Few bands embody despair and artistic defiance like Sweden’s Shining. With their seventh full-length album, VII: Född Förlorare, the group continues to expand their dark, genre-defying approach to black metal. Seamlessly blending aggression and sorrow, Shining crafts a musical experience that is as haunting as it is unforgettable.
From the very beginning, “Förtvivlan, Min Arvedel” sets a foreboding tone. The sinister spoken intro pulls listeners into a chilling narrative, which soon gives way to grooves drenched in melancholy. Tremolo-picked riffs, minor chords, and eerie keyboards weave a soundscape that feels like plunging into the depths of desolation. Niklas Kvarforth's vocals—raw, unfiltered, and uniquely intense—are the voice of this abyss, delivering lines with a mix of harsh growls, melancholic singing, and eerie spoken-word passages.
“Tiden Läker Inga Sår” emerges as one of the album's most poignant moments. The acoustic opening deceives with calm serenity before unleashing a torrent of tremolo riffs, thunderous drumming, and Kvarforth's harrowing vocal performance. With lyrical themes revolving around suicide and existential despair, this track epitomizes Shining’s ability to capture the fragility of the human condition.
While VII: Född Förlorare largely adheres to Shining's signature formula of despair-filled black metal, it dares to experiment. “Tillsammans Är Vi Allt” ventures into extreme gothic metal territory, featuring clean vocal contributions from a Swedish pop singer. Surprisingly, the juxtaposition of haunting melodies and dark themes works brilliantly, offering a toxic love song that retains Shining’s trademark sense of unease.
Each track on this record is meticulously crafted, balancing raw power with intricate composition. The instrumental “I Nattens Timma” provides a reflective pause, with its use of piano and mellotron evoking a ghostly calm before the storm of “FFF.” The latter closes the album with an unrelenting ferocity, leaving a lingering sense of dread long after the music fades.
Kvarforth and his collaborators have created a body of work that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. With stellar performances, seamless genre blending, and an atmosphere that lingers like a storm cloud, VII: Född Förlorare solidifies Shining’s place as a master of emotional black metal.
Highlights: “Tiden Läker Inga Sår,” “Tillsammans Är Vi Allt,” “FFF.”
If you're willing to confront the darkest recesses of your soul, VII: Född Förlorare offers a journey like no other.
