JINJER (UA)

About

Few bands from Ukraine have made the kind of international noise that Jinjer has. Formed in Donetsk in 2008, the band hit their stride once vocalist Tatiana Shmayluk joined in 2009, bringing a vocal range that shifts between clean singing and guttural growls within a single track. Their 2016 single "Pisces" became something of a metal landmark, eventually landing at number 74 on Metal Hammer's list of the 100 Greatest Metal Songs of the 21st Century. Musically, Jinjer refuse to stay in one lane. Their 2019 album Macro pulled in reggae and progressive rock influences alongside the groove and metalcore heaviness they built their reputation on. Influences range from Slayer and Pantera to Cypress Hill and soul music, and that eclecticism shows. After pausing their career in early 2022 to support relief efforts following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the band returned to touring as official cultural ambassadors for the country. Their fifth studio album, Duél, arrived in February 2025.