Shining - VII: Född Förlorare

Published May 16 2011

*=Staff's pick	Förtvivlan, Min Arvedel Tiden Läker Inga Sår Människa O' Avskyvärda Människa* Tillsammans Är Vi Allt I Nattens Timma FFF*

Genre	Depressive Black Metal	Niklas Kvarforth	Vocals
Tracks	6	Fredric Gråby	Guitar
Runningtime	42 Min.	Peter Huss	Guitar
Label	Spinefarm	Andreas Larsen	Bass
Release	25 May 2011	Richard Schill	Drums
Country	Sweden	-	Keyboard
Producer	Rickard Bengtsson
Similar artists	---

Shining is one of those scandal generating bands that from time to time create a headline in the Swedish national press due to founder and main man Niklas Kvarforth's ability to shock the media. Their seventh, as the title suggests, album VII: Född Förlorare (English translation: Born a Loser) has had several production setbacks but after a record-label change it is now finally being released - a little more than a year after the initial release date.

Musically, Shining have been steadily moving away from the black metal genre since the monumental 2007 release V - Halmstad and this record takes another step into a hard-defined musical landscape. The music and the lyrical themes of Född Förlorare delve as deep into the depressive abyss as always, with songs dealing with such topics as heroin abuse, troubled family relationships, suicide and misanthropy.

I can't say that I agree with Kvarforth's claims about this being Shining's darkest release to date, though. Lyrically - perhaps. Musically - not really as I feel that the musical darkness loses its edge and atmosphere to the clean production and the melodic tendencies which are bigger than ever.

Guest appearances on the album include Chris Amott of Arch Enemy, Erik Danielsson of Watain, Peter Bjärgö of Arcana and Swedish folk-pop singer Håkan Hemlin. They all have interesting contributions that create a very diverse listening experience but I can't help but feel that the music takes too many directions and although the songs have individual qualities, there is little context.

All in all, Född Förlorare is a decent album but a little too accessible - I can't help but get the impression that Kvarforth really went out of his way to try and reach out to a mainstream audience with this one. Amidst all the despair and depression I miss the brutality and rawness of Halmstad, which remains their strongest album to date.

See also review of: 8 ½: Feberdrömmar I Vaket Tillstånd

Performance	Originality	Production	Vocals	Songwriting
6,5	7	5,5	6,5	6

Summary
6 chalices of 10 - Bjorn