Blackjazz - Shining
Blackjazz Image
  • Summary: The Norwegian band led by Jorgen Munkeby has a sharper metal edge than Jaga Jazzist, which was Munkeby's previous band.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. This is one of the most assaultive, addictive albums around, a rip-roaring journey through sonic violence that will leave most quivering in the corner and others (a special few) totally enraptured.
  2. Blackjazz, by contrast, is fierce and unrelenting, a slavering beast of an album with the complexity and dissonance of the Flying Luttenbachers and the head-down intensity of upstate New York ultra-power trio Borbetomagus.
  3. In the case of Blackjazz, Shining spreads lyrical passages across songs, repeats song titles with different music attached: they basically create an environment that can only be understood as a whole.

See all 12 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. 10
    Upon first listening, I found it quite harsh. It's kind of listening to barbed wire. But then you start to "get it" and it is completely mesmerizing. It is, hands down, the best album I own, and I have been listening to quite a lot of heavy/black metal music. It is a lot more metal than jazz, but Jørgens saxophone solos here and there reminds you where he comes from. Give the album 3-4 rounds through your CD-player/mp3-playlist before you move on. I promise it is worth it. Favourite tracks: Madness and the damage done, Fisheye and Blackjazz death trance. PS: I tried giving the album a 10/10 here on Metacritic, but I keep getting a error saying that "Score (10.0) id must be a floating point number). Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. I liked it a lot. I think it's fresh, and has something that modern music just doesn't have this days. It was a great album, that I strongly suggest others to listen. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
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