Shape of Despair are no strangers to the Funeral Doom Metal scene. In fact, they are arguably pioneers of the quite-niche genre, having debuted in 1998.
Thanks to that longevity, the Finnish collective are well aware of how to combine glacially paced instrumentals and a metronomic pace reinforced by powerfully harsh singing. Return To The Void (Season of Mist) is not only a lesson in FDM; it takes you on a haunting rollercoaster of melancholic misery coupled with downright beautifully emotive singing. These are veterans who’ve expertly paced their work.
The vocal range and juxtaposition cannot be overlooked. The titular opening track features Henri Koivula bellowing lines like a lion or tiger about to pounce on its prey. Then out of nowhere, entrancing sung vocals and adept production propel the composition to beautiful heights. ‘Dissolution’ severely slows things down with a sound that conjures Middle Eastern vibes in a very subtle but intriguing fashion.
Shape of Despair balances the funereal with the doom, as well, lending credence to their dedication to the sound they’ve helped invent. ‘Reflection In Slow Time’ is a guttural chug fest that does just that. ‘Forfeit’ again is a remarkable display of the group’s superb ability to mix different vocal approaches. There is highly effective dual clean singing that descends into growls atop a choral melody. You can’t ask for much more than that.
Appropriately enough, Return Of The Void concludes with the emotional ‘The Inner Desolation.’ The closing section is captivating as much as it is gloomy. And I would be remiss to leave out Natalie Koskinen, an original member who sprinkles her sensational singing throughout the six songs, standing as the perfect opposition to Koivula’s rugged and harsh approach.
If this is your first exposure to funeral doom metal, it’s a fantastic place to start. Likewise, Shape of Despair have a phenomenal catalogue to refer back to. But as for now, Return Of The Void is a masterclass.
Buy the album here: https://shapeofdespair.bandcamp.com/album/return-to-the-void
8 / 10
MATT COOK