V - HALMSTAD

The fifth Shining album Halmstad is their creative peak. They had been growing considerably through each of the preceding releases and now the rage, the fury, the intricate progressive metal riffing and the bludgeoning intensity really strikes home.

Shining is Kvarforth's vehicle for his quite disturbed world view. With topics such as self-mutilation and suicide, the decadent and exaggerated stance of this band is perfectly matched by his extravagant vocal style. His emotive wail and theatrical grunts are one of the real treats of this act and provide that little extra needed to set them apart from the black metal pack.

But Kvarforth's vocals are not the only feature to seek out this album. The guitar playing is very remarkable as well, it's really diversified, next to the harsh dissonant Voivod-type riffing, there are very touching bluesy leads and solos that give the music an almost Floydian grandeur. The second track amply shows the band's confidence with different styles: punkish black metal like Darkthrone, post-rock musings like Agalloch and wailing blues guitars like mr Gilmour.

I've been tossing up coins forever whether or not to give this one 5 stars. As usual, the fact that I'm not sure is argument enough to restrain from the masterpiece standing. I may have to reserve that to other black metal peaks such as Satyricon's Nemesis Divina. Let's time decide on the matter. So long 4.5 will have to do.