Shape of Despair is a funeral doom metal band from Helsinki, founded in 1995 under the name Raven by guitarist Jarno Salomaa and renamed in 1998. The band is one of the most respected names in the genre worldwide, known for crushingly slow tempos, layered keyboards and the contrast between Natalie Koskinen's ethereal vocals and deep death-metal growls. Albums such as Angels of Distress (2001), Monotony Fields (2015) and Return to the Void (2022) have cemented their place as architects of Finnish funeral doom.
Shape of Despair announced three co-headline shows in Finland with KAUAN for spring 2026, in Helsinki, Turku and Tampere.
The band has a confirmed show at Wilde Westen in Kortrijk, Belgium on September 5, 2026.
Shape of Despair performed at Candelabrum Metal Fest 2025 in León, Spain on June 9, 2025.
The band played Maryland Deathfest 2025 in Baltimore on May 22, 2025.
Shape of Despair released their fifth studio album Return to the Void via Season of Mist on February 25, 2022, their first full-length in seven years.
