In the past few years, Shape of Despair have become a force to be reckoned with, being very much the doom band in Finland outside the traditionalist school exemplified by Reverend Bizarre (another luminary of the diverse Spikefarm roster). To celebrate the long-lasting co-operation between Spikefarm Records and Shape of Despair, here comes along a gargantuan slab of damnation from Finland’s premier funeral doom outfit in the form of a rarities compilation.

The album opens up with a brand new song showcasing the band in the zenith of their career. This is funeral doom the way it is meant to be, but Shape of Despair manage to make it sound almost catchy at the same time – no mean feat! From the bright, blood-red doomsday sun glow of the said song, “Sleeping Murder”, it is time to proceed deep down to the vale of shadows. And shadows, they sure are plentiful here. Whether it is the rehearsal track from ten years ago (time flies swiftly on black wings!) or the promo tracks dating from 1998, the determination and aim of the band shines through clear as ice.

Far from being simply an filler between albums for completists, tba is a treat for anyone wanting their metal slow, doomy and laden with an aura of nothing short of total oppression. Forget the lame goth-doom hybrids: for a heartfelt piece of all-enveloping darkness, this is the shit. Highlights on the album are many, but forgetting to mention the extremely powerful vocals of Pasi Koskinen (ex-Amorphis, Ajattara, Mannhai) would be a disgrace… they complement perfectly the excellent compositions of the guitarist/keyboardist/general mastermind Jarno Salomaa.

The engineering and mixing on the album, including the talents of Tuomo Valtonen (Ajattara, Trio Niskalaukaus, etc.), Kaide Hinkkala and Antti Lindell (Babylon Whores, etc.), is another ace up Shape of Despair’s sleeve. The music may hark back to the underground, but no muddy 4-tracker crap here. Turbonegro may not have had Shape of Despair in mind when they asked if you are you ready for some darkness?, but the question is ever valid. Doomsday begins here.