Niklas Kvarforth – Fifteen Years Of Absolute Darkness

Releasedate: 07-12-2011; Label: Spinefarm Records
By: Sabine van Gameren

Niklas Kvarforth is a Swedish musician. He is best known as the founder, composer and vocalist of the Black Metal band Shining. He released music with the various projects he has been working with and now comes with a compilation of fifteen years of his work. “Fifteen Years Of Absolute Darkness”.

A double album released by the man which shown so many different sides of him through the 15 years that this album covers. Interesting to see that with every band he worked with comes out a slightly different, different in the way that Niklas has a unique add to it. That makes the whole album a bit surprising, bringing you from one style to another and yet knowing there is one binding factor in it. The album gives the fans of Shining something to look into if they had not done that already. An alternative version of “Förtvivlan, Min Arvedel” is added also, so something new is there as well.
When listening to this release, you soon become to the point that it is an impressive list of musical projects for this man who is not even in his 30’s yet. Simply said, it leaves us with the expectation of another great 15 years (and beyond) because this album is a nice compilation.

Disc 1 1. KKOAGULAA – Excerpt 4 2. DIABOLICUM – Salvation Through Vengeance 3. MANES – Bli Med Mig 4. IN LINGUA MURTUA – Cold Void Messiah 5. MONUMENTUM – The Colour Of Compassion 6. SHINING – Förtvivlan, Min Arvedel (alternative version) 7. HJARNIDAUDI – A Darkblue Afternoon 8. LIVSNEDAD – Fobisk Sälta Disc 2 1. THE VISION BLEAK – The Vision Bleak – I Dined With The Swans 2. GLORIOR BELLI – The Night Scalp Challenger 3. FUNERAL DIRGE – Alpha Sans Omega 4. GRAVDAL – Mishandlet 5. NEKROS – The Black Serpent 6. BETHLEHEM – Yesterday I Still Died Today 7. DEN SAAKALDTE – Mesias