Pink Dresses and Circle Pits: Jinjer Redefine Metal in Cologne
First stop for Ukrainian metalcore band Jinjer on their European Duél tour was the Palladium in Cologne. Very special guests and visibly excited to be there for this tour are TEXTURES from the Netherlands and Unprocessed from Germany.
Having released their album ‘Genotype’ on the same day, progressive metalcore band TEXTURES started the night. With fresh tracks and a frenetic energy, the six rockers proved why they were still going strong after all these years of experience. In my opinion, better than ever: the band played a mix of old and new songs, some even from the alleged sister album ‘Phenotype’, that was released pre-7-year hiatus. Soundwise, the performance was exactly what their band name promises. With drums, keyboard, two guitars, and bass, the songs sound intricate and layered while never losing any power. TEXTURES came to shred (and headbang), and that they did. The vocal work was just as powerful, switching nicely between singing and screaming.
After a short break, Unprocessed took the stage, premiering their own independent album release ‘Angel’. Taking inspiration from several different genres, though predominantly progressive metalcore, the quartet showed how versatile metal can be and sound if you just dare. With compelling riffs, soft melodic vocals contrasted with screams, as well as fast drums and complex bass lines, Unprocessed manage to bring something new and special to the stage. One of their songs even included a rap part performed by the bassist. Urging the crowd on to form a big circle pit, the band warmed up the crowd even further. Perfect for the headliner Jinjer to take their place.
As opposed to what the sound and genre suggest, Jinjer’s singer Tatiana Shmayluk appeared in a flowy pink dress with serious ruffles, matching pink gloves and neck scarf, as well as a flower-print corset. With glitter on skin and hair, she could've embodied an — albeit tattooed — elven princess. A beautiful apparition, as my mother said, when I first showed her one of my photos. And yet, one with an incredible vocal range, that lets the unknowing search for where that voice is coming from, before landing back on the lady up front.
Switching effortlessly between harsh and clean vocals, Shmayluk led the band into the track ‘Duél’ from their latest album of the same name. Followed by ‘Green Serpent’, the band showed that they are not just musicians but craftsmen at work. With Roman Ibramkhalilov on guitar performing memorable riffs and Eugene Abdukhanov hitting incredible bass lines and solos (and I do so love a bassist being used right), Jinjer definitely cannot be ignored as one of the big names in the scene.
Debuting ‘Tantrum’ live, the band gave it their all. Shmayluk’s growls and screams set between her clean melodies demonstrate the two ends of the Jinjer-spectrum they constantly pinball between. Vlad Ulasevich on drums completes and fills out the sound, both on the loud extremes and slower downtimes.
Eyes following their every move, the crowd sang their hearts out on tracks such as the gloomy ‘Kafka’. Tracks might be the wrong word here, as each reminds more of full compositions than just mere songs. Fitting the dramatics of any fantasy film score, Shmayluk is both the princess and the dragon. Softness contradicts aggression. It’s letting go of emotional sorrows at its purest and best, both for the crowd and the band.
With ‘Rogue’ and the popular ‘Pisces’ back to back, Cologne’s Palladium was vibrating and shaking as if moved by an earthquake. Ending their set while making their fans’ teeth rattle in their skulls was a powerful finish to their first gig of the ‘Duél’ tour. Having impressed everyone there that Jinjer is here to conquer any stage presented to them, they sent the crowd into a good night with ‘Sit Stay Roll Over’ — which one might have to when it comes to them.
