SHAPE OF DESPAIR are now revealing that they will finally release their legendary demo ‘Alone in the Mist’ (1998) in full on December 9th. The Finnish doom mongers are exclusively streaming the track “Shadowed Dreams” via the official media partners listed below.
Mastermind Jarno Salomaa comments: “So what exactly do you find on ‘Alone in the Mist’? Besides the first songs ever written for SHAPE OF DESPAIR – at that time still named RAVEN – these represent my first ever attempt at doom as well. Those tracks are the outcome of solitary inspiration through dark woods and good music. This demo was never fully released – do not bother to ask why, because I cannot remember the reasons at all. ‘Alone in the Mist’ was only tape traded without any cover or anything else with just a few people that we knew or were in contact with. Two of these songs came out officially a long way back, but soon you will get a chance to hear them all – with ‘Shadowed Dreams’ now given as a first preview.”
‘Alone in the Mist’ has furthermore received artwork for the first time, which can now be viewed together with the track-list below.
1. Down Into The Stream 2. To Adorn… 3. Shadowed Dreams 4. Woundheir 5. …In The Mist 6. Outro
With their latest album ‘Monotony Fields’, SHAPE OF DESPAIR demonstrated that doom from Finland not only was far from getting stuck in a dead end, but was actually as beautiful, sorrowful, and majestic as it could ever get.
Their next release on Season of Mist rather represents a visit of the band’s past. Under their former name Raven, the Finns recorded a demo in 1998 entitled ‘Alone In The Mist’, which was never officially published. The high quality of the material already hinted at by two tracks released elsewhere more than justifies the late unearthing of this dark treasure.
Well, SHAPE OF DESPAIR have always taken their sweet time. Nearly eleven years passed before the Finns presented ‘Monotony Fields’ as a follow-up to the acclaimed ‘Illusion’s Play’ (2004). This hiatus was only briefly interrupted by the ‘Written In My Scars’ EP in 2010 and a split 7″ with BEFORE THE RAIN the following year as a strong reminder of the band’s effusive talent.
SHAPE OF DESPAIR were founded by Jarno Salomaa and Tomi Ullgren after the demise of their previous death metal band in 1995. The two guitarists were aiming for a darker and more serene sound. Their debut album ‘Shades of…’ (2000) proved an instant success, garnering much praise from critics and fans alike. The quickly following ‘Angels of Distress’ (2001) is still regarded as a milestone of doom metal. Having added the corrosive and grinding vocals of Henri Koivula, which contrast perfectly with the aerial female voice of Natalie Koskinen, SHAPE OF DESPAIR returned to reclaim the throne of funeral doom with ‘Monotony Fields’. Now they take you back to the time of their origins.
Current line-up Henri Koivula: vocals Natalie Koskinen: vocals Jarno Salomaa: guitars, keyboard Tomi Ullgren: guitars Sami Uusitalo: bass Daniel Neagoe: drums
Live 12 Nov 16 London (UK) Boston Music Room (+Clouds +Fen) 09 Dec 16 Madrid (ES) Sala Changó (Madrid Is The Dark Fest) 10 Dec 16 Lisboa (PT) RCA Club (Under the Doom IV) 29 Apr 17 Bucuresti (RO) Quantic (+Clouds) 20 May 17 Hyvinkää (FI) Steelfest (exact date tbc)
I began my writing career in the year of 2012 due to my love for the metal community, and have since moved onto a second role as the Tech-Wiz of PoM - taking good care of our website. My favourite music genres are Progressive Metal in all its different shapes and Melodic Death Metal.
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