Band: Shape Of Despair
Genre: Funeral Doom Metal
Discography: "Shades of..." (2000), "Angels of Distress" (2001), "Illusion's Play" (2004)
I said in a previous post that doom/death metal is an acquire taste. If that is true, it is a lot more applicable to funeral doom metal. Just to give you an idea, funeral doom metal is like to enjoy getting fucked with a spike dildo in the ass (not for the masses!!). The target audience of this subgenre is very small indeed, as it is the number of bands playing this kind of music (Nortt, Pantheist, Skepticism, Worship; just to name a few).
Funeral doom in general is about feeling and atmosphere. Its trade mark is slow tempo ( I mean really slow tempo) long songs and a highly depressive atmosphere. To most people, funeral doom is just too monotonous and boring to be enjoyed, although the more educated ear may find quite a lot of interesting moods and emotions in this music.
A somehow more accesible band (and my favorite one of this subgenre) is Finland´s Shape Of Despair because their approach to music is a lot more orchestral than usual. The mood is set by the keyboards that are omnipresent and mesmerizing. Guitar and drums set the slow tempo and the "please kill me" atmosphere while the main melody is carried by the beautiful sound of a flute and the violins. The vocals are of two varieties: soul-raping deep growls and wordless angelic clean female voice.
The songs are very long and repetitive, although to a careful listener they are not boring at all. Calm, stillness, sadness, fear, despair and anguish will glow inside you, creating a unique experience. You just have to give this music a chance and let it take you deep into human emotions. You´ll feel things you did not know were there.
Just avoid having around pills, ropes, knifes and stuff like that while listening to it because suicide may be a very good idea in some part of the ride. Enjoy!!!
Download "Illusion´s Play" here
Song: "Quiet These Paintings Are" from "Angels Of Distress"
Why did you leave these colours so they'll
fade?
but soon they will be as one for the moment
I will stare into this dim, silent sea
silent sea
and we'll suffer the kiss bright
on the fields vails emotion
live still never they'll return
as they are laid to rest
into this one lonely life
in which depths is growing
growing
as they are laid to rest
into this one lonely life
with depths is growing painfully into life
to die
into life
to die
