SHAPE OF DESPAIR · Shades Of... | TRANSPARENT GREEN/BLACK SPLATTER 2LP

Transparent green double-vinyl with black & green splatter in gatefold sleeve.

Background information about 'Shades Of...'

There are albums that simply exist, and then there are those that swallow you whole. Shape Of Despair's "Shades Of..." is the latter – a monolithic journey through the deepest, most sorrow-laden corridors of funeral doom metal. Originally released as a compilation gathering the Finnish gloom merchants' early demo material and rare tracks, this collection feels far from a mere footnote. It is an essential, crushing document of a band that has always operated in a league of their own.

From the moment the first notes of "...In the Mist" unfurl, you are submerged in a glacial, hypnotic trance. The signature sound is all here: the funereal pace, the cavernous double-bass drums that rumble like distant thunder, the ethereal female vocals floating like ghosts over Pasi Koskinen's guttural roars, and those melancholic, minor-key melodies that seem to weep. Tracks like "Woundheir" and "Sylvan-Night" showcase the band's unique ability to make utter desolation feel strangely beautiful and immersive. This is not background music; this is a soundtrack for staring into the abyss and finding a strange, cold comfort there. A must-have for collectors and a perfect entry point for the uninitiated willing to descend into the darkness.

For fans of: Skepticism, Thergothon, Evoken, Colosseum, Mournful Congregation

Track listing

LP 1
A ...In The Mist
B Sylvan-Night

LP 2
C1 Woundheir
C2 Down Into The Stream
D Shadowed Dreams

Manufacturer: Sasu Soundworks Sarl, 126 Boulevard Bara, Heliopolis 2, Lot B4, 13013 Marseille, France, Contact: www.season-of-mist.com