Dan-Erland Swanö (born 10 March 1973), also known as Dan "The Man" Swanö, is a Swedish musician and record producer who is currently the vocalist, guitarist, ex-bassist and ex-drummer for the band Nightingale, lately vocalist, keyboardist and drummer for the band Witherscape, as well as the owner of Unisound. He achieved fame as the vocalist and songwriter of progressive death metal band Edge of Sanity.
As a multi-instrumentalist he is regarded as influential in the underground melodic death metal, black metal, progressive metal, death metal, progressive rock, and power metal communities. He is known for his progressive rock-influenced songwriting style and his frequent use of both clean and growled vocals.
Career Swanö has fronted a number of bands, including Edge of Sanity, Brejn Dedd, Unicorn, Infestdead and Route Nine. He has also been a member of Katatonia and Ribspreader, as well as playing drums and lead guitar in death metal band Bloodbath.
Swanö also participated in Steel, a one-off power metal project from Sweden that featured him and members of Opeth. Started in 1996, this collaboration emerged during the recording sessions for Opeth's Morningrise album. During a jam session, when the band were soundchecking the drums, they hit upon an idea to record a short piece for fun, entitled "Guitars and Metal". This gave birth to Steel. Subsequently, they were asked to record more songs, and when they did, the songs which were originally meant for a demo, actually appeared on a limited picture 7-inch EP titled Heavy Metal Machine, released by Near Dark Productions. To this date, it remains their sole record. Featuring only two songs, Heavy Metal Machine sounds very much like a typical 1980s power metal band, with high-pitched vocals, shredding solos, pounding bass lines and 1980s-style sound effects (police sirens, etc.). However, the record is not meant to be taken as a serious power metal attempt, explaining Swanö's extremely high-pitched vocals. As a limited release, Heavy Metal Machine remains a collector's item and is hard to come by.
He has also contributed his vocal talents to Arjen Lucassen's Star One project. The two musicians are good friends, with Lucassen contributing guitar parts to Swanö's Nightingale project. Swanö can also be heard on the albums Theli and A'arab Zaraq – Lucid Dreaming by the symphonic metal band Therion. He was a producer and contributing writer of the band Diabolical Masquerade, the now-defunct solo avant-garde black metal band of Anders Nyström a.k.a. Blakkheim (Katatonia, Bloodbath, ex-Bewitched). He also contributed some guitar solos, backing vocals on various Diabolical Masquerade albums, and played the drums on the album Nightwork. He also produced and played the keyboards on the Memories from Nothing album by Swedish rock band Another Life, released on Vic Records.
Swanö has also released a solo progressive death metal album entitled Moontower, on which he plays all instruments (guitar, bass, drums, keyboard) as well as providing all the vocal work.
In July 2007, he auditioned to be lead singer for the Israeli project Amaseffer but lost the part to Mats Levén.
During 2009, Swanö re-activated Odyssey, this time performing all instruments by himself. Swanö recorded seven of his all-time favourite songs which was released in November 2010 on the album Reinventing the Past, together with the three 1999 tracks as a bonus on Vic Records. His brother Dag played guest lead guitar on the song "Gypsy", a Uriah Heep cover.
In 2013, Swanö released with his new project Witherscape the full studio album The Inheritance, with Ragnar Widerberg as co-member, and the collaboration of, amongst other guest musicians, Novembers Doom's founder Paul Kuhr. It was followed a year after by the EP The New Tomorrow. In 2016, the full studio album The Northern Sanctuary was released, via Century Media Records like its predecessors, featuring once again Paul Kuhr.
Swanö has a diverse vocal register, encompassing many styles, which include death growls; clean, melodic singing with a warm tone; dark gothic vocals; and thrash shouting. As a peculiarity, he is a left-handed guitarist, but plays on right-handed guitars without reversing the strings.
In December 2020 Swanö was a guest on episode 8 of the podcast "Wir und ELANE", hosted by members of the German band Elane. He spoke about several band experiences, the creation process of the first Nightingale album and the project which was called "Second Sky".
Unisound Studio Unisound Studio (also Unisound RecordingsWho is who in Lithuania, UAB Neolitas, 1997, p, 75.Not to be confused with the Athens-based Unisound Records. or Gorysound Studio)Nicolas Bénard, Robert Culat, Katatonia : Sous un ciel de plomb, Camion Blanc, 2015, "Environnement technique." is a recording studio owned and operated by Dan Swanö. It used to be in Finspång, Sweden, but was closed down in around 2001 because of his family.CoC : Katatonia : Interview : 8/12/2001 . Chroniclesofchaos.com. Retrieved on 25 July 2016. The studio was later relocated into Swanö's home in Örebro.
Family and work
Despite the large amount of releases to his name, Swanö worked full-time in a music store (Musikbörsen) in Örebro, near his home in Sweden, rarely doing live performances with any of his bands. He has an older brother, Dag, who plays guitars and keyboards in Nightingale, formerly under the name of "Tom Nouga".
Musical contributions
BandsAudioengineeringAudiomasteringAudiomixingBackingvocalsBassguitarDrumkitElectricguitarElectronickeyboardFormermemberMemberOther InstrumentsRecordproducerVocalsAeonAephanemerAltarAncientAncient AscendantAnother LifeAnother Perfect DayArgentumAs Light DiesBattlelore BloodbathBombshell RocksBrëjn DëddBucovina CanopyColdworkerCoraxoCronianDark FuneralDarkcideDarkified DawnDawn of DreamsDe InfernaliDemiurgDemon ProjectDenial Diabolical Masquerade DissectionEdge of SanityEffloresceEntrailsEvergreyEvocationEvokeFall of SerenityFleshcrawlFractal GatesFrameshiftGates of IshtarGhostGhostormGodsendGravecarverGorath Hail of BulletsHallows DieHearseIncisionInfestdeadInsomniumKaoteonKaraboudjanKatatoniaLay Down RottenMacerationM.E.S.S.MahlstrømMardukMasticateMechanizationMillencolinMirrors of ObsidianMoredhelMörk GryningMotorowlMyGrainNasumNecrochamberNightingale Novembers DoomNovembre NårdegaistOddlandOdysseyOdyssey (EP, 1999) & Reinventing the Past (Album, 2010)Omnium GatherumOpeth OverflashPain Pan.Thy.MoniumProserpineRakshasas RibspreaderRoute NineRytmihäiriö Scartown"Легенды большого города" (Russian spelling for "Legends of a big city") SomnaeForever More (EP)SörskogenStar OneSteelSubway MirrorThe ForeshadowingTheatre of TragedyTherionThresholdTorture DivisionTotal DeathTotal TerrorUncannyUnder Black CloudsVinterlandWake ArkaneWindsWitherscapeWounded Knee
Discography +YearBandsTitleInstrumentsNotes1985GhostDjävulstriangelnVocalsDrumsDemo1986GhostHollywoodVocalsDrumsDemo1987GhostSolens SönerVocalsDrumsDemo1988Brejn DeddFirst DemoBacking vocalsDrumsDemo1988Brejn DeddUgly TapezBacking vocalsDrumsDemo1989Brejn DeddBorn UglyBacking vocalsDrumsDemo1989Edge of SanityEuthanasiaVocalsDemo1989UnicornA Collection of Worlds, Part IVocalsDrumsDemo1989UnicornA Collection of Worlds, Part IIVocalsDrumsDemo1990MasticateDesecrationVocalsGuitarsBassDemo1990Stygg DödVälkommen till HelvetetVocalsBassDemo1990Stygg Död666+VåldVocalsBassDemo1990Pan.Thy.Monium...DawnLead GuitarsBassKeyboardsDemo1990Ulan BatorGummicancerBacking vocalsDrumsDemo1990IncisionPerverted PossessionsVocalsDrumsDemo1990Edge of SanityKur-Nu-Gi-AVocalsAdd. GuitarKeyboardsDemo1990Edge of SanityThe DeadVocalsDemo1990Edge of SanityThe Immortal RehearsalsVocalsDemo1990DeppdödenTitta först på när jag dansarDrumsEP1990Wounded KneeSearchingBacking vocalsDrumsEP1990Ulan BatorPå Rätt SpårBacking vocalsDrumsEP1990Subway Mirror/O(:the circle)PrimeVocalsGuitarsDemo1991Pan.Thy.MoniumDream IILead GuitarsBassKeyboardsEP1991IncisionInfest IncestVocalsDrumsEP, Unreleased1991Edge of SanityDead but DreamingVocalsAdd. GuitarKeyboardsDemo1991Edge of SanityNothing But Death RemainsVocalsAdd. GuitarKeyboardsStudio1991Subway Mirror/O(:the circle)GolliwogVocalsGuitarsDemo1991UnicornThe Weirdest of TalesVocalsDrumsDemo1991Wounded KneeFeelingsBacking vocalsDrumsStudio1992Edge of SanityUnorthodoxVocalsAdd. GuitarKeyboardsStudio1992Pan.Thy.MoniumDawn of DreamsLead GuitarsBassKeyboardsStudio1992MacerationA Serenade of AgonyVocalsKeyboardsStudio1992Route NineDisrupted VacancyVocalsBassDrumsKeyboardsDemo1992Subway Mirror/O(:the circle)RaQVocalsGuitarsDemo1992UnicornAfter BeforeVocalsDrumsDemo1992GodsendDemo 92VocalsKeyboardsDemo1993Edge of SanityThe Spectral SorrowsVocalsAdd. GuitarKeyboardsStudio1993Route NineBefore I Close My Eyes ForeverVocalsBassDrumsKeyboardsEP1993Pan.Thy.MoniumKhaooohsLead GuitarsBassKeyboardsStudio1993UnicornEver SinceVocalsDrumsStudio1993Subway Mirror/O(:the circle)JppVocalsGuitarsDemo1993GodsendAs the Shadows FallVocalsKeyboardsStudio1994Edge of SanityUntil Eternity EndsVocalsAdd. GuitarKeyboardsEP1994Edge of SanityPurgatory AfterglowVocalsAdd. GuitarKeyboardsStudio1995UnicornEmotional WastelandVocalsDrumsStudio1995NightingaleThe Breathing ShadowVocalsAll InstrumentsStudio1996Edge of SanityCrimsonVocalsAdd. GuitarKeyboardsStudio1996NightingaleThe Closing ChroniclesVocalsGuitarsDrumsKeyboardsStudio1996InfestdeadKilling ChristGuitarsDrum-programmingEP1996Pan.Thy.MoniumKhaooohs and Kon-Fus-IonLead GuitarsBassKeyboardsStudio1997Edge of SanityInfernalVocalsAdd. GuitarKeyboardsStudio1997InfestdeadHellfuckGuitarsBassDrum-programmingKeyboardsStudio1997GodsendA Wayfarers TearsVocalsKeyboardsStudio1998Subway Mirror/O(:the circle)WisepopeVocalsGuitarsCD-R, Recorded in 19941998SteelHeavy Metal MachineVocalsEP1998Dan SwanöMoontowerVocalsAll InstrumentsStudio1999Edge of SanityEvolutionVocalsAdd. GuitarKeyboardsCompilation1999OdysseyOdysseyVocalsAll InstrumentsEP1999KatatoniaTonight's DecisionSession drumsStudio1999InfestdeadJesuSatanVocalsGuitarsBassDrum-programmingStudio2000NightingaleIVocalsGuitarsDrumsKeyboardsStudio2000BloodbathBreeding DeathBacking vocalsDrumsEP2001KaraboudjanSbrodjVocalsAll InstrumentsEP2001Route NineThe WorksVocalsGuitarsBassDrumsKeyboardsCompilation2002BloodbathResurrection Through CarnageDrumsStudio2002NightingaleAlive AgainVocalsGuitarsKeyboardsStudio2002Star OneSpace MetalVocalsStudio2003NightingaleAlive AgainVocalsGuitarsKeyboardsStudio2003Edge of SanityCrimson IIVocalsAll InstrumentsStudio2004NightingaleInvisibleVocalsGuitarsKeyboardsStudio2004BloodbathNightmares Made FleshBacking vocalsGuitarsBassStudio2005NightingaleNightfall OvertureVocalsGuitarsKeyboardsStudio2006Edge of SanityWhen All Is SaidVocalsAdd. GuitarKeyboardsCompilation2007DarkcideSplit EP with InfestdeadVocalsAll InstrumentsSplit EP2007NightingaleWhite DarknessVocalsGuitarKeyboardsStudio2008BloodbathThe Wacken CarnageBacking vocalsGuitarLive2008Total TerrorTotal TerrorVocalsGuitarStudio2008NightingaleBox of RockVocalsGuitarKeyboardsCompilation2010OdysseyReinventing the PastVocalsAll InstrumentsStudio2010Star OneVictims of the Modern AgeVocalsStudio2010Pan.Thy.Monium...Dawn+Dream IILead GuitarsBassKeyboardsCompilation2012Edge of SanityKur-Nu-Gi-A (2012 Reissue Edition)VocalsAdd. GuitarKeyboardsEP2013WitherscapeThe InheritanceVocalsDrumsKeyboardsStudio2014NightingaleRetributionVocalsGuitarsKeyboardsStudio2014WitherscapeThe New TomorrowVocalsGuitarsKeyboardsEP2015UnicornA Collection of Worlds ResurrectionVocalsDrumsCompilation2016InfestdeadSatanic SerenadesLead GuitarsBassDrum-programmingKeyboardsCompilation2016WitherscapeThe Northern SanctuaryVocalsGuitarsKeyboardsStudio2017NightingaleRock Hard LiveVocalsGuitarsKeyboardsLive2018Ghost1983-1988VocalsDrumsCompilation2022Star OneRevel in TimeVocalsOn "Today Is Yesterday"2022MacerationIt Never Ends...VocalsStudio
Miscellaneous Laodicea Manfred Villes Necrony – guest vocals, guitars, compositions (under the alias "Day Disyraah") Second Sky