DOLORIAN / SHINING

There are only two tracks on the split, which have a total playing time of 10:21 minutes. Both tracks are slow, ambient and atmospheric black metal tracks. Ekstasis by Dolorian is a really great track in my book. Very atmospheric. Through Corridors of Oppression by Shining is a reworking of Chopin's Marche Funèbre. The song sounds pretty different from Shining´s usual material, but what a great surprise. Just as Ekstasis, Through Corridors of Oppression is a great atmospheric track rather than a raw black metal ditto. There are still heavy distorted guitars and raspy vocals but both tracks emphasize atmosphere with heavy use of ambient keyboards.

The Dolorian / Shining split is a great release. Both tracks are well produced, the musicianship is good and the two tracks go well together. A 3.5 star rating is well deserved. The split was only released in a very limited amount of copies, but the Shining track is also available on the Through Years of Oppression (2004) compilation which is more readily available.

As a band that exercises a philosophy of hatred towards every living thing, you wouldn't think they have many friends. That hasn't stopped them from making a split EP however, here with the Finnish doom act Dolorian. Although many of Shining's earlier releases have passed me as being somewhat bland when compared to the hordes of other bands within depressive black metal, this split sees them stepping up to the plate. Each of the two bands delivers one song,and as short as this split is, each track is strong enough to warrant a solid recommendation for lovers of ambient black and doom metal.

First is Dolorian's offering, a plodding doom mini-epic called 'Ekstasis'. It begins with a flood of clean guitars and a slow, intentioned pace. Eventually, Dolorian burst into a crushing display of ambient funeral doom, with vocals and instruments nearly garbled by the effects and atmosphere. To be honest, I had never heard of Dolorian's work before hearing this split, but I know I will have to listen to them in the future. Their music here is profound and full of rich, sad atmosphere. While not as impressive, Shining's 'Through Corridors Of Oppression' is a beautiful track that sounds a little more pleasant on the ears than what Shining typically produce. Like Dolorian, it has a doomy feel to it, but follows a more conventional structure. Kvarforth's vocals here are clear-sounding, filled with grief but never going over the top like he usually does.

Dolorian's half is arguably better than Shining's track, although both are strong and memorable. I do not usually expect much from these one-off releases that bands churn out, but the Dolorian/Shining split proves to be one of the better ones I've come across.