The voice of war – review of Jinjer’s “Duél”

Jinjer is absolutely one of the best metal bands in Europe. The band came from Ukraine, precisely from Donetsk, which has been in war with Russia since 2022. Despite the bad situation, for a metal band, it’s a moment to let out anger, fears, and unheard words and try to convey how it feels in moments like these. You can feel all these emotions especially in the arrangements on “Duél”, the fifth album of the Ukrainian band. The lyrics are nearly all dedicated to what’s happening and what has happened in this war. You can sense this just by looking at the album cover.

The work of drummer Vladislav Ulasevich could be described as a crazy machine gun firing without stopping: the opening track “Tantrum” is a prime example, as are the other tracks. This sensation is amplified by palm-muted guitar riffs and a dominant bass in the interlude parts.

Guitarist Roman Ibramkhalilov not only delivers the “evil” sound his instrument demands, but he also crafts melodies as he has done since the beginning, while bassist Eugene Abdukhanov maintains his commanding presence. If anyone has trouble hearing bass in metal records, any Jinjer album is highly recommended.

And Tatiana Shmailyuk’s voice? If the angel and devil on everyone’s shoulders could exist, they might have the face of this fantastic singer. Her powerful growls and high notes in clean vocals improve with each album. Although it’s a great album, “Duél” isn’t their best. “Macro” and “Wallflowers” are certainly better than this fifth album, but the usual good mix of progressive, djent, metalcore, groove, and other genres places it among the best in their discography. Good work!

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