Straight from Oslo into YOUR FACE, Mats Johansen reveals the fifteen Metal albums (and three non-Metal albums) that caught his eyes and ears in 2011.

Rating: 4.5/5
…
Shining’s “Live Blackjazz” showcases expert live fusion of the two genres Norwegians are best at—free jazz & black metal—and is a brilliant look at what music can do in this next decade.

I haven’t heard any of the honorable mentions, but Willie’s Top 10 Metal albums are pretty sweet. That’s him behind the guitar there, and wearing a Death shirt (if you can’t tell).

Plus cover art, track listings, and more!

In the past, fusing jazz and metal has proven to be a melodic, complex form of technical death metal. Floridian acts like Cynic and Atheist really defined this movement. However, jazz and metal are two of the most diverse genres in the world, so it wasn’t going to be too long before other breeds were seen. Shining is offering one of the most interesting styles to come around yet.