Rising stars Jinjer are back with their new album Duél. Blending elements from progressive metal, groove and metalcore – this album hits like a truck!

Having got into the band with prior release 2021s Wallflowers, I was excited to hear this offering.

The first element that stood out to me was the drumming. Especially in the heavier moments of the album, it really adds weight and depth to the sound. The bass complements this well in the rhythm section, you often pick out a funky and chunky bass lick in the background.

Guitarwork also follows the pattern set out by the rhythm section – slow and chunky breakdowns galore for when things get heavier, frantic riffing for the faster moments. Sometimes it reminds me of Meshuggah. Just don’t expect any crazy solos.

My favourite part of Jinjer’s sound however is probably the vocals provided by Tatiana Shmayluk. She effortlessly can swap from paint stripping harsh vocals – deep gutturals and harsher screams to serene and soaring cleans. This release in particular, you can feel the emotion that has been poured into the performance.

It’s one of those albums that has me nodding or banging my head to the majority of the tracks. That doesn’t mean that it’s a full on sonic assault. The majority of the songs combine heavier crazier moments with the more melodic.

I look forward to hearing how the band develops their sound from here. I’d be quite happy if they leaned into more of their progressive tendencies to give the album more variety. This does feel more refined and consistent than Wallflowers however.

On repeat listens I did find the album didn’t present as many multiple layers that needed unpacking, and some of the tracks felt like they were following a rulebook rather than pushing the boundaries.

Top tracks: Tantrum, Tumbleweed, Duél