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Shining (Nor): Blackjazz Experimental Industrial, Jazz The End Records February 2nd, 2010
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Review
As this CD just sat around, being kicked about with random spins here and there thanks to total confusion, with a simple Google search it had become all too clear that there was some extreme trickery about. No wonder every metal site out there failed to list Blackjazz as a release under the monolithic Black Metal act Shining. That's because this is a release from an Industrial act that calls themselves Shining, but actually originate from Norway, not Sweden like the proper Black Metal does. Chances are high many people have bought this release under that extreme confusion, or assume, due to the artwork, this band is called either Sh+n+ng or Shnng. Either way, do not go into this release expecting some very well composed Black Metal, as you will be greatly disapointed at the early video game sound effect sounding Industrial that emerges from this singular piece of plastic. And no, the track listing above is not wrong at all. Blackjazz is an insanely confusing album. First of all, yes, some of the tracks on here have the name of a previous song, such as the two "Exit Sun" tracks that are obviously something absolutely different from one another just by the length of the tracks. As far as the music goes, yes, much of the release is actually pretty intense and something that could be considered inspired by the band The Kovenant, with "Fisheye" actually having some moments that sound like a Jazz fueled early career Static-X, but with some saxophone as well as other Jazz influences thrown in for good measure here and there. The problem is that much of the music changes as you listen to the CD, becoming absolutely void of what the structure started with, and in the case of the first "The Madness and the Damage Done", almost merging into a style of Electronic-based music called Splittercore, with background Industrial and Electronic elements that sound as though they would best suit some twisted anime from the early to mid nineties, or an early video game cartridge back when the Nintendo Entertainment System was at it's prime. Ok, well, now that you get the general idea of what to expect on this release, there are some good tracks on here when the music isn't going all over the charts. "Fisheye" has it's moments, and "Exit Sun (I)" does pick up after the first few minutes, bleeding into "Exit Sun (II)" which is absolutely pointless to the release. "Healter Skelter" has some heavy jazz influence to it with the rather technical saxophone that plays in the background of the Industrial music and actually does form into a track that works with it and has a structure, but unless you like your Jazz instrumentals filled with annoying electronics then this is going to irritate the living Hell out of you until it breaks into a straight forward technical Industrial song a little more then half way through. "Omen" does have some good potential with the way the track ends, having the music slow down and the saxophones really go at it to create a very creepy ambience to the music up to the very last few seconds of the song when the saxophones start just playing random notes that sound like an amateur just picked the instrument up and started blowing into it and pushing the notes down randomly, but aside it has nothing else that will really hold your attention. If you're a fan of older video games, then "The Madness and the Damage Done" (I) and (II) will appeal to you a little more thanks to the usage of effects that sound like they are off of an old Nintendo Entertainment System game, as well as a few other tracks on here, but as the speed of the music picks up in Splittercore on "(I)", it's enough to make you just say enough as it all starts to just sound like they are silly effects used and kind of chips away at the intensity. And, let's not forget the track "Blackjazz Deathtrance" which is easily one of the most annoying songs you will ever hear, not only because of how irritating some of the electronic noises used come off, but because there are some really fast paced moments here that really shine out above anything else on here and are pretty much flawless. This track also seems to bleed into the song "Omen" which is basically he exact same thing as the end of "Blackjazz Deathtrance". Blackjazz is not a bad album, but it's definitely one that only select persons are going to enjoy. There really isn't anything metal or black about it at all, and there is a good Jazz influence in there, which is the only aspect of titles with the band name and album that actually tell the truth. If you're someone who likes experimental material that comes at you in a blistering pace, then Shining (Nor) is right up your alley with this release. There's no denying this is a very intense ride from start to finish and never lets up as it just keeps hammering away at you, and even if you're not a fan, after repeat listens it will grow on you, it's just to what extent? If you're outside that niche of people this would appeal to, the intensity will be enough to drag you along for the ride a few times, but after a few chances, it's enough to pass on any more spins as you'll be searching for some aspirin to rid yourself of the headache you get from this albums constant shaking of musical performance as if this were something of an extremely Progressive nature.
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