But yes, we had quite long period basically doing nothing...but we were present even we weren’t. There were a lot of personal issues, health problems, a lot of problems finding proper rehearsal places and I guess most of all time just went way too fast ahead. But I think it’s good that it went fast, since if we would have started to record our new album earlier, it wouldn’t have been as magnificent as it’s now with the proper line-up we have. I must admit that I’ve been waiting for this album quite long to be finished.

Insane! That was a cinematic experience. I've been waiting for this album for long time, and finnaly it arrives. 11 years since Illusion's Play. I'm speechless. Beauty beyond words. Preorder for sure.

Shape of despair have parted ways with the vocalist Pasi Koskinen.Main reason
is Pasi's contribution to his own band Ajattara which takes most of his time.

We wish him the best for his future works and thank for the work we've done altogether.

It sounds pretty impressive, but I liked Written in my Scars even better.

We have played this song under its working title 'Unresolved' only in the Ukraine and Russia so far. To complement the existing live recordings, we are now presenting the album version 'Descending Inner Night'. This was the second track that emerged for the new album and combines both the old and new elements of Shape of Despair.

Here you are, 3rd song from our coming album Monotony fields. Originally this song was intended to serve as an intro to 'Monotony Fields'. Even though the start quite resembles something that our mates from RAPTURE could have put out, we felt it necessary to end this in a proper SHAPE OF DESPAIR way and slowed the pace down, while injecting a dose of hopelessness. To bring out a slightly different side of 'Monotony Fields', we present to you the shortest and possibly catchiest track of our new album.

Monotony Fields. Makes one stop and think for a moment, doesn't it?

Didn't like it one bit I have to say. Apart from some ethereal leads, this is purely ambient metal, in the sense that the atmosphere invoked is an overwhelmingly dominant strategy. Obviously.
I'd probably like it more if they spiced it up with some DM passages and varied tempos and rhythms.

Man, you are complaining about the two main characteristics of Shape of Despair and Funeral doom in general. SOF has been an absolutely atmospheric band even since their debut. And Funeral doom is repetitive as fuck.

Lets see if I can dig the clean vocals.

Yes, you're absolutely right, and I should have made it clear that most of the time I've got a problem with almost any funeral doom (one curious exception is Faal, though I never tried to understand how come I enjoy their The Clouds Are Burning much more than any other funeral doom record). It's mood music, in the sense that even the slightest "mood factor" being off can ruin the experience for me.

"Descending Inner Night" is my favourite track

That song is amazing and stands head and shoulders above the rest. Good comeback overall but I don't think I will play it a lot aside from Descending Inner Night.

After a few listens to Monotony Fields, I am liking it more and more. "Descending Inner Night" is my favourite track, but the others are not far behind, and I really like the use of the female vocals and the occasional cleans throughout. Might be early to say, but this could be top 3 of 2015.