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The Norwegian Shining (as opposed to the suicidal Swedish black-metal band of the same name) began their career in 1999 as an acoustic jazz combo, but I first heard them on 2010’s Blackjazz—and at that point the “jazz” elements apparently consisted of front man Jorgen Munkeby occasionally soloing on saxophone. These days Shining play vaguely industrial-sounding metal that balances bloodthirsty pop instincts and neck-breaking grooves against the residual avant-gardisms of their former life—tricky time signatures, rhythmic phasing, intricate high-speed unison riffs, and sprawling, oddball structures. It might sound like I’m being dismissive, but that’s probably just a side effect of my curmudgeonly reflex to mistrust any metal band that clearly wants me to like it. I have to say, I really fucking dig these guys.
Shining just kicked off a rare North American tour, and they play Reggie’s Rock Club tonight. Doors are at 8 PM, and tickets are $15, $12 in advance. After the jump, the unintentionally silly and intermittently NSFW video for One One One track “I Won’t Forget,” plus some other goodies from the band.
