Helsinki, Finland based Shape of Despair came into being during winter 1995, the brainchild of band leader Jarno Salomaa (guitars and synth) and Tomi Ullgren (guitars). All the while searching for the ultimate line-up, Shape of Despair recorded a demo-tape "Alone in the Mist", a promo, and two albums. While the debut "Shades of..." caused quite a stir in the underground, their aim became unwavering for the second one and "Angels of Distress" was a bull's-eye shot, a defining moment for a talented band already well set in their ways.