Shining Blackjazz

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by Trevor Portz
Staff Writer

With the multitude of generic, cookie-cutter bands proliferating the market these days, it’s rare to pop something into the CD player (which, for the younger crowd, is like a primitive i-Pod), and instantly think, “Holy shit! This is amazing!” It’s even rarer for a band to live up to the hype they give themselves (in this case, describing their new album as “genre defining”). But every once in a while the planets align and amazing things happen. Such is the case with Blackjazz, the fourth album by Norwegian genre-benders Shining, a complex, noisy, brilliant masterpiece that defies stereotypes and expectations and gives hope to future generations of extreme music fans.

Defining what exactly Shining play is as complicated as the music itself. So many styles are represented here—jazz, black metal, techno, rock, noise, classical—the list is seemingly endless. Blending them as they do, Shining really had no choice but to create a new name for their brand of insanity, and “blackjazz,” though exclusionary of many things they dabble in, will certainly suffice. Besides, “blackjazzdancepunktechnorocknoise” sounds a bit like an outtake from Mary Poppins. It’s definitely quite a divergence from the initial acoustic jazz records released by the band, which, though surely good, doubtfully packed the punch of their current incarnation.

Breaking down the tracks individually seems both futile and unnecessary, as there is little to compare the songs to that would be meaningful, and because each song features so many changes/movements/chapters that a true write-up would be infinitely too long. In many ways, the songs themselves act as pieces of a larger movement, acting much like scenes from a dark, post-apocalyptic cinematic masterpiece. The songs do have unique identities—from the Brutal Truth-like intro and Primus-inspired mid section of “Exit Sun,” to the prog-dance-jazz of “Fisheye,” to the power-electronic noisiness of “Omen”—and the wide variety of styles utilized help create small masterpieces within the larger work. Also standing out is the closing cover of King Crimson’s “21st Century Schizoid Man,” featuring guest vocals from Grutle Kjellson, vocalist/bassist of similarly amazing Norwegian band Enslaved. The song was practically written to be covered by Shining, and they do a superb job interpreting this prog classic.

From a technical standpoint, the musicians that make up Shining are among the most elite of extreme virtuosity. Incorporating modal jazz, a slew of odd time signatures (move over Dillinger Escape Plan), and ridiculously complex arrangements, one is left not only supremely impressed, but also with the lingering question of “how do they remember this?” Ignoring this quandary, one is left to sit back and revel in the technicality of the whole thing, and ponder the influences, which appear to range from the Great Kat to Union of Knives (for those unfamiliar with these artists, do yourself a favor and check them out as well).

Above all else, what Shining do best is control the insanity. Don’t get the wrong idea, the music of Blackjazz is far from straightforward and is often rather unsettling, but somehow the album never loses itself among the chaos. It’s almost as if a nuclear blast has gone off, yet has somehow been contained within a crystal sphere. Everything remains unharmed, but it sure looks cool.

Whether the music of Shining will be universally accepted by the general population seems unlikely for the same reason “Arrested Development” was such a short-lived show—most people just don’t get it. But for those that do, count yourselves among those lucky enough to be given the gift of Blackjazz.

Label: The End Records
Web: www.shining.no ; www.myspace.com/shiningofficial

Band Members:
Jørgen Munkeby (vocals, guitar, sax)
Torstein Lofthus (drums)
Tor Egil Kreken (bass)
Bernt Moen (synths and keyboards)
Even Helte Hermansen (guitar)
Grutle Kjellson (guest vocals on “Omen” “21st Century Schizoid Man”)

Tracks:
1. The Madness and the Damage Done
2. Fisheye
3. Exit Sun
4. Exit Sun
5. HEALTER SKELTER
6. The Madness and the Damage Done
7. Blackjazz Deathtrance
8. Omen
9. 21st Century Schizoid Man

Hardrock Haven rating 9.8/10