Weird Music Wednesday: “Showbiz” by Major Parkinson
If the 2022 release of Valesa - Chapter I: Velvet Prison was Major Parkinson’s attempt to curate a sleek, synth-pop exhibition inside a neon-lit bunker, then Chapter II: Viva The Apocalypse! is what happens when the power fails and the exhibits start coming after you. Released on March 13, 2026, this second installment manages to be both a logical continuation and a violent stylistic pivot, proving once again that the only thing predictable about this Norwegian ensemble is their refusal to stay in one place for more than a single album.
Major Parkinson didn’t just appear out of thin air; they crawled out of the theatrical underbelly of Bergen, Norway, in 2003. The band’s name itself was reportedly discovered in an old theater building, a fitting origin for a group that treats every album like a three-act play. They first made waves by winning the local Eggstock festival, eventually catching the ear of legendary producer Sylvia Massy (Tool, System of a Down) for their 2008 debut.
Evolutionarily, the band has always been a bit of a moving target. They’ve traveled from the jagged, circus-punk energy of their early years to the cavernous, “everything-including-the-kitchen-sink” prog of Blackbox. While Chapter I was a focused dive into 80s nostalgia and digital claustrophobia, Viva The Apocalypse! brings back the dirt. The production is wider, the live instrumentation is more aggressive, and Jon Ivar Kollbotn sounds less like a crooning lounge singer and more like a man trying desperately to convince you that he has the secret to all of life’s mysteries. The record has a visceral, “spit-on-the-lens” energy that was missing from its predecessor. The synths are still there, but they’ve been forced to share the stage with a snarling horn section and guitars that actually sound like they’re plugged into something.
While the title track is a brass-heavy riot and “Karma Supernova” offers the kind of sprawling prog epic that makes listeners feel like they’ve survived a marathon, “Showbiz” is undeniably the album’s centerpiece. It is the perfect bridge between the two chapters: it retains the infectious 80s synth hooks of Velvet Prison but injects them with the raw, live-wire theatricality that defines the band’s best work. It possesses a melody so sharp it could cut through a major label record contract. It’s accessible enough to hum, yet weird enough to make you look over your shoulder while doing so. Jon Ivar Kollbotn’s gravelly, “street-preacher” vocals perfectly sell the song’s cynical take on fame. It feels like a mythology of celebrity viewed through the bottom of a chipped whiskey glass. The track doesn’t just end; it evolves. The callbacks to earlier motifs (like the “Show me the killer” refrain) reward the dedicated fan while the “Apocalypse Choir” elevates the whole affair into a grand, dark-pop spectacle.
The Song
Spotify:
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/song/showbiz/1870549786
“Showbiz” Live (not-so-great audio but a good view into what their live shows look like)
The Album
Spotify:
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/valesa-chapter-ii-viva-the-apocalypse/1870549351
The Band
Jon Ivar Kollbotn - Lead Vocals
Eivind Gammersvik - Bass
Lars Christian Bjørknes - Synths & Piano
Sondre Veland - Drums
Øystein Bech-Eriksen - Guitar
Sondre Skollevoll - Guitar
Claudia Cox (Peri Winkle) - Violin & Vocals
Be sure to check out the Audio Toxicity 2026 Bad Music Detox Protocol (AKA a playlist of songs covered so far…)