Band:	Shining
Album:	VII - Född Förlorare
Style:	Progressive black metal
Release date:	May 25, 2011
A review by:	KwonVerge

01. Förtvivlan, Min Arvedel
02. Tiden Läker Inga Sår [feat. Erik Danielsson]
03. Människa O'Avskyvärda Människa [feat. Christopher Amott]
04. Tillsammans Är Vi Allt [feat. Håkan Hemlin]
05. I Nattens Timma [Landberk cover] [feat. Peter Bjärgö]
06. FFF

Rejoice, oh desolate ones! Niklas Kvarforth and the rest of the self-destructive mentally disordered vehicle named Shining, along with some guests, are back with their seventh rope around your neck. Född Förlorare (=Born Loser - hence the cover of human remains waiting for nothing at the end of the street) its name and as you might have already guessed, it's the natural continuation of Klagopsalmer.

"Sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are grey, you make realize how much I love you, please don't take my sunshine away". This is how Född Förlorare begins and if you listen carefully, you will witness another presence accompanying the little girl, an eerie whispering voice which replaces the singing during the very last part of the phrase. A Halmstad déjà vu dare I say, since its opening composition was starting in a parallel way with a demented recite.

Urban disharmony, sweet disturbance, melan fucking choly and hate, hate, hate. These are the main characteristics that run through the open veins of this new album. Shining managed to remain sick enough so as to keep on spitting as an offence whereas at the same time they let melody expand its territory even more. They tend to forge a world of dissonance that crumbles and the more it crumbles the more fragile it becomes, turning into a form of despair until a ray of sunlight breaks through unveiling a bittersweet broken smile. You will live another day, you know you will, but still, you hate it; and this is what comes forth from "Förtvivlan Min Arvedel".

The guitars keep on unleashing their razor-sharp railway continuous riffing with its ominous vibe as if someone is after you, without forgetting to embed a more rocking attitude filled with negativity and groove. The acoustic chords couldn't be missing, they evoke a feeling of fake tranquility to burst into a pandemic solo or pushing lead. In addition, the rhythm section is definitely the ideal one, from the pulsating bass lines to the groove-lending or accompanying drumming equally, setting the foundation upon which the rest of the band will step to complete the structure.

Once more, you've got to adore Kvarforth's vocals, this infected throat never ceases to unleash these motherfucking boiling curses making me realize recently that whenever he repeats words or phrases it's quite orgasmic, a fetish-like condition. Take for example, "och mer" on "Förtvivlan, Min Arvedel", or "malevolent" from Klagopsalmer's "Vilseledda Barnasjälars Hemvist". This time the clean vocals appear more often, they are nothing special as they are part of the main clean Scandinavian vocals you can find in many bands around (on "Förtvivlan, Min Arvedel" -and not only- for example they possess an Opeth-esque approach), but still, they serve their purpose well both in emotional and interpreting manner. Here and there you will notice as well a few piano/keyboard passages enriching the overall atmosphere, making the sound of Shining more affected. And once again something that tends to become a tradition is the fact that we've got a cover, "I Nattens Timma" (Landberk), lending a nightly lullaby aesthetic.

Well-produced, well-conceived, well-executed, Född Förlorare will appeal to the Klagopsalmer audience. It may not be Angst, The Eerie Cold or Halmstad, but it takes the sound of its predecessor to a finer level. Keep in mind we're talking about Shining, so if there's any chance you enjoyed any of their previous releases, make sure you get to listen to it, it's Shining after all. Ough!