Never Came" should be perfectly familiar with Swallow The Sun's sound by now: dark, depressive, doom metal with some melody. "Hope" sees the band expanding on their palette with faster songs (well, for a doom band) and a greater emphasis on clean vocals.

For the most part, "Hope" is excellent. From opening title track to the final wretched notes of "Doomed To Walk The Earth", "Hope" takes you to a place where you feel, well, hopeless. The songs are absolutely drenched in atmosphere with ominous yet beautiful guitar riffs (check out the opening riff on the title track), alternating brutal death growls and clean vocals, and subtle use of keyboards. "The Justice Of Suffering" even features a stunning chorus sung by Jonas Renske of Katatonia.

While I wouldn't say it's as good as "The Morning Never Came", "Hope" is still a phenomenal album. It's more accessible than their previous works, yet it doesn't sacrifice Swallow The Sun's core sound. If you're a fan of doom metal or just metal in general, you owe it to yourself to check this out.

If you put in a blender a little bit of sadness, hate, anger, and a lot of musical talent, you will get Hope, an awsome Masterpice

I've never been a big fan of doom metal, as it always seems to rely on the same cheesy 80s progressions, and tends to be predictable.

"Hope" by Swallow the Sun ends that stereotype.

In this album, I find a perfectly satisfying balance of immeasurable sadness, darkness, and heaviness. It somehow fulfills a need inside me to identify these emotions and dwell there for awhile.

There is not a single song on here that I skip over, and when I decide to listen to it (which is often), I listen from start to finish. The crown jewel is "The Empty Skies," which somehow represents, in my mind, the most beautiful death one could hope for.

Surprisingly complex, this album is a must for anyone who loves intelligent metal and likes to wallow from time to time.

Another piece of paper hot out of a printer, it seems StS is more or less a copy from the originals, and molds fairly non-distinctively to contemporaries, as many seem to note. Though I must say, I hear some places that have promise and groove....I did hold out hope as long as I could, though based on the things I list, I decided it's not quite worth a purchase....

You've got to be warned, again, that this isn't pure doom, it's another forced-squish of death and doom...and the clean vocals make a butter knife seem sharp. As such, just when the song builds up through the sometimes dull intros and gets to the top of the mountain, you hear every other death/doom band popping its familiar head into the door. I'd have to say that many of the songs don't build, but rather seem to tear down. It leaves me with a bit of an unsatisfied feeling...as if to say, "when is it going to happen?"

Songs like, "The Empty Skies" just remind you of a brat that has to leave a candy store too soon. By contrast,"Hours of Despair" and "Hope" do jam pretty well ,though.

Hummmm.......