Band:	Shining (NOR)
Album:	Blackjazz
Style:	Experimental Jazz, Avantgarde metal
Release date:	January 18, 2010
A review by:	Darkside Momo

01. The Madness And The Damage Done
02. Fisheye
03. Exit Sun
04. Exit Sun
05. HEALTER SKELTER
06. The Madness And The Damage Done
07. Blackjazz Deathtrance
08. Omen
09. 21st Century Schizoid Man [King Crimson cover]

"The ever downward spiral, the inevitable tide
The outlines of a beast, slowly taking form
Pixel by pixel, giving birth to deadly shape"

Replace 'pixel' by 'note', and that is quite an accurate description of what you're about to face with this Blackjazz?

Oh My Fucking God

Yeah that'll probably be your reaction when you'll hear it. And for a good reason: this is one of the most mind-blowing albums released in 2010. A unique, weird, and really violent monster of a record. So be prepared for quite a ride, and not an easy one at that!

The Ultra-Violence

Deviant electronica, aggressive industrial sound processing, a real and almost physical wall of sound pounding on your ears and brain. Distorted guitars? but not as much as the vocals, which are sometimes twisted beyond recognition. And insane drumming, more than awesome in its craziness and technicality. Oops. I just forgot there are weird 'Space Invaders' sounds ("The Madness And The Damage Done", "Fisheye"), and also some noisy, unbearable moments ("Exit Sun", "Omen").

But how can one really describe this, anyway? Let's try to add some more elements beyond this collage of adjectives and barest descriptive hints.

So? We've got some quieter moments, here and there. Quieter, but usually not completely comfortable, especially considering they only prepare for more aggression. There are also these always moving song structures, with threads woven in and out across the songs (that's easily noticeable with the vocals, for example), and all this ultra-violence flowing in a - seemingly - barely controlled chaos? just like on a jazz record. A dark, completely unhinged one, that goes without saying.

And then? This crazy sax. Yeah, the one that also appeared on Ihsahn's After, it's quite unforgettable on "Helter Skelter" which is soooo King Crimson - with an harsher edge of course.

21st Century Schizoid Man

Speaking of King Crimson, one can help but notice this cover (featuring Enslaved's Grutle). It is totally different from the original? yet unmistakably the same. It's twisted almost beyond recognition, aggressive and noisy as never before. Exactly the reasons why it's terribly relevant and still totally progressive (as in, forward movement in music, you know). Maybe the song's title never fitted so well before... The climax of a mind-bending album.

Blackjazz Deathtrance

This song has such a suitable name. It is exactly that: a trance of death totally encompassing the whole Blackjazz album. And as such, 11 minutes of pure twisted bliss - but without the saxophone.

A dark diamond hidden in a noisy hell.

And that is the perfect description of this album.

The Madness And The Damage Done

This music sure is brain-damaging. By the time you'll have understood what really happens on this record, your ears will bleed, and your brain will have melted away. This audio pain will make you crazy, yet in your masochism you'll crave for more. You're indeed mad, the damage is done.

Come join the club!