Dim Gray are a Norwegian band known for their cinematic, atmospheric sound that fuses rock, folk, and chamber pop. Following acclaimed debut, Flown, and the expansive, evocative soundscapes of second album, Firmament, Dim Gray release their third studio album, Shards, on 28 February 2025 on Grim Day Records. Shards will be available as a CD, black and limited edition coloured vinyl, Bandcamp download, and to stream. The album will be preceded by a new single, entitled ‘Feathers’, on 21 January 2025.  The first single ‘Peril’, was hailed as Prog Mag’s track of the week.

‘Feathers’ builds from sparse, vulnerable beginnings into a cathartic chorus of enormous size and emotion. With creative input from superproducer Lars Horntveth (Susanne Sundfør, a-ha, Kimbra, Thomas Dybdahl), ‘Feathers’ combines dirty synths and lush strings with an organic rock band. Aching vocals and melodic fingerpicked guitar lines ensure the Dim Gray signature sound is prominent in this bittersweet, warm song about loneliness.

Lead vocalist / keyboardist Oskar Holldorff said, “I wrote Feathers when I was 20. Back then I thought it was the best song I had written, but it didn’t match with what we were trying to do with Dim Gray. However, I revisited the song a couple years ago and tried to rework it into a more streamlined track, while preserving its original spirit. The band really brought the song to life; and the size of the choruses and bridge really shows the punch we now pack as a five-piece. I also had the great honour of working on this song with one of my favourite producers, Lars Horntveth, who inspired reharmonisation of parts of the song which helps keep the listener on their toes.”

Described by Guitarist  as, “Superbly performed material that stays with you”, Dim Gray’s sound merges folk influences with a forward-thinking aesthetic, evoking a blend of Radiohead’s experimental edge and Fleet Foxes’ pastoral warmth. A wide and ever-changing palette of sounds and ideas is rooted in the constants of aching vocals and echoing guitar melodies. The quintet explores themes of nature, isolation, and self-reflection through richly layered instrumentation and vivid storytelling.

Formed by Håkon Høiberg (guitars, vocals), Tom Ian Klungland (drums), Oskar Holldorff (vocals, keys) and former member Robin Kirknes (bass), the band added new members Kristian Kvaksrud (bass) and Milad Amouzegar (guitar, keys) in 2023. The band have established a strong live presence, as per their recent live EP, and have captivated audiences while supporting renowned acts like Marillion and Big Big Train.

Oskar adds, “Seven of the songs on Shards are about change, upheaval, severance; something shattering to pieces. Although most of these songs are sad or dramatic, some have a tinge of hopefulness to them, as sometimes the pieces of something shattered can be rearranged in different and better ways. These seven songs are bookended by two songs that deal with the opposite; a constant stasis, an unending struggle of two opposing kinds that are reflections of our personalities.”

With the breadth and ambition of the Shards album, Dim Gray are making good on not only what has come before but also setting their sights on, despite their name, a very bright future.