Niklas Olsson (born 7 December 1983), better known as Niklas Kvarforth, is a Swedish singer and songwriter. He is the founder, composer, and vocalist of the black metal band Shining. Background As a multi-instrumentalist musician, Kvarforth started Shining when he was only 12 years old, in 1996. The band released their first EP, Submit to Selfdestruction, two years later, on which he played guitars and bass. It was not until the band released their first album, Within Deep Dark Chambers, that Kvarforth became the band's vocalist. Controversies Kvarforth is known in the scene for his extreme and sometimes violent behaviour during live performances, including fighting members of other bands, and handing out razor blades to audience members in 2007. Kvarforth has also been accused of assaulting and threatening audience members in 2017. Kvarforth has also performed auto-mutilations onstage and seems to encourage the practice. He often states in interviews that he hates "everything that grows". It is unclear if his statements made to journalists are in earnest or simply to mock them. Many fans believe he generally holds journalists and reporters in contempt, and purposely mocks them. Kvarforth himself has neither affirmed nor denied this publicly, but consistently expresses his hatred of other people, himself, various countries, and life itself. Discography With Shining Within Deep Dark Chambers (2000) Livets ändhållplats (2001) III: Angst, självdestruktivitetens emissarie (2002) IV: The Eerie Cold (2005) V: Halmstad (2007) VI: Klagopsalmer (2009) VII: Född förlorare (2011) Redefining Darkness (2012) IX: Everyone, Everything, Everywhere, Ends (2015) X: Varg Utan Flock (2018) With Skitliv Amfetamin (MCD) (2008) Skandinavisk Misantropi (2009) With Diabolicum Hail Terror (2005) With Den Saakaldte Øl, mørke og depresjon (2008) All Hail Pessimism (2009) With Funeral Dirge The Silence Ebony (1999) With Bethlehem A Sacrificial Offering to the Kingdom of Heaven in a Cracked Dog's Ear (2009) Stönkfitzchen (2010) With Manes Solve et Coagula (2009) With The Sarcophagus Towards the Eternal Chaos (2009) With Anaal Nathrakh Desideratum (2014) With The Vision Bleak Set Sail to Mystery (2010) With Behemoth A Forest (2020) References Living people Swedish heavy metal singers 1983 births Swedish expatriates in Norway Swedish expatriates in Finland Singers from Halmstad Songwriters from Halmstad 21st-century Swedish singers