• Black Vinyl
• 180 gram
  
  

Carpathian Forest released Black Shining Leather in 1998 as their third full-length, establishing the Norwegian band's signature blend of raw black metal aggression and deliberate provocative aesthetics. The album marked a consolidation of their approach—uncompromising tremolo-picked riffs paired with Nattefrost's vocals, which alternated between bestial growls and piercing shrieks. Within the band's catalog, this record stands as a particularly unvarnished statement of their artistic vision, eschewing accessibility while doubling down on the transgressive imagery and sonic abrasiveness that defined their output.

The title track "Black Shining Leather" opens with hypnotic, minimalist guitar work before erupting into propulsive blast beats, while "The Swordsmen" sustains an almost trance-like momentum across nearly six minutes of relentless lo-fi production. "Death Triumphant" and "Sadomasochistic" showcase the band's willingness to exploit discomfort as compositional tool—not for shock value alone, but as integral to their aesthetic philosophy. "Lupus" slows into mid-paced, almost anthemic territory before "Pierced Genitalia…" closes the record with characteristically unvarnished brutality. Throughout, the murky production and stripped-down arrangements prioritize primitive intensity over technical polish, creating an atmosphere of deliberate hostility and ritualistic repetition.

This 2013 reissue presents the album on 180-gram black vinyl, restoring Black Shining Leather to the format it demands—a substantial, uncompromising object that matches the music's refusal of compromise. The packaging maintains the original's austere presentation with a standard outer jacket and black inner sleeve, allowing the cover art to speak without distraction.

Tracklist:

A1. Black Shining Leather (4:32)
A2. The Swordsmen (4:08)
A3. Death Triumphant (4:28)
A4. Sadomasochistic (4:02)
A5. Lupus (3:06)
A6. Pierced Genitalia (4:18)
B1. In Silence I Observe (3:43)
B2. Lunar Nights (6:34)
B3. Third Attempt (3:18)
B4. The Northern Hemisphere (6:43)
B5. A Forest (5:58)