Shape of Despair has a long career under their belts, releasing music under that name since 1998. But before their was Shape of Despair, there was Raven, guitarist Jarno Salomaa’s first dabbling in writing doom.

Eventually, Raven became Shape of Despair and the first demos written for Raven, called Alone in the Mist, were never released, only shared with a select few. The time has come, though, for Shape of Despair to share those demos.

“Shadowed Dreams” is the first taste of those songs, quietly but powerfully carrying on until it fades out.

“So what exactly do you find on Alone in the Mist? Besides the first songs ever written for Shape of Despair – at that time still named Raven – these represent my first ever attempt at doom as well,” Salomaa says. “Those tracks are the outcome of solitary inspiration through dark woods and good music. This demo was never fully released – do not bother to ask why, because I cannot remember the reasons at all. Alone in the Mist was only tape traded without any cover or anything else with just a few people that we knew or were in contact with. Two of these songs came out officially a long way back, but soon you will get a chance to hear them all – with ‘Shadowed Dreams’ now given as a first preview.”

Alone in the Mist hits the streets through Season of Mist on December 9, but you can reserve your copy now.