Shining (Swedish band)

Shining
Kvarforth live on February 3, 2007
Background information
Origin	Halmstad, Sweden
Genres	Black metal
Years active	1996-present
Labels	Spinefarm Records,[1] Osmose Productions
Associated acts	Skitliv, Ondskapt, Bethlehem, In Lingua Mortua, Mayhem, Den Saakaldte
Website	Shining on Myspace
Members	Niklas Kvarforth Peter Huss Christian Larsson
Past members	(see below)

Shining is a Swedish black metal band formed in 1996. The band's music contains depressive undertones, which include personal and suicide-themed lyrics.

The band's name does not refer to the book The Shining or the film based on it, but rather according to Kvarforth, it means "the path to enlightenment".^[2]

History

The band split-up in August 2004 and their fourth album, IV: The Eerie Cold, was supposed to be their last, but the band reformed later the same year with a new line-up capable of live shows. The band then released their fifth album, which was at first going to be called V: Besvikelsens Dystra Monotoni but was later changed to V: Halmstad, a reference to Kvarforth's hometown.

Music

Shining openly promotes suicide and self-harm in all its forms (e.g. drugs) in their lyrics. The founder of the band, Niklas Kvarforth, has claimed, with contentment, there have been some cases of people committing suicide at least partially under the influence of Shining's music.^[2] Musically, Shining went from black metal with doom influences on their earlier work to a more progressive extreme metal sound with extensive use of clean guitars, guitar solos, different vocal styles and often tempo shifts and odd time signatures.^{[citation needed]}

Vocalist Niklas Kvarforth wanted to "force feed" his listeners "with self-destructive and suicidal imagery and lyrics".^[3] In the beginning he used the term "suicidal black metal" for his music^[3][4] to separate himself from the "mediocre worms".^[4] However, he stopped using the term in 2001 because it had begun to be used by a slew of other bands, whom he felt had misinterpreted his vision^[3][4] and were using the music as a kind of therapy^[3][4] rather than a weapon against the listener as Kvarforth intended.^[4] He said that he "wouldn't call Shining a black metal band" and called the "suicidal black metal" term a "foolish idea".^[3]

Controversy

Kvarforth disappeared in July 2006 and a rumor was spread he was presumed to have committed suicide. On August 23, 2006 the band posted a statement on their website declaring Kvarforth had disappeared. The band was said to continue with a new singer named "Ghoul", as one of the wishes from Kvarforth.^[5]

At a concert that took place on February 3, 2007 at Diezel in Halmstad, Sweden, "Ghoul" was revealed to be Kvarforth. The concert was violent in nature, sparking controversy in the Swedish media, with Kvarforth occasionally fighting the audience and the guest vocalists (Attila Csihar, Maniac and Nattefrost). Razorblades were handed to a member of the audience, and one person was kicked in the chest after grabbing Kvarforth's genitals; who was later found to be Maniac posing as a crazed fan.^{[citation needed]}

One member of the audience recalls the kicking: "A couple of songs are finished and Kvarforth is standing with zipped up leather pants and some drunk Swede touches his crotch. Kvarforth looks shocked and shouts 'Don't touch me,' before he kicks the fan in the chest."^[6]

Members

Current members

• Niklas Kvarforth (a.k.a. "Ghoul") - vocals, guitar (1996 onward)
• Peter Huss - lead and rhythm guitar (2005 onward)
• Christian Larsson - bass guitar (2010 onward)
• Rainer Tuomikanto - drums (live member, 2012 onward)^[7]
• Euge Valovirta - guitar (live member, 2012 onward)^[8]

Former members

Singers

• Andreas Classen (2000, vocals on Within Deep Dark Chambers)^[9][10]
• Robert (1998, vocals on Submit to Selfdestruction)

Guitarists

• Håkan "Inisis" Ollars (2002)
• John Doe (2005–2006)
• Casado (2005–2006)
• Fredric "Wredhe" Gråby - rhythm and lead guitar (2006–2011)

Bass guitarists

• Tusk (2000–2001)
• Johan Hallander (2005–2007)
• Phil A. Cirone (2001–2005, 2007–2008)
• Andreas Larssen (2008–2010)^[11]

Drummers

• Ted "Impaler" Wedebrand (1998–2001)
• Jan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg (2001–2004)
• Jarle "Uruz" Byberg (2007–2008)
• Rickard "Rille" Schill (2008–2010)
• Ludwig Witt - drums (2005–2007, 2011-2012)

Discography

Studio albums

• I: Within Deep Dark Chambers (2000)
• II: Livets ändhållplats (2001)
• III: Angst, självdestruktivitetens emissarie (2002)
• IV: The Eerie Cold (2005)
• V: Halmstad (2007)
• VI: Klagopsalmer (2009)
• VII: Född förlorare (2011)
• Redefining Darkness (2012)
• 8 ½ – Feberdrömmar i vaket tillstånd (2013)

EPs and compilations

Submit to Selfdestruction (EP, 1998)

• Dolorian/Shining (Split EP, 2004)
• Through Years of Oppression (Rarity compilation, 2004)
• The Darkroom Sessions (Rehearsal compilation, 2004)
• Shining/Den Saakaldte (Split EP, 2008)
• Lots of Girls Gonna Get Hurt (EP, 2012)^[12]
• In the Eerie Cold Where All the Witches Dance (Split EP, 2013)

Singles

• "Förtvivlan, min arvedel" (2011)

Music videos

• "Förtvivlan, min arvedel" (2011)
• "Tillsammans är vi allt " (2012)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shining (Swedish band).

• Shining on Myspace