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Artist : Shape of Despair
Album : Written in my Scars
Year : 2010
Genre : Metal
Label : Solarfall Records
Cat.nr : FALL 1
Source : Vinyl
R.date : 16.04.2011
Size : 18,9 MB
Encoder : LAME 3.98.4 -V0
Bitrate : avg. 232kbps
Quality : 44,1kHz/Joint-Stereo
Website : http://www.shapeofdespair.com/
Tracklist:
a1. Written in my scars 05:47
b1. The bliss of sudden loss 05:34
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11:21
Release Notes:
Shape of Despair are back with their first release
since the "Illusion's Play" album that came out in
2004, that is if you don't include the best of
compilation that came out the following year. The
band is of course one of Finland's best known
Funeral Doom Metal bands and albums such as
"Illusion's Play, Angels of Distress" and "Shades
of..." have played a major influence on many bands
especially ones from Europe. If you include
Nathalie Koskinen (Vocals) and Toni Raehalme
(Violin), they are a seven piece band with main
members Pasi "Ruoja" Koskinen - Vocals, Jarno
Salomaa - Lead Guitars, Keyboards, Tomi Ullgren -
Rhythm Guitars, Sami "Tundra" Uusitalo - Bass and
Samu "Beast Dominator" Ruotsalainen all being in
the band since 2001 at least. In my neck of the
woods they are one of those bands that create
debates like - are they really Funeral Doom or
just another Goth-Doom outfit ? I have never
thought of them as true Funeral Doom but their
atmospheric, melodramatic style has always been
mesmerizing. Sometimes it is depressing, mournful
or dramatic, other times their music is simply
hauntingly beautiful. They also have the ability
to draw emotion out of very minimalistic, ambient
passages which is one element similar bands
struggle with. Anyone who knows me or who is a
regular reader of my reviews will know I don't
like many bands within this genre of Doom Metal
but Shape Of Despair" are one band that I have a
lot of time for. I will go one step further and
say I rate "Angels of Distress" as one of the very
best albums of 2001. So with all that
out-of-the-way, this EP comes as a bit of a
let-down. After such an extended break between
albums, 12 minutes of music only is a bit
disappointing. I can only hope another full length
album appears in 2011.
This EP has been released on the new Norwegian
label Solarfall Records, a subsidiary of Aftermath
Music and I am glad to say, this beats all my
expectations. I really didn't think they could
come back with songs as good as these two so this
has increased my hunger for a new album even more.
On side one you get the title track, "Written In
My Scars" that slowly unfolds to reveal a
sorrowful composition that could have easily come
off one of their early albums. Their strong
melodic edge is still intact with vocalist Pasi
Koskinen growls blending wonderfully with
enchanting melodies. If there is a fault with this
EP it is in the mixing of Pasi's voice, he is
buried somewhat in the mix sounding muffled
against the backdrop of mournful guitar work. The
chunky piano notes turn into waves of shimmering
keyboards while their guitar duo unleash dual
harmonies. "The Bliss of Sudden Loss" on side two
is the stronger of the two tracks but only just
and again it sounds like it could have appeared on
any of their earlier albums but they are not
recycling here, they are maintaining a quality and
a high standard they set themselves many years
ago. "The Bliss Of Sudden Loss" is a more
mid-tempo track compared with what is on side one
and the guitars dominate more than the keyboards
on this track. The strong melody lines they are
famous for are here again but this is closer to
death doom than the usual Goth-Doom sound they are
renown for. This song is dramatic but more
restrained than side one's tune but it conveys
that atmosphere of despair that this band does so
well.
Natalie Koskinen delivers her gorgeous vocals as
well so this has all the elements you would expect
from a Shape Of Despair release. If this is a
taste for what is to come in 2011, it should be a
big year for the band. The downside to this
release is it is only available on vinyl so many
fans will have to search for a download to order
to hear it or sit tight and wait for the next
compact disc installment of their career. The
feeling I get with this EP is Shape Of Despair are
such a super confident band that even 6 years
between albums can't harm their songwriting
skills. If you have ever cared for this band, this
EP will satisfy despite its brief playing time...
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