Shining (Swedish band)

Shining
Lead vocalist Kvarforth photographed while masked on stage on February 3, 2007.
Background information
Origin	Halmstad, Sweden
Genres	Black metal, progressive metal
Years active	1996–2004, 2004–present
Labels	Spinefarm,Osmose, Dark Essence Records
Associated acts	Skitliv, Ondskapt, Bethlehem, In Lingua Mortua, Mayhem, Den Saakaldte
Website	Shining Asylum - Official Website
Members	Niklas Kvarforth Peter Huss Christian Larsson
Past members	(see below)

Shining is a Swedish black metal band formed in 1996 by Niklas Kvarforth in Halmstad, Sweden. The band’s music contains depressive undertones, which include personal and suicide-themed lyrics.

The band's name does not refer to the book The Shining or the film based on it, but rather according to Kvarforth, it means "the path to enlightenment".

Kvarforth is the main composer and vocalist of the band and started the band when he was twelve. By the time Kvarforth was fourteen, Shining had released their first EP Submit to Selfdestruction (1998) on which he played guitars and bass. It was not until the band released their first album, Within Deep Dark Chambers (2000), that Kvarforth became the band’s vocalist.

The band released two more albums Livets ändhållplats (2001) and Angst, Självdestruktivitetens Emissarie (2002), before splitting up in August 2004. Their fourth album, The Eerie Cold (2005), was supposed to be their last, but the band reformed later the same year with a new line-up capable of live shows.

Kvarforth disappeared in July 2006 and a rumor was spread he was presumed to have committed suicide. On August 23, 2006 the band posted a statement on their website declaring Kvarforth had disappeared. The band was said to continue with a new singer named “Ghoul,” as one of the wishes from Kvarforth.

At a concert that took place on February 3, 2007, at Diezel in Halmstad, Sweden, “Ghoul” was revealed to be Kvarforth. The concert was violent in nature, with Kvarforth occasionally fighting the audience and the guest vocalists (Attila Csihar, Maniac and Nattefrost).

The band released their fifth album in 2007, Halmstad (Niklas angående Niklas), a reference to Kvarforth’s hometown.

A compilation album entitled 8½ - Feberdrömmar I Vaket Tillstånd (2013) was released that featured re-recorded songs from 2001-2002 and different vocalists for 5/6 tracks.