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Tag Archive: Blackjazz

Shining Debut Glorious New Video For ‘Fisheye‘

Filed Under: Video

Jan.09, 2012

Shining (Norway) are a band close to my heart, as their unique brand of industrial slightly blackened jazz fusion sound just speaks to me and my soul. If abrasive and over-distorted guitar and synth lines backing saxophone solos aren’t your thing, then I can safely say we won’t get along all that much.

2010′s Blackjazz was one of the best records of that year, and even though we get tired of many albums that came out a couple of years back, this album has not aged that much; it feels like it came out last year!

One song from that record is ‘Fisheye,’ a song that accurately encapsulates the core Shining experience as well as any. If by some chance you’ve skipped over the band before, the new video from this track might just entice you enough. Marvelous song aside, the video was shot beautifully. Ever since Chris Collins (who posts under the alias Colossus) started with his video reviews column, I’ve been more appreciative and critical of music videos, and while there’s some editing mishaps like with lyrics not matching with frontman Jørgen Munkeby’s screams, this is still one of the coolest music videos I’ve ever seen. Give that a view above!

Again, if you haven’t heard Blackjazz yet, please do that ASAP. It’s out now on Indie Recordings.

- JR

Tags: Blackjazz, Fisheye, Indie Recordings, Jorgen Munkeby, Shining

Live Review: Devin Townsend Project Play Deconstruction In Full @ ULU, London

Filed Under: Live, Reviews

Nov.21, 2011

Anyone who reads our humble ramblings on even a semi-frequent basis will know of our love for Devin Townsend. I don’t think there’s one of us on the staff who doesn’t have at least a passing interest in him, and so when it was announced that his Devin Townsend Project would be playing all four albums of the now complete series in a run of special dates in London, I knew that attendance of at least one was compulsory. Being that Deconstruction is by far and away my favourite of the four, this date at the University of London Union was always going to be the one.

The extra treat was that support was to come from Norway’s own Shining, whose stunning 2010 release Blackjazz made a number of our top ten lists, and I had it on excellent authority that they are extremely tight live.

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Tags: Blackjazz, Deconstruction, Devin Townsend Project, Shining, The Retinal Circus, Ziltoid

In The Viewing Of SHINING’s Blackjazz Live, You Will Be A Monster

Filed Under: Upcoming releases, Video

Nov.09, 2011

So as it turns out, the American release of the highly anticipated Blackjazz Live isn’t until 2012. Dammit to hell. At least I can take solice in Prosthetic promising to ship out pre-orders as they get them this month, so there’s something. I’ll never understand how international releases are handled this strangely. Europeans get all the breaks.

Luckily I can tide over the wait with the two released videos from the DVD so far. Last week we got “The Madness And The Damage Done.” This week, we’ve got “In The Kingdom Of Kitsche You Will Be A Monster.” Obviously, it’s kind of awesome. Kind of a lot of awesome.

You lucky Europeans can get the DVD this Friday, 11/11/11, when it is released on Indie Recordings.

- JR

Tags: Blackjazz, In The Kingdom Of Kitsche You Will Be A Monster, Indie Recordings, Shining, The Madness And The Damage Done

Shining’s Blackjazz Live Is On The Horizon!

Filed Under: Live, Upcoming releases, Video

Oct.25, 2011

Norway’s Shining are a peculiar band that took our hearts and ran with them last year when they released their album Blackjazz. It was easily an album that made a leap to my top 10 albums of 2010. If you’re not familiar with this group, imagine what it would sound like if Nine Inch Nails and Enslaved wrote a jazz record together. It’s absolutely nuts.

At the end of last year or so (I forget), the band recorded one of their live performances, which the band promised would be released as a live CD/DVD combo. I was excited, but eventually forgot about it. Recently, the band has made good on their promise and announced Blackjazz Live! They released the trailer above which highlights clips of the album’s tracklist. NEAT!

Here’s a rundown of the album’s production personnel:

Produced by Munkeby
Mixed by Sean Beavan (Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails, Slayer)
Mastered by Tom Baker (Marilyn Manson, David Lynch, Nine Inch Nails)
Graded by John Cryer (Muse)
Film directed by Anders Børresen

As you can tell, this DVD is going to be legit! Seriously, this looked so good that I immediately pre-ordered two copies—one for myself and… well… you’ll see!

Blackjazz Live is due out 11/11/11 on Prosthetic Records. Those of us in the States can pre-order it here for a measly $15.

- JR

Tags: Blackjazz, Enslaved, Marilyn Manson, Muse, Nine Inch Nails, Shining, Slayer

Prepare Yourself for Live Blackjazz!

Filed Under: Live, Upcoming releases

Oct.07, 2011

Norway’s Shining, which released one of the best records of 2010 with Blackjazz, are releasing a live album/DVD filled with selections from their discography. The live DVD is entitled Live Blackjazz and will be released November 11th. I can’t wait, and neither should you. After the jump, here are a couple of reasons why you should be shitting your pants right now. If you aren’t familiar with Shining, get on it.

- GR

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Tags: Blackjazz, Jorgen Munkeby, Live Blackjazz, Shining

SHNNG PRSNT RMGDN CNCRTO

Filed Under: General News, New music

Apr.28, 2010

Those Norwegian industrio-jazz metallers Shining are at it again, with a new EP! Here’s the press release, which explains it better than I ever could:

Exclusive new RMGDN track released for download

11 days ago, SHINING and ENSLAVED performed at the Roadburn Festival the last ever performance of our “Armageddon Concerto”, conceived, composed and performed with our fellow Norwegian explorers ENSLAVED. We now release the opening movement “RMGDN” as a download on all major digital stores worldwide (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon etc.).

The track “RMGDN” is the 13 minutes long opener for the Concerto, and was recorded by SHINING along with the rest of “Blackjazz”. It was of course also mixed by the eminent Sean Beavan and mastered by the impeccable Tom Baker.

“RMGDN” has only been available as a very special bonus track on a limited amount of vinyl “Blackjazz” records, and is now available as download for the first time.

This is pretty sweet. Blackjazz is an amazing album and I’m excited to hear this track, as I never got a vinyl version because I’d need to import it, and that’s too expensive for my blood. Speaking of which, I checked on iTunes. This EP is $11. That’s a little steep for 13 minutes of music, don’t you think? On second thought, I think I’ll pass on this one for a while… at least until someone uploads it.

- JR

Tags: Blackjazz, Enslaved, industrial, Roadburn Festival, Sean Beavan, Shining, Tom Baker

Blackjazz, Eh? I’ll Have To See This For Myself…

Filed Under: Live, Video

Jan.29, 2010

Oh… so that’s how it’s done?

Take one part jazz, one part black metal, and throw in a twist of industrial, and you have Shining in a nutshell. Not to be confused with that other Shining from Sweden, this “version” hails from Norway. They started out in 1999 as an acoustic jazz quartet. Color me confused, but intrigued.

I’ll have to check out Blackjazz, Shining’s latest album, which is due out February 2nd in the US. Of course, Europe gets all to cool shit first. Thankfully, we have the internet.

Check this music out on myspace. It’s totally worth your time.

- JR

Tags: Blackjazz, Shining