After a four year long wait, Ukraine's biggest metal export Jinjer, featuring a lineup consisting of vocalist Tatiana Shmayluk, guitarist Roman Ibramkhalilov, bassist Eugene Abdiukhanov and drummer Vladislav Ulasevich, are finally about to release their fifth and newest album ‘Duél’.
Starting off with ‘Tantrum’, the song throws us into the mix and forms an absolutely perfect introduction to Jinjer's new era of sound. Heavy on both the guitars and the screams, it throws us right into the action without a moment's hesitation. The mockery of aristocracy is a sadly poignant and purposeful use of the bands, clearly well-spent, time, a statement that also rings true for the rest of the album.
The first single from the LP, ‘Someone’s Daughter’, is a track all about the hardship of becoming and being an independent woman in this world. The way the song is written is deliberate and thought-provoking, able to go from calm to aggressive at the drop of a hat, matching the lyrics of the song flawlessly. Perfectly placed screams in the song highlight the emotions and feelings of being scared and alone, as well as then mirroring the growth of independence and learning how to stand for yourself over the time.
‘Tumbleweed’, a firm favourite already off of the album, is not as heavy as the rest of the album and definitely takes the tempo down a notch, but this change of pace is most assuredly welcomed. Both the guitar riffs and the drums in this song allow the beginning of the track to feel like a march of some sort, and the lyrics are a clear metaphor for war and a longing for home, which is made all the more powerful by the sad fact that the band's home country of Ukraine is still embroiled in its defence against Russia's invasion.
Jinjer have outdone themselves with this album, working to maximise both their uniqueness and ingenuity. Brilliantly placed riffs and vocals make this, and all of the rest of their records, stand out in the genre. If there is a weakness to be found, it would be the lack of slower tracks as listening to the whole album all at once can be little overwhelming. Nonetheless, the musical excellence shown on this release is sky-high, and we should be expecting a serious run up the charts for this formidable project.
‘Duél’ will be released on February 7th 2025 via Napalm Records.
Words: Katerina Stepanikova
Photos: Jinjer
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