I haven't heard any of their previous albums but with their 2007 release titled Grindstone, they play a solid amalgam jazz, prog, metal influenced music that's dissonance heavy but not just limited to it. Not to be confused with the Swedish band of the same name that plays some kind of Black Metal, these guys belt out some really intense pieces of music.

This is in fact quite akin to what John McLaughlin did to Jazz music in the 70s with Mahavishnu Orchestra and especially close to what Robert Fripp and his King Crimson did to Rock at their peak, 1969-74. Crimso took influences from various styles like classical, jazz, Beatles and even early Metal (on Red especially), used pipe and reed instruments as an integral part of the music and blurring the line between improvised and structured music. When you think what you're hearing is improvised, chances are it's written to be that way. This gave them a unique sound throughout most of their career no matter the numerous line-up and stylistic changes.

Shining resemble Crimso a hell lot except the line-up change bit and the fact that guitars isn't the instrument that drives things here.

Jørgen handles all the sax and flutes. Saxaphones are used at times in a traditional jazz way and more often like how Crimso used. Keys are used for hammond-like ambience (ala Crimso again), synths often driving the music and provide a lot of other strange sounds. The band also show a lot of classic movie influence (A cover of the soundtrack from 2001: A Space Odyssey) and classical music (Track 10 translates to Bach in Morse Code and is a rendition of one of his pieces). This album is mostly instrumental except Jørgen's 21st century Schizoid Man-like vocal bit on the opening track and the high pitched female opera vocals on a couple other tracks.

Great chaotic, yet controlled heavy music with a lot of dynamics and elements (both weird and otherwise) that make this album a very riveting listen. Reccomended, if you're a fan of jazz, fusion, prog and/or technical music.

Year of Release: 2007
Label: Rune Grammofon

Line up:

Jørgen Munkeby: sax, flute
Torstein Lofthus: drums
Morten Strøm: bass
Andreas Ulvo: keys
Even Helte Hermansen: guitar