Shining - V - Halmstad review
| Band: | Shining |
| Album: | V - Halmstad |
| Style: | Depressive black metal |
| Release date: | April 18, 2007 |
| A review by: | Lucas |
01. Ytterligare Ett Steg Närmare Total Jävla Utfrysning
02. Längtar Bort Från Mitt Hjärta
03. Låt Oss Ta Allt Från Varandra
04. Besvikelsens Dystra Monotoni
05. Åttiosextusenfyrahundra
06. Neka Morgondagen
After their latest full-length release, it seemed like Kvarforth got it on his hips again. He started with doing a "Danzig" (kicking all other members out) and sought new ones. Fortunately, he didn't complete the "Danzig", but found new members that were actually better musicians than the previous. Then there were all the rumours of Kvarforth's supposed suicide and as dessert, his grandiose return, supposedly kicking the fill-in vocalist off stage and trying to break a limb. Shining (read: Kvarforth) has gone so over the top with his behavior that many suspect it to be a promotional stunt. Who can tell? Fact is, all those rumors created either very high or very low expectations for the fans of 2005's release "The Eerie Cold". And if you ask me they have blown away all expectations.
The madness begins with quite an unusual spoken intro. Someone utters the following words: "As I was going up the stair, I met a man who wasn't there. He wasn't there again today, I wish, I wish he'd go away." From any other band I would have died of laughter and silliness, but this time I got shivers and realized that Shining was going to destroy. Then hell breaks loose, to return to cold string-picking as fast as it came. The eerie vocals of Kvarforth show he is in for is best performance to date. Production wise "Halmstad" is blessed with the same sound as its predecessor and all instruments deserve to be heard. After the first song, the insanity continues in the usual Shining-fashion: six songs clocking in slightly over the forty minutes. Black Metal purists may complain that Shining drifts away and away from the Black Metal scene with each and every release, as the non-metal influences have once again increased (more rock and blues and even a piano-piece from Beethoven!). One can see this as negative, but for me they represent a shiny (bad pun intended), sparkling star across the heaven firmament, much brighter than any other "suicidal" or "depressive" black metal act.
In the end I can safely say Shining is still alive and kicking, and every single one of their releases has been an upgrade from the latter. Hail the King of Suicidal Black Metal!
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 9 |
| Songwriting: | 9 |
| Originality: | 10 |
| Production: | 9 |
 | Written on 09.09.2007 by If you're interested in extreme, often emotional and underground music, check out my reviews. I retired from reviewing, but I really used to be into that stuff. |
Rating:
9.0
9.0
|
Rating: 9.0 |
Shining is the band that have no borders to expose the feelings and emotions, even if the group has been labelled suicidal/depressive black metal, the musicians use some non-Black Metal instruments such as piano and acoustic guitars showing no limits or rules for Kvarforth to obey. The first 4 full-length albums were just great and album by album Shining were getting more experienced and skilled, but it seems Niklas wasn't satisfied with the tool box since he almost changed all the band members and this lead some fans thinking whether the next album would be a disappointment. Well the answer is simply "HELL NO". Read more ›› |
Comments
Comments: 30
Visited by: 331 users
| Spyroid Rosetta Stoned Posts: 1023  |
Great review, a bit higher than I'd rated but that's mostly because I'm not a great BMfan. Thumbs up for a good record.
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| Lucas Mr. Noise Elite Posts: 13427  |
Thanks. All in all, I think a couple of tenths less would be more accurate, but ah, who cares.
---- SLUDGE. DOOM. DEATH. Wait, what?  "The reason I'm running for president is because I can't be Bruce Springsteen." - Barack Obama
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| Deadsoulman Elite Posts: 8004  |
Kvarforth is absolutely possessed on this album, his vocals are just insane... Excellent album, their best so far IMO. I just hope the guy won't kill himself before I get to see them live in December lol.
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| Promonex Cathemeral Elite Posts: 9720  |
Probably the only band I'd really be afraid of witnessing from the first row.
---- All life begins with Nu and ends with Nu... This is the truth! This is my belief! ...At least for now. - The Mystery of Life, Vol. 841 Ch. 26
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| Mad Laughter Account deleted |
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| Lucas Mr. Noise Elite Posts: 13427 |
Yeah, that show is pretty notorious.. as are all shows of them. 
---- SLUDGE. DOOM. DEATH. Wait, what? "The reason I'm running for president is because I can't be Bruce Springsteen." - Barack Obama
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| Deadsoulman Elite Posts: 8004 |
Yeah well, I'm pretty nervous about seeing them, as the venue they'll be in is a very small place, more like a rehearsal garage. And the support will be Maniac's band, Skitliv. I just hope they won't do something stupid lol.
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| Lucas Mr. Noise Elite Posts: 13427 |
Good luck, 'twas nice having you around here.  By the way, if you get to razorblades, please give one to me!
---- SLUDGE. DOOM. DEATH. Wait, what? "The reason I'm running for president is because I can't be Bruce Springsteen." - Barack Obama
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| Lord Nifiel Posts: 28 |
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| Deadsoulman Elite Posts: 8004 |
Written by Lord Nifiel on 22.10.2007 at 01:34 I'll be seeing the show in Lyon on December 17th. I'll be writing my testament on December 16th 
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| Deadsoulman Elite Posts: 8004 |
Ok, now that I've listened to dozens of other albums released in 2007, now that I've heard all that I was looking forward to (Benighted, Porcupine Tree, Wayd, etc), I think I can safely say I haven't heard anything that tops V: Halmstad. This is definitely the best album of the year for me.
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| Lucas Mr. Noise Elite Posts: 13427 |
Written by Deadsoulman on 06.12.2007 at 20:42 It has a strong rival in The Angelic Process - Weighing Souls With Sand (have you listened to that one?). But, in the end, I agree with you and think it beats all the competition!
---- SLUDGE. DOOM. DEATH. Wait, what? "The reason I'm running for president is because I can't be Bruce Springsteen." - Barack Obama
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| Deadsoulman Elite Posts: 8004 |
Yeah, I have listened to The Angelic Process and I like it, though the production bugs me quite a lot. Not so much for the instruments, but more for the vocals. I like being able to discern what I'm listening to. I liked the album, but not as much as you do, judging by your review (but maybe it needs to grow on me) Still, in the end, I choose Shining hehe.
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| Unconsecrated Perpetual Ascent Posts: 868  |
This album together with the Deathspell Omega one are my top favorite black metal albums of 2007.I heard this album thanks to a portuguese metal magazine (April), this album was classified as "Album Of The Month" and i couldn't agree more with i saw in the magazine and in the review. I think i'll hear some of their older stuff.
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| belisarius Posts: 222 |
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| Uirapuru Liver Failure Posts: 2955  |
exellent album.. That women's cry on ''Låt Oss Ta Allt Från Varandra'' is disturbing. Best Shining album imo.
----  ---- member of the true crusade against old school heavy metal, early 80s thrash, NWOBHM, traditional doom, first and second wave black metal, old school death metal, US power metal, 70s prog rock and atmospheric doomsludgestoner. o/
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| K✞ulu Seeker of Truth Posts: 2573  |
Quite impressive especially the last song - very powerful. And the instrumental, which is, as Lucas pointed is a famous piece by Beethoven. What is hard for me is that it sounds like gothic; I'm not very much into BM though, so excuse me for my ignorance.
---- Savor what you feel and what you see Things that may not seem important now But may be tomorrow R.I.P. Chuck Schuldiner Satan was a Backstreet Boy
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| Salqiu Posts: 8 |
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| TheBigRossowski Posts: 1357  |
'The madness begins with quite an unusual spoken intro. Kvarforth utters the following words: "As I was going up the stair, I met a man who wasn't there. He wasn't there again today, I wish, I wish he'd go away." From any other band I would have died of laughter and silliness, but this time I got shivers and realized that Shining was going to destroy.' This review was some time ago, but after reading it, thought you should know this. Well...maybe you've found out before this. That isn't Kvarforth, I believe its from the film 'Identity'. Might be called something else in the Netherlands. Great review though!
---- That rug really tied the room together, did it not? 
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| Lucas Mr. Noise Elite Posts: 13427 |
Oh yeah, didnt know that. I'll change it, thanks!
---- SLUDGE. DOOM. DEATH. Wait, what? "The reason I'm running for president is because I can't be Bruce Springsteen." - Barack Obama
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| Troy Killjoy perfunctionist Staff Posts: 21306  |
Written by Oriax on 11.06.2011 at 00:33 QFT
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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| Evil Chip Posts: 505  |
One of the best albums that I've heard in general. I must buy it. A perfect 10 to me.
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| -DC-002- Mastercommander Posts: 1703  |
I noticed if you skip the the sample on Låt Oss Ta Allt Från Varandra of the girl being depressed it's kind of like "Uh-huh, Ya whatever lady". as you hear the sound being chopped up. HAHA! I might be stoned...
---- Coldgrits
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| Surion Posts: 21  |
I can't believe how good is this album...it got me from the first song (I don't even like Black Metal so much), but this is something else. I can't find any flaw, everything is just perfect to my ears...seriously if the other records of this band are half as good as this one I'll definitely have to get them. Greetings from Bolivia.
---- Ereßµ§ ø? ßløøð
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| -DC-002- Mastercommander Posts: 1703 |
Written by Surion on 01.02.2014 at 07:10 This straddles Progressive Black Metal territory. if you were to go backward in the discography you'd hit harsher, depressive BM. if you went forward you'd get more progressive tendencies. I'd go backward and listen to IV - The Eerie Cold. The progressive side is more of the same and I'd say Halmstad is the high point of that influence. Greetings from the US, prepare for probing.
---- Coldgrits
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| Surion Posts: 21 |
Written by -DC-002- on 01.02.2014 at 22:29 Well thanks for the suggestion i will listen to IV and then maybe the newer ones so I can compare both sounds. Still it's kinda wierd to like from the first spin a black metal band for me (regardless of the progressive part of it, I also like Enslaved but didn't grab me so fast as Shining). Cheers.
---- Ereßµ§ ø? ßløøð
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| Desert Father Posts: 144  |
I like that a Spike Milligan poem that starts the album: he was one of the funniest people in the world but also was one of the most tortured and depressed artists to ever have lived.
---- "Truly, my child, if I were allowed to see my sins, three or four men would not be enough to weep for them." - Abba Dioscorus
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| Lit. Account deleted |
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| Desert Father Posts: 144 |
Really? I know it from a Spike Milligan book (The Little Pot Boiler), he must have just drawn pictures for it, then. My mistake.
---- "Truly, my child, if I were allowed to see my sins, three or four men would not be enough to weep for them." - Abba Dioscorus
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| Stunning Cactus Posts: 324  |
Written by TheBigRossowski on 18.09.2008 at 14:17 The quote actually originates from a poet named William Hughes Mearns, although it is indeed used in the film Identity. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Hughes_Mearns
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