SHAPE OF DESPAIR announce new album 'Return to the Void' + share lead single

The Finnish funeral doom giants return with a towering listen.

Photograph by Henri Koivula

Years from the back to back masterclass of releases that were Monotony Fields (2015) and Alone In The Mist (2016) and Shape Of Despair have marked the highly anticipated next chapter with Return to the Void. Arriving on February 25, 2022 via Season of Mist, Return to the Void finds viewers coming head on with the art of Mariusz Krystew as an atmospheric introduction to the experience within, an experience that could arguably be among their best yet. Whether it be because of the member involvement in separate bands like Impaled Nazarene, Throes of Dawn, and Finntroll or the meticulous attention to their craft, Shape of Despair have hit a high point here that keeps their heart-wrenching composition dynamic in every sense of the word. This is a band at the pinnacle of the genre remaining consistent rather than complacent, and Return to the Void further cements that statement.

Founder Jarno Salomaa comments:

“Not long after Monotony Fields, I started composing for Return to the Void'. At first, the title song sounded too primitive. I thought I would make a solo album out of it, but after a while, the song reminded me of older RAVEN material. Naturally and eventually, it started to feel like a SHAPE OF DESPAIR song."

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Stream Reflection in Slow Time below and pre-order your copy of the record HERE.

Cover Artwork by Mariusz Krystew