Jinjer Explained

Jinjer should not be confused with Just Jinjer.

Background:group_or_band
Jinjer
Landscape:yes
Origin:Donetsk, Ukraine
Years Active:2008–present
Current Members:
  • Tatiana Shmayluk
  • Roman Ibramkhalilov
  • Eugene Abdukhanov
  • Vladislav Ulasevich
Past Members:
  • Dmitriy Oksen
  • Maksym Fatullaiev
  • Vyacheslav Okhrimenko
  • Oleksandr Koziychuk
  • Yevhen Mantulin
  • Dmitriy Kim

Jinjer ("ginger") is a Ukrainian metalcore band from Donetsk, formed in 2008. None of the founding members remain with the band. The current lineup considers 2009 as its official year of formation, with the arrival of singer Tatiana Shmayluk and guitarist Roman Ibramkhalilov.[1] The band has since added bassist Eugene Abdukhanov and drummer Vladislav Ulasevich. Their most recent album, Wallflowers, was released in August 2021.

History

Jinjer was formed in 2008 by singer Maksym Fatullaiev, guitarist Dmitriy Oksen, bassist Oleksiy Svynar, and drummer Vyacheslav Okhrimenko. This lineup released the four-song EP Objects in Mirror Are Closer than They Appear.[2] In 2009, Fatullaiev was replaced by Tatiana Shmayluk, and Roman Ibramkhalilov joined on second guitar. In 2011, Oleksiy Svynar was replaced by Eugene Abdukhanov,[3] while Okhrimenko was replaced by Oleksandr Koziychuk.

This lineup self-released the EP Inhale, Do Not Breathe in 2012 and Jinjer began relentlessly touring on their own funds.[4] They were noticed by the Leaders Records in late 2012, and Inhale, Don't Breathe was officially re-released in 2013 in an extended format, with three live tracks. The band won the Best Ukrainian Metal Act award held by Kyiv's InshaMuzyka label in 2013 (they would win that award again in 2016).

Jinjer self-released their first full-length album, Cloud Factory, in 2014; the record featured another new drummer, Yevhen Mantulin. It would later be picked up and re-released by their current record label, Napalm.[5] Jinjer began touring internationally and personally booked their own shows.[1] The final remaining founding member, Dmitriy Oksen, departed in 2015 and was not replaced, leaving Ibramkhalilov as sole guitarist.

While the band was on tour in 2014, Mantulin fell out of a third-story window and suffered severe injuries, severing his spine and rupturing his spleen and thus being unable to continue playing drums.[6] He was replaced by Dmitriy Kim.

After several world tours, Jinjer released their second full-length album, King of Everything, in 2016, which was preceded by the single "Pisces".[7] [8] In 2021, Metal Hammer placed "Pisces" at No. 74 in their list of "The 100 Greatest Metal Songs of the 21st Century".[9] Shortly after the release of King of Everything, drummer Vladislav Ulasevich joined and the band's lineup has remained stable since.[10]

In 2017, Jinjer committed to two tours across Europe in support of Arch Enemy,[11] followed by their first tour of North America, alongside Cradle of Filth, in 2018. The band also reissued their 2014 album, Cloud Factory, on Napalm Records in February 2018.[12] In September of that year, Jinjer landed on the Billboard Next Big Sound chart.[13] They released the five-track EP Micro in January 2019,[14] followed by tours with Amorphis, Soilwork, and Nailed to Obscurity.[15]

Their next full-length album, Macro, was released in October 2019[16] and featured experiments in reggae and progressive rock.[17] Loudwire named it one of the fifty best metal albums of 2019.[18] Jinjer was forced to cancel several tours, including their first in Latin America, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[19] They released the live album Alive in Melbourne in November 2020.[20] They then returned to Kaska Record Studios in Kyiv in March 2021,[21] and their fourth full-length album, Wallflowers, was released on 27 August.[22] Loudwire ranked it among the best rock/metal albums of the year again, placing it at #21.[23]

In March 2022, it was reported that Jinjer had "paused" their career to focus on relief efforts in Ukraine after Russia invaded the country one month prior.[24] In June 2022, Jinjer announced that they received permission from the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture to leave Ukraine and tour as ambassadors of the nation.[25]

In June 2024, Jinjer confirmed the completion of their fifth studio album and announced plans to debut new songs on their upcoming North American tour.[26]

Musical style and influences

Jinjer have mentioned many influences for their music, including Guano Apes, Slayer, Death, Pantera, Anathema, Lamb of God, Gojira, and Twelve Foot Ninja.[27] [28] While explaining their influences, the band have noted other metal acts like Opeth, Karnivool, and Textures, in addition to groups across the spectrum of R&B, soul, funk, jazz, reggae,[29] and hip-hop, such as Cypress Hill and House of Pain.[28]

They have been noted for progressive experiments with genres such as R&B, soul, funk, jazz, reggae,[29] and groove metal.[30] Bassist Eugene Abdukhanov has been noted for his use of a five-string bass to supplement the group's sound since Roman Ibramkhalilov became the sole guitarist.[31] The band's more recent releases have featured lyrics addressing the war in Donbas and its effects on their home region of Donetsk.[32]

Band members

Current

Past

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Title! scope="col"
Album details
Cloud Factory
  • Released: 2014
  • Label: Self-released
King of Everything
  • Released: 29 July 2016
  • Label: Napalm
Macro
  • Released: 25 October 2019[35]
  • Label: Napalm
Wallflowers
  • Released: 27 August 2021[36]
  • Label: Napalm

EPs

Live albums

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jinjer – Official Site . Biography. 21 June 2021.
  2. Web site: Jinjer: Objects in Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear. 19 September 2021. www.spirit-of-metal.com.
  3. Web site: FenrirXXII . Jinjer Backstory . 18 November 2019.
  4. Web site: Biography-FB . Facebook. 18 November 2019.
  5. Web site: GhostCultMag . Jinjer – Cloud Factory . 27 February 2018 . 12 November 2019.
  6. Web site: Jinjer . Friends, we have some tragic news for you . 21 July 2023 . Facebook.
  7. Web site: Jinjer on War in Ukraine, Rejecting Popularity + 'Macro'. YouTube. Loudwire.
  8. Web site: Jinjer – Official Band Site . Biography . 13 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180306152553/http://jinjer-metal.com/about . 6 March 2018 . dead .
  9. Web site: The 100 greatest metal songs of the 21st century . Metal Hammer . 16 May 2021. loudersound.com . 10 July 2021.
  10. Web site: Frays . Claire . 17 March 2020. Jinjer Drummer Vladislav Ulasevich Interviewed December 2019 . 19 September 2021. Rock Sins. en-GB.
  11. Web site: Metal Injection . Jinjer Shows Ukraine Brings The Heaviness with "Who Is Gonna Be The One" Live Clip . 30 August 2017 . 15 December 2017.
  12. Web site: thePRP . Jinjer to Reissue "Cloud Factory" In February . December 2017 . 30 January 2018.
  13. Billboard . Billboard Next Big Sound Artist Chart . . 16 November 2020.
  14. Web site: Jinjer bandcamp . Micro . 19 November 2019.
  15. Web site: thePRP . Amorphis, Soilwork, Jinjer & Nailed To Obscurity Announce European/UK Tour . 19 June 2018 . 21 January 2019.
  16. Web site: Jinjer To Release 'Macro' Album in October; 'Judgement (& Punishment)' Video Available . Blabbermouth . 23 August 2019 . BLABBERMOUTH.NET . 24 August 2019.
  17. Billboard.com . Ukrainian Metal Band Jinjer Delivers on Its Promise With New Album 'Macro' . . 31 October 2019 . 18 November 2019.
  18. Web site: The 50 Best Metal Albums of 2019 . . . 7 March 2021 . 3 December 2019.
  19. Web site: Jinjer reschedule tour of Latin America. 24 November 2020. LambGoat.
  20. Web site: Jinjer Alive In Melbourne. 20 November 2020. 1 December 2020. 1 February 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210201055203/https://www.nightshiftmerch.com/products/jinjer-alive-in-melbourne-cd. dead.
  21. Web site: Jinjer start work on fourth album, reveal plan to take "extreme music to a whole new level". Metal Hammer . 22 March 2021. loudersound.com . 20 June 2021.
  22. Web site: Jinjer – Wallflowers (Album Review). 27 August 2021.
  23. Web site: The 45 Best Rock + Metal Albums of 2021 . . . 3 January 2022 . 10 December 2021.
  24. https://www.theprp.com/2022/03/03/news/report-jinjer-have-paused-their-music-career-to-focus-on-ukrainian-relief-efforts/ Report: Jinjer Have Paused Their Music Career To Focus On Ukrainian Relief Efforts
  25. Web site: Jinjer to leave warzone and tour as official ambassadors for Ukraine. 8 June 2022. 9 June 2022. en.
  26. Web site: Mills . Matt . Jinjer have finished recording their fifth studio album . Louder . Future plc . 27 June 2024 . 27 June 2024.
  27. Web site: RevolverMagazine . From Warzones to Mosh Pits: The Evolution of Jinjer's Tatiana Shmailyuk . 2 April 2019. 18 November 2019.
  28. Web site: Blabbermouth.net . Ukraine's Jinjer Doesn't Like Being Compared to Other Female-Fronted Metal Bands . 24 July 2016 . 13 December 2017.
  29. Web site: LAWeekly.com . Ukrainian Groove-Metal Makes Road Warriors Out of Jinjer . 10 September 2019 . 4 November 2019.
  30. Web site: Bennet . J. . Jinjer: The rage, sadness and hustle of Tatiana Shmayluk . Revolver Mag . 21 October 2019.
  31. Web site: Jinjer Brbr DENG + Play Their Favorite Riffs . YouTube . Loudwire . 23 October 2019.
  32. Web site: 2 April 2019. From Warzones to Mosh Pits: The Evolution of Jinjer's Tatiana Shmailyuk. 19 September 2021. Revolver. en.
  33. Web site: Jinjer – Bus Invaders . YouTube . 5 December 2019.
  34. Web site: Vladislav Ulasevich . TAMA Drums.
  35. Web site: Jinjer to Release Macro Album in October; "Judgement (& Punishment)" Video Available . Blabbermouth.net . 23 August 2019 . 9 April 2023.
  36. Web site: Jinjer to Release Wallflowers Album in August; 'Vortex' Music Video Available . Blabbermouth.net . 17 June 2021 . 19 June 2021.