Interview

An Interview with Shining

[Andrew Epstein is a frequent contributor and this site’s designated metalhead. Here’s his latest interview.-AC]

The Norwegian group Shining (not to be confused with the Swedish band of the same name) began their life as an avant-garde jazz quartet. Over the course of four albums the band began to blend elements of prog-rock and heavy metal into their sound. This experimentation culminated in a collaborative headlining performance at the Molde International Jazz Festival with fellow countrymen Enslaved in 2008.

Two years later they released their signature album “Blackjazz” and performed live on Norwegian national television. On stage the band is a force of nature, effortlessly switching between pop hooks and metal riffs to acid-jazz freak-out jams. Their matching haircuts, custom black dress shirts, and ability to produce copious amounts of sweat evoke thoughts of bands like Refused.

At the centre of it all is frontman Jørgen Munkeby, who ferociously tackles vocals, guitar, and saxophone often within the same song. I had a chance to sit down with Munkeby before Shining’s first ever Toronto gig at the Wreckroom, so I could find out more about the band’s unique evolution, as well as their latest surprisingly accessible release “One One One”.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 38011 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

One thought on “An Interview with Shining

Let us know what you think!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.