LIVE REVIEW: Jinjer @ Thekla, Bristol

It’s hard to say what is biting punters more – the temperature dropping as winter takes full effect or the 5:30pm opening to a show that has, over the last couple of days, been advertised at both 7:00pm and 6:30pm. Nevertheless, the bowels of Thekla are warm enough to melt away all prior grumbles and a sold-out show begins to filter in; proof, if any more were needed, that JINJER are currently one of the hottest metal bands in the world.

Before them, an opening slot for fellow Ukrainians SPACE OF VARIATIONS, who bear the full brunt of taking to the stage at 6pm by playing to virtually no-one. Naturally the audience grows as they go on and their nu-metal/metalcore blend offers plenty of bounce and groove, all the while being delivered with plenty of spunk. The stand out track is probably Tibet, which has areas akin to early PARKWAY DRIVE and sparkles with potential; however, if metalcore bands were beers, then SPACE OF VARIATIONS would be Bud Light. For all their efforts, they just aren’t original enough to make a huge impression and whilst those who have got to the venue early seem fully engaged, there’s plenty of head-nodding and warm applause after each song, nobody is falling over themselves either. Nevertheless, for a band that are likely making their first appearance in the UK, they don’t seem overwhelmed or uncomfortable, which certainly bodes well for the future.

Rating: 6/10

Finland’s KHROMA bring a different vibe altogether – an electronica/technical death metal band that sound like a marriage between GOJIRA and THE ALGORITHM. It’s certainly a curious concoction and it starts well enough; naturally heavier than their predecessors, they’re well placed to take things up to the next level and make a serious impact on the Bristol faithful. Unfortunately, they are impeded by an unholy trinity that does much to undermine what could have been an excellent showing. One is completely out of their own hands, in fairness, which is guitarist Mikko Merilinna developing technical issues early on, although these are rectified easily with a quick change of lead. What isn’t out of their own hands is the occasional sloppiness from drummer Antti Honka, which stifles the tightness that this style of music needs for full impact, or the structure of their songs which go from full out riffing to stripped-back ambience at irregular moments, thus aiding to kill their early momentum. By the time they depart, they’ve lost the vast majority of the head of steam they built up at the beginning, their music feeling ploddy and one-paced. Maybe the country should stick to symphonic metal from now on.

Rating: 6/10

For a long time, THE AGNOIST were best known for being the former band of current ARCH ENEMY frontwoman Alissa White-Gluz which did them a massive disservice; after this performance, that’s even more apparent. Showing both SPACE OF VARIATIONS and KHROMA how it should be done, the pace of the evening picks up tenfold, with pits opening up amidst a whirlwind of hair and melodic death metal that goes down an absolute treat; even a wholly pointless drum solo mid-set doesn’t derail things either. Vicky Psarakis, who took on vocal duties following White-Gluz’s acrimonious departure, has become an imposing presence and her voice is on another level this evening; her clean singing is on point while her growls and screams border on terrifying, particularly during a ferocious run-through of The Gift of Silence and a blinding Dead Ocean. For all that this band have gone through, it’s clear that they’re a much better outfit now than they ever have been before, and by the time the last strains of the anthemic As One We Survive fade away, it’s very apparent that there will be a number of new fans walking out of Thekla once everything is over.

Rating: 8/10

As if JINJER’s rise in stock and popularity over the last few years wasn’t extraordinary enough, they’re now in a position where SUICIDE SILENCE are opening for them when they take their tour in support of latest album and EP combo Macro and Micro to the United States next year. Once you’ve taken into account their country of origin (Ukraine isn’t exactly prolific for producing metal bands) and how they seemingly came out of nowhere, everything verges on the mind-blowing. Once they’ve come off stage after a bruising 80 minute set, however, everything makes complete sense. Opening with a three-minute digital countdown and launching straight into Teacher, Teacher, the floor of Thekla becomes a sea of moving bodies; by the time following track Sit Stay Roll Over finishes, one person has already been carried towards the back having succumbed to the frenzy.

Complimenting their experimental metal is a truly abrasive light show, with backdrops of various moving shapes and colours combining with strobes to make everything JINJER showcase a formidable experience. Even when they turn Thekla into something more akin to Copacabana during Judgement (& Punishment) with its lighter, funk-esque sections, nobody rests easy because it’ll quickly mutate back into an all out assault on the senses. It’s one of the beauties of their style; even when you know the songs incredibly well, you can still never quite predict where it’s going next, allowing for high-octane shows where audiences are constantly on their toes. In fact, there’s nobody doing what JINJER are in metal right now; they’re a one-of-a-kind band and the fact that these latest UK shows have sold out, been upgraded and sold out again is testament to that. Additionally, in Tatiana Shmaylyuk, they have one of the finest frontwomen in alternative music today; not only does she possess a truly wonderful set of pipes, both in terms of singing and screaming, but her overall energy and poise is a sight to behold. This is one of those shows that no-one wants to end, but end it must and it does after a sumptuous rendition of Pisces. As JINJER depart to raptures, one thing is crystal; they will get bigger, and quickly.

Rating: 9/10

Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in Bristol from Serena Hill Photography here: