Presented By Valhalla Touring

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Review By: Riccardo Ball

Artist/Band: Jinjer Supported by Khadga

Venue/City: Powerstation, Auckland, New Zealand

Date of Event: Monday 3rd March 2025

The anticipation in a packed Powerstation was palpable as the gathered throng awaited the arrival of Ukrainian Progressive Groove Metal act Jinjer. There wasn’t even the usual hubbub amongst the masses, just a growing tension that was released in a tidal wave sound.
The opening barrage of ‘Just Another’ slammed everyone out of the collective stasis and the band doubled down rolling straight into ‘Sit Stay Roll Over’.
Vocalist Tatiana Shmayluk cut a dark figure leading the proceedings from a riser front and centre, her vocal dynamics were breath taking. Like a siren of legend, she effortlessly switches from sounding like the Lord of the Ninth Gate of Hell to a mourning Angel.

A strong foundation is key to building any solid structure and Vladislav Ulasevich behind the kit puts the whole band on his shoulders and elevates the sound to a whole new level.
Ulasevich’s partner in crime in the rhythm section Eugene Abdukhanov, weaves his low hypnotic tones throughout each piece and his fret work is as mesmerising as the swaying Eastern melodies that suffuse the Jinjer sound.

Jinjer guitarist Roman Ibramkhalilov is metronome like and his playing intricate, he’s not the atypical Metal Guitar God with shredding solo’s every five minutes. The way the Jinjer sound works Ibramkhalilov is at times more a part of the Rhythm section but he still fuses flourishes and intricate fills into his work.

New tracks ‘Green Serpent’, ‘Duel’ and ‘Kafka’ got rapturous responses while older favourites ‘Retrospect’, ‘On Top’ and ‘I Speak Astronomy’ also drew plenty of applause while the finale of Pisces lift the roof off of the Powerstation.

Jinjer’s sound at this show was incredible, you could hear everything in isolation, the balance and clarity were superb. Metal has plenty of sub-genres and I’d almost create another for Jinjer live; Chrome Metal, so polished you could eat you breakfast off of it.
Konstantin Levandowskiy deserves credit here, his artistry as Front of House man was as important to this final product as any of the players – superb.