I think it sounds like a step up from their last album.
I loved the footage...gonna piss the hell out of some kiddies though:)

New album up for streaming at (scroll down to the bottom):

http://kaaoszine.fi/ennakkokuuntelu-shining-redefining-darkness/

Shining continuing to play what they've played since 2002. Sounds closer to V - Halmstad during the softer sections, which is a huge plus. Kvarforth's consolidation of the same core sound is going to turn off the people that dislike it, but this album will continue keeping the ones already fans. Nothing to worry about here.

Good riffs, great soft sections, tighter harsh vocals, more elegant cleans, and the same depressing atmosphere. My one complaint is that they weren't motivated enough to get an album cover that doesn't suck ass. They were on a roll before, but I hate these no-effort white ones.

That last song, "For The God Below," is my pick for the best on the album. Phenomenal leadwork in that track (Iron Maiden-ish at the end). A must hear for Shining fans.

I don't know what I think of the album yet, but the obvious "inspiration" is a little much I think. Melodies from John Murphy (28 Days Later), Hans Zimmer (Inception), Marduk and Led Zeppelin. And a lot of the songs sound like imitations of older Shining tunes. Hopefully this will grow on me, as I love all their work since Shining V. I was trying not to have to high expectations for this one, as I thought it seemed a little rushed. I also think some of the lyrics are a little weak.

On the plus side the saxophone is a good addition I think, and Huss Solos are great as always. I also like the clean chorus on Ghastly SIlence, as it forces everything in a different direction. They should have tried to experiment even more, if you ask me.

Interesting that some of the lyrics are in English...they haven't done that in a while.

I'd say it's better than their last album, but it's not the same as their older stuff. Definitely not their "darkest album yet". I think part of it might be that during Shining's peak, Kvarforth was (so he says) in a psychiatric ward. Albums IV-VI were just really dark and tormented. Part of it might be the lineup changes, but I think Kvarforth was just more...strange...back then. He seems healthier now...I think it's all more for show these days (which is good for him). I think he's gotten married since then? Maybe that has something to do with it? I don't know. I just don't really sense that same coldness and everything. Still good stuff though.

Their most experimental one yet.

Thanks! The album has leaked too.
Listening to this now and I have mixed feelings. What was all this bullshit in the promo when this sounds TOO familiar?!?
P.S: Sample at 4:00 in "Hail Darkness Hail" is from this film:
http://www.filmaffinity.com/en/film183922.html



The Book:
http://www.lenguadetrapo.com/lectura.ph ... B&item=004

Well, the album is pretty bad. Can't believe Kvarforth actually is content with this. This is probably the most flat, emotionless album I have heard this year. Beeing a big fan of their 4 previous albums, it's kind of hard for me to say this. There is clearly something missing on this one, the emotion. The songs are so bad I almost hope the album never gets released. Only good moment on this album is the last part of the last song. Whoever wrote good reviews for this one must have been listening to the wrong album.

That atmosphere of isolation / desolation that was heavily prevalent on Halmstad is largely gone, I admit, but this album is still very enjoyable. No cavernous tone like the first two and no despondency like the next five. It's the start of a new direction, from what little experimentation Kvarforth wanted. I still like it for what it is.

This is a strange album. It seems like Kvaforth doesn't know if he wants to experiment or go back to his roots. Du, Mitt Konstverk and Han Som Hatar Människan sound like Halmstad-era Shining, dark and relentless, without a sliver of hope. Hail Darkness Hail sounds like it could have been on the last album, good for the most part, but I really dislike the clean part. I'm really on the fence about The Ghastly Silence, I like the integration of the saxophone, but it sounds so strange that it becomes unrecognizable as a Shining song. For the God Below seems like experimentation done right. It's still undeniably Shining, but it has that nice Power Metal vibe to it that makes it quite epic. 3 great songs, 2 meh ones and 1 interlude doesn't seem like a good ratio, and it is worse than the last 4 albums, but it's not like there's nothing positive about it. Kvaforth's vocal performance is leagues above the last album and the solos are pure gold as always. So all in all, this is different and definitely not what I anticipated when Kvaforth advertized it as "the darkest album yet", but still quite good. Who knows, maybe it will grow on me as I listen to it more.

Could you please elaborate on that? I spotted the John Murphy influence (although the melody Shining uses is slightly different and it's so simple and minimalistic that it could very well just be a coincidence) and the Hans Zimmer melody (although again, slightly different), but where do you hear Marduk and Led Zeppelin? Granted, I don't know that many songs of either of these bands, so maybe it's obvious and I am the only one not to hear it, but I really would like to know.

-My first impressions on this thread:



-And those commments where made here:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=88256&start=1280





Let's continue here.