Review by Krys on February 9, 2002.

What do you usually get when you buy a Relapse release? Ass-whooping, blazing fast groups that are so angry at the world around them that the only feeling you have left after listening to any of those hatred albums is ear-splitting noise. So, imagine my surprise when I popped Shape of Despair’s “Angels of Distress” and was able to make a coffee between drum beats.

Finland’s Shape of Despair is one of the most unique bands that exemplifies everything that’s opposite of the current trends and people’s tastes. Representing probably the least popular style of metal, doom, they concentrate their efforts on writing the s-l-o-w-e-s-t, most atmospheric yet beautiful and melodic tunes in today’s scene.

Only 5 tracks, ranging from 6 to 17 minutes, are filled with stunning harmonies, heavy guitars, the amazing guttural vocals of Pasi Koskinen (Amorphis - you won’t believe the depth of his voice) and a majestic rhythm section that sounds like it was forced not to use its full potential to avoid any unnecessary distractions in the very dreamy melodies.

All those elements create such an unforgettable aura around “Angels of Distress” that you might find yourself unwittingly staring outside the window for hours on one of those cold winter days warming your mind with romantic mourning and sorrow. All tracks are equally amazing with songs ‘Quiet These Paintings Are’ and ‘Night’s Dew’ being instant hits (if you can call a doomy song a hit). The only track below the album’s standard would be ‘...To Live For My Death...’ which lost my attention somewhere after the 10th minute.

Bottom Line: Absolutely a must for any fan of atmospheric and doom metal.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 10
Production: 9
Originality: 9
Overall: 9

Rating: 9.2 out of 10

Review by Krys on October 25, 2001.

France and power metal? I though it wouldn’t mix, but it does and I must say, it does quite well. The follow up to “Coming From the Sky” is everything you would expect from a good power metal release but since we have hundreds of bands popping up like pimples on 14 yr old boy, it’s time to cut some of them from the food source and let them die... leaving Heavenly alone.

“Sign Of The Winner” starts with probably the best intro I’ve ever heard in power metal, ‘Break The Silence’ is not just a melodic piece of music it is a jaw-dropping experience of how the perfect atmosphere should be built before the ‘true’ song strikes. I won’t exaggerate if I say that I’ve already heard it at least 100 times... Actually I’m known for listening to this same track or album for hundreds of times, which some people see as a disturbing result of being dropped on my head too many times as a child... but let’s get back to the album, afterall this review is not about me or is it?

After going through the first minutes of ‘Destiny’, which is a logical continuation of ‘Break The Silence’, I thought this album would rock my world, which to some extent it did, but... why is there always a ‘but’? What I want to say here is that the rest of the album is more or less typical power metal that by no means is bad, everything is nice and perfect, compositions, musicianship, arrangements... the problem is I’ve heard all this before.

If with their next album they match the intensity, power and emotion of the first track and the beginning of the second one I’ll increase the scale to 11. So, please lock yourself in the studio, don’t go out, don’t listen to any power metal bands and deliver something that the whole metal world will be proud of. You have the potential to do so.

Bottom Line: Very impressive release from these young Frenchmen. “Sign Of The Winner” doesn’t disappoint it might even exceed some expectations, but (I love that word) I believe the best things are yet to come. No wonder Heavenly is called the future of French metal.

Rating: 7 out of 10