Editing Shape of Despair (section)

==History==
The band was founded in 1995 as Raven by [[Jarno Salomaa]] (guitars, later also keyboards), Tomi Ullgrén (bass, later guitars) and Toni "Otso" Mäensivu (drums, later vocals).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Under The Influence #70: Exitium Sui on “Monotony Fields” by Shape of Despair! – Metal Noise |url=https://metalnoise.net/2020/10/under-the-influence-70-exitium-sui-on-monotony-fields-by-shape-of-despair |access-date=2025-02-05 |language=en}}</ref> They aspired to play faster, instrumental black metal influenced music following the footsteps of their contemporaries like Strid, Burzum, Darkthrone and Unholy.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |last3= |last4= |last5= |last6= |first6= |date=2025-01-11 |title=ANGELS OF DISTRESS : Career interview with Shape Of Despair (FUNERAL DOOM/DOOM DEATH METAL) |url=https://www.webzinelescribedurock.com/2019/05/interview-with-shape-of-despair-doom-metal-finland.html |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Le scribe du rock |language=fr}}</ref> However, the trio soon decided that the music they played was not as good as they wanted it to be, feeling that it lacked the atmosphere and emotion of the bands that influenced them.

During the summer of 1995, Raven recorded their rehearsals on cassette tapes, capturing all the songs that later became the ''Alone In The Mist'' demo. After listening to the tape, Raven decided it was good enough to record the tracks in a professional studio. Three years later, Raven entered Arkki-studio.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shape Of Despair - Biography |url=https://metalstorm.net/bands/biography.php?band_id=327&bandname=Shape%20Of%20Despair |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Metal Storm |language=en}}</ref> They postponed practicing vocals until the last minute and were surprised at how well Mäensivu's vocals fit their music.  
The ''Alone In The Mist'' demo<ref name="Young">{{cite book |first=Garry |last=Sharpe-Young |title=A-Z of Doom, Goth & Stoner Metal |year=2003 |publisher=Rockdetector |isbn=978-1-90144-714-9 |page=362f}}</ref> was not released until 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bellino |first=Emily |date=2016-09-28 |title=Shape of Despair Premiere Demo, "Shadowed Dreams" |url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2016/09/28/shape-of-despair-premiere-demo-shadowed-dreams/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Decibel Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>

The band changed their name in September 1998 to Shape of Despair, in part to distinguish themselves from a UK hard rock band of the same name.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Shape of Despair Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio &... |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/shape-of-despair-mn0000743387 |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref> Additionally, they believed their new moniker better reflected their sound. 

In 2000, they signed a deal with [[Spikefarm Records]] and released their debut album ''[[Shades of...]]''<ref Name="Young" /> with Samu Ruotsalainen on drums.

The second album ''[[Angels of Distress]]'', released in September 2001, featured [[Pasi Koskinen]] on lead vocals.<ref>{{Citation |title=Angels of Distress - Shape of Despair {{!}} Album {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/angels-of-distress-mw0000657065 |access-date=2025-02-04 |language=en}}</ref> [[Sami Uusitalo]] joined in 2002 to play bass for the third album ''[[Illusion's Play]]'' (2004).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shape of Despair - Illusion's Play - Reviews - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives |url=https://www.metal-archives.com/reviews/Shape_of_Despair/Illusion's_Play/53532/#reviewAnchor21649 |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=www.metal-archives.com}}</ref>

In 2005, the band released a compilation titled ''[[Shape of Despair (album)|Shape of Despair]]'', featuring rare and unreleased material from the group, including tracks from the band's first demo ''Alone in the Mist'' and a new song called “Sleeping Murder”''.''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shape Of Despair - Shape Of Despair review |url=https://metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=1108 |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Metal Storm |language=en}}</ref> The album was recorded over a four-day period at Sundicoop Studios in Savonlinna, Finland.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=2005-02-25 |title=SHAPE OF DESPAIR To Record New Song For Compilation CD |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/shape-of-despair-to-record-new-song-for-compilation-cd |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |language=en}}</ref> After a 5-year lull the band released the EP ''Written in My Scars''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shape of Despair - Written in My Scars - Reviews - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives |url=https://www.metal-archives.com/reviews/Shape_of_Despair/Written_in_My_Scars/891650/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=www.metal-archives.com}}</ref> and a split EP with Before The Rain.<ref>{{Citation |title=Shape Of Despair / Before The Rain - Shape Of Despair / Before The Rain |date=2011-07-20 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/3004730-Shape-Of-Despair-Before-The-Rain-Shape-Of-Despair-Before-The-Rain?srsltid=AfmBOopoU25v0Wf6BS9SiXgMOJB1XI-RdmflulF4ECGTSz6bbVOPw3gc |access-date=2025-02-15 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2011, Henri Koivula took over vocals from Koskinen.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Shape of Despair Discusses 'Monotony Fields' |url=http://www.metalunderground.com/interviews/details.cfm?newsid=115189 |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=MetalUnderground.com |language=en}}</ref> Due in part to band members’ competing commitments to other musical projects, there was an 11 year gap between ''Illusion’s Play'' and their next full length album, ''[[Monotony Fields]].'' Additionally, the instruments were recorded separately and months apart.<ref name=":1" /> Released on June 15, 2015, by [[Season of Mist]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.season-of-mist.com/bands/shape-of-despair |title=Shape of Despair (Doom Metal) |publisher=[[Season of Mist]] |access-date=5 July 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dick |first=Chris |date=2015-08-24 |title=Shape of Despair |url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2015/08/24/shape-of-despair/ |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Decibel Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> ''Monotony Fields'' was hailed by one reviewer as “a great come back” and their best album so far.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SHAPE OF DESPAIR “Monotony Fields” (Review) |url=http://againstmagazine.com/shape-of-despair-monotony-fields-review/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20170825064505/http://againstmagazine.com/shape-of-despair-monotony-fields-review/ |archive-date=2017-08-25 |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=againstmagazine.com}}</ref> 

In 2022, they released ''Return to'' ''the Void,'' which featured almost an hour of music.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wolf |first=Sarah de |date=2022-02-24 |title=REVIEW: Shape of Despair - Return to the Void |url=https://tuonelamagazine.com/review-shape-of-despair-return-to-the-void/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Tuonela Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> Some reviewers praised the beauty and artistry of the music but commented that the sound was too monotonous.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Druhm |first=Steel |date=2022-02-25 |title=Shape of Despair - Return to the Void Review |url=https://www.angrymetalguy.com/shape-of-despair-return-to-the-void-review/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Angry Metal Guy |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-28 |title=Shape Of Despair – Return To The Void – Album Review - Man Of Much Metal |url=http://manofmuchmetal.net/shape-of-despair-return-to-the-void-album-review/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=manofmuchmetal.net |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Butler-Terry |first=Jack |date=2022-02-25 |title=ALBUM REVIEW: Return To The Void - Shape Of Despair |url=https://distortedsoundmag.com/album-review-return-to-the-void-shape-of-despair/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Distorted Sound Magazine |language=en-GB}}</ref>