ALBUM REVIEW: Wallflowers – Jinjer

It’s easy to forget that JINJER aren’t quite a household name yet. 50M+ views into their brilliant Pisces: Live Session YouTube video, the band were embraced by fans of progressive, jazzy groove metal, but were equally dismissed by lots of people for being a gimmick, a way to show off different vocal styles without much underpinning the abrupt shift from soft melodies to brutal growls. Several years later, JINJER are still trying to shake the assumptions that this video brought with it, whilst simultaneously riding its wave to success. Wallflowers is their most successful move towards independence as a band with more tricks up their sleeve.

Opening with Call Me A Symbol, Wallflowers gets off to a heavy start. Blast beats abound on track number one, as well as a pitch-perfect performance from frontwoman Tatiana Shmayluk who is, as ever, a formidable addition to the band’s sound. 

In this chapter of JINJER’s story, their usual expansive sound is melded more with psychedelic undertones, and given an overall wash of darkness. It’s their most serious release to date, inspired by their conflict-torn home country of Ukraine, as well as the baffling and difficult events of the past year of the pandemic. The result is a deeply introspective album which sees lyricist Shmayluk exploring the deeper and darker sides of her own psyche, coming to terms with her love of being alone and discussing the pressures of her growing fame at the same time.

Most evident of this self-psychoanalysis is title track Wallflower – a deeply relatable song about finding solace in solitude and needing to recharge social batteries. A dark, swarming psychedelic almost-ballad, Wallflower is some of JINJER’s finest songwriting, turning their determined metallic groove inwards to explore some of the most personal themes of their career.

Lead single Vortex is also JINJER at their best. Vladislav ‘Vladi’ Ulasevich lays down one of the most compelling drum grooves in their catalogue whilst Shmayluk’s vocals swirl over the top. The track builds and builds in tension and weight until the colossal heavyweight finale. 

Album midway point, Pearls and Swine, is another highlight. Venom fills Shmayluk’s voice as she screams “you’re such a thankless child,” in one of the emotional apexes of the album. It’s another moment that feels like JINJER are taking a stand against the status quo, more so than ever before.

By calling attention to the ways in which worlds – personal, professional, global – have been upturned in the last year and a half, JINJER position themselves as one of the most outspoken metal bands on the planet. Wallflowers is a truly crowning achievement for the band whose trajectory seems truly unstoppable.

Rating: 8/10

Wallflowers is set for release on August 27th via Napalm Records. 

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