After much "controversy"—including a temporary breakup and the alleged "disappearance" of frontman Kvarforth—peculiar Swedish black metal tyrants Shining have completely reinvented the band on their fifth album, "Halmstad (Niklas Angående Niklas)", to the point where this is not something that I would refer to as a "black metal" album at all. And it would seem that the transformation should be credited in large part (if not entirely) to Kvarforth himself, as the booklet clearly states that "Shining is Niklas Kvarforth", while the rest of the band is referred to as simply "the toolbox". Whatever the case, and however you'd care to classify the results, this is the band's finest work to date, and will most definitely be among the best albums of 2007. While many of the band's past efforts have been excellent in their own ways, there's just no debating the fact that this is Shining's most emotionally gripping and atmospheric work thus far—from the gorgeous acoustic passages to the absolutely fucking brilliant solos, which are beautifully melodic and shockingly well arranged. Various snippets of piano, strings, and spoken samples also add to the tortured and depressing aura of the album as a whole, so... there's a lot to take in, and it all comes as quite a shock considering the almost complete stylistic shift it represents against the band's past. I mean, aside from certain characteristics of the maniacal vocal performance and bits and pieces of the acoustic work, there are absolutely no ties to black metal here. The recording is totally ace with a killer bass presence and a super crisp mix, and that definitely amps up the heaviness factor when it comes to the riffs that posses that dark, moody sort of Katatonia-esque quality—as well as some of the subtly doomier excursions. But you can't compare this album to anything else that's out there when all is said and done. The band's newfound sense of diversity and experimentation brings a few loose parallels to mind, but this is most definitely a beast of its own. I really wish I could read Swedish so that I'd have any clue as to the quality/contents of the lyrics, but oh well! I'm not even gonna bother continuing to try to describe this shit. It's fuckin' excellent, so just check it out for yourself and be the judge. I'm blown away.
Shining "Låt Oss Ta Allt Från Varandra"
Seriously. Awesome. 100% recommended on every level. Make the grab if you agree:
Comments
wow. i’ve never heard of this shining (granted there are at least two or three other shinings out there), and i’m not that into BM, but this is some really intriguing and uncategorizable shit. that acoustic part kills me. and those “whiskey-soaked” vocals at around 3:50 are unreal. ...what? a cowbell too?! i’m getting this shit pronto.
7.6.2007 | By chris
yes this shit is great! i found it out some time ago and people gave it very positive critics. i downloaded it and than somewhat forgot about it. great atmosphere and really deep music!
once again Andrew you did very good job!
7.6.2007 | By Anonymous
The song title means “Let’s take everything from each other.”
Hard to hear what he’s singing though…
7.6.2007 | By Tom DK
because it’s in sweden ;)
7.7.2007 | By Anonymous
No, it’s in SwedISH… :P
7.7.2007 | By Tom DK
I think it’s both, actually.
7.7.2007 | By Calvin
weeping woman is the most beautiful moment of this song, and this slow fragment after, well yes it is for sure above average but maybe I should listen it more to call it brilliant and although I don’t kneel yet, it has worth to be recommended.
very Swedish sound and voice for me, entombed-like
7.8.2007 | By thine
This band is so amazingly good, every album is a killer, so moody and dark and so distinctive not to mention succulent!!!
7.9.2007 | By xBenx
i had to break out a dictionary for that. :p
7.9.2007 | By chris
Yes, weeping lady chick is intense. Music is straight; I also like the shifts in tempo. Emotionally driven. Me likey.
7.9.2007 | By Adrianoso
Read an interview with Niklas in Close-Up Magazine a few months ago. He sure is one fucked up camper… Reminded me of the interviews with various Norwegian black metal nutjobs I read in the hey days of the early 90’s, only more disturbing. I’m honestly worried about him.
7.10.2007 | By Monkey Bastard
Not bad, but not as good as IV - The Eerie Cold which was in the same vein as this album. The weeping woman thing I guess is becoming a trademark of Shining albums as the last one also had some crying in it. Anyway I found this album to be alot less polished than the previous.. so if this does it for you check out Shining IV.
7.14.2007 | By pfk505