Shining

Animal

Spinefarm ✪✪✪✪✪

The Encyclopedia of Rock is littered with stories of artists making completely unexpected changes in direction. And although Norway’s Shining clearly aren’t as wellknown as Bowie or Dylan, their change in three years from International Blackjazz Society may be even more drastic than the lot. Forgoing their avant-garde melding of free-form jazz and piercing metal, Animal instead sees nods to Muse, Nickelback and ‘80s AOR on an album that aims for arenas instead of dingy muso haunts. Though Jørgen Munkeby might not have the voice to truly carry off the choruses, Håkon Sagen’s riffs, be they extravagant or chunky are hard to ignore due to their unabashed joy. Whether Shining succeed, or fall flat on their faces, Animal is a fun way to find out.