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Blackjazz
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Blackjazz Image
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 12 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 36 Ratings

  • Summary: The Norwegian band led by Jorgen Munkeby has a sharper metal edge than Jaga Jazzist, which was Munkeby's previous band.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. AllMusic
    100
    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. Alternative Press
    90
    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. No Ripcord
    80
    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.
  4. The New York Times
    70
    Blackjazz was produced by Sean Beavan, who has worked with Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails, and its sound skews dark but a bit cartoonish.
  5. Dusted Magazine
    70
    When Shining go technical, they do so with a flourish, but often seem too eager to return to the simpler crowd-pleasing verses and choruses that make up the meat of the album.
  6. Rock Sound
    70
    Equally experimental as it is disturbing, their latest musical experience doesn’t disappoint and is an altogether leftfield and very noisy affair.
  7. Prefix Magazine
    65
    Adventurous listeners ignore Blackjazz at their peril, but be warned that there's quite a bite of filler to go with the killer.

See all 12 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. Even
    Nov 10, 2010
    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 completelyUpon 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
  2. RaysNBeanies
    Apr 24, 2011
    8
    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 stronglyI 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.… Collapse

Awards & Rankings

39
#39 Best Album of 2010

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