The fifth album from the Ukrainian modern metal band has been highly anticipated for what feels like months at this point. They are one of the biggest newer bands in the world currently, as shown in their chart-storming previous album. I’ve never been the hugest fan of the band, even I rather enjoyed Wallflowers. Heck, I’d even score it higher now too, after more listens. So, after being a big name for a few years now, can they carry through their remaining momentum into this release? I got it sent through early and just had to see for myself!
The album opens at a blistering pace with ‘Tantrum’, really taking no prisoners. I’ve been a touch critical of the band’s drums in the past, but Vlad really makes this song, right from the opening fill. It’s essentially deathcore, with a killer riff and Tatiana’s brutal screams fitting perfectly over the top. Then it leads to a fantastic, melodic chorus with her switching to her powerful clean vocals. It’s surprisingly catchy and arena-filling. We even get an awesome little breakdown to just bass in the middle, not quite a solo but the melody is great! It takes a very ‘Pisces’-like turn when the vocals come in over the top of it; more catchiness that leads to a rather epic outro. It’s an awesome way to open the album, and easily makes it onto our playlist!
Though slower paced than the previous track, ‘Hedonist’ follows the same trail; drum fill into a huge, heavy riff. However, Tatiana’s vocals start off clean, an incredible melody over the pretty technical instrumentation. Heck, the same can be said about most of the song, as the chorus is also the same. However, the duel vocals for it are fantastic, the harmonies working so well. And yet we still get a HARD verse in the middle, her screams fitting the rest of it just as perfectly as her cleans did. The contrast between the two is amazing, making her cleans even more beautiful. The structure is a bit confusing for the track but I don’t mind, it’s nearly 4-minutes of modern metal awesomeness, and another definite highlight!
‘Rogue’ explodes right in with the screams and low, heavy riffing. It’s fucking awesome! It also doesn’t let up much, going hard throughout its entire runtime. It boarders on deathcore, and probably would be if it wasn’t so djenty. However, the riffing is a huge highlight of the track, and the album as a whole so far. That isn’t to take away from the vocals and drumming though, which has also been top class. Another awesome song!
The pace slows again with ‘Tumbleweed’, the guitars, bass and drums working perfectly to create a really interesting soundscape. Tatiana’s mesmerising melodies weave perfectly around it all too, it almost having a prog element to it all. They are certainly one of the most creative and quirky big bands in metal currently. And yet again, the screams later on fit perfectly with the heavier riffing behind them, it almost feeling like a breakdown out of nowhere. It’s great!
‘Green Serpent’ kind of follows the same formula and style and pace as the previous track, again the multi-layered clean vocals and interesting melodies being incredible. The same can be said for ‘Kafka’. And ‘Dark Bile’. And even ‘Fast Draw’, though it is a little faster and more aggressive like ‘Rogue’. This is kinda my only gripe with Jinjer. They are incredibly talented players (and vocalist in Tatiana’s case) and insane songwriters, but it does all kinda merge into one for me with this album. Individually the tracks are incredible, but when put together in an album they get a little samey to me. Then again, I know plenty of people who are more into the style as I am that will absolutely love an album full of this style. So while it’s not 100% my sort of thing, it’s still very good.
The final three tracks on the album are more of the same. The first, ‘Someone’s Daughter’ does give me pretty ‘Pisces’ vibes, while I love the heavier, closing title track, it easily being another highlight. As I said before, all are good, but are still a little similar!
Overall: I still really enjoyed this! Despite my issues, I had a good time listening to this! Every track was great, some of them easily standing up there with some of the bands best. Their talent as a band is truly off the charts. And as I said, while I personally didn’t feel like the whole album was my sort of thing, I know plenty of people that will love it. It’s an amazing collection of modern metal songs, written like only this band can.
Overall: 8/10