Review by JD on June 15, 2011.

As metallists, we have to find the time not to take ourselves too seriously - to have fun while doing what it is what we do. That is my way of thinking after so many years of playing and writing music. That is why I love a serious metal band, who still can just poke fun at things and have a good time while still rockin’ out. Polish Thrash/Crossover masters Acid Drinkers reminded me of that point.

Legends in their homeland, as their fun approach to metal has garnered them notoriety outside of their metal masses, Acid Drinkers seem to have found that perfect balance between being very serious musicians and letting that humorous, almost irreverent, side of their personalities come through. I am glad that I can lend my voice into telling the North American metal scene about them.

Punk infused 'Fuel My Soul' is a track that has a tongue-in-cheek jab at non-drinkers that nearly made me fall out of my chair laughing, while other songs like 'Meltdown Of Sanctity' has a more serious tone to it that perfectly balances everything out. There is no better example of a band I could ever find of a group that is so skilfully adept at being a very serious band, who happens to just want to have a whole fuck load of fun doing it.

Humourous lyrics mixed with some seriously titanic shredding with this crazy feel of some Hardcore Punk, a perfect way to pop open a cold one and relax - it is better (and a whole lot cheaper) than going for therapy for some deep depression. This is my prescription for all of us, use as much as you need - for as long as needed. One more thing, use this prescription with massive quantities of beer.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 8
Production: 8
Originality: 8
Overall: 9

Rating: 8.4 out of 10

Review by Allan on December 10, 2002.

It looks like Hellhammer has his hands in just about everything today. Bands like Arcturus, Mayhem, Winds, The Kovenant, and now Shining are all something he is a part of. Those bands are all good, if not great, except for Shining. It looks like after two albums of distasteful black metal, even Hellhammer can’t save Shining from mediocrity on “III Angst - Självdestruktivitetens Emissarie”.

I might as well get the good things out of the way. Due to Hellhammer joining forces with the other two members of Shining after their drummer Wedebrand was “violently kicked from the band” the drumming has improved drastically. He has a unique style and some of the things he comes up with on “III Angst” are absolutely fantastic. The music does have its moments as far as the riffs and atmosphere go. Some of the riffs are very well written, and at times the atmosphere can be very haunting.

Otherwise, you better prepare yourself for one dull, dreary, and repetitious ride. “Angst III” has six songs, which range between 7 to 10 minutes. What it comes down to is that Shining’s riffs just don’t have the quality in them to be repeated so many times. That repetition is what makes the songs so long, quite like being stuck in a waiting room. You simply can’t wait to get it over with and get out. There is nothing on “Angst III” that stands out as being particularly engulfing. If you’ve heard one song on “Angst III,” you’ve pretty much heard them all.

Shining is what I call a half-decent band, where just about everything is half-assed. The riffs are half-assed, the atmosphere is half-assed, the musicianship is half-assed, and just about everything else is too. Unless you crave all and everything that Hellhammer has put his talent into, I can’t give you a good reason to look into Shining.

Bottom Line: Mediocre black metal is all you’ll find in “Angst III”. Nothing revitalizing, original, or even well done can be found.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Originality: 4
Musicianship: 6
Atmosphere: 5
Production: 6
Overall: 5

Rating: 5.2 out of 10