I swear the speakers at MTelus are ready to unionize. The week had been a sonic onslaught of volume from Steel Panther to Electric Callboy and Mr Bungle. There is no rest for the wicked cause Jinjer with opener Monuments certainly weren’t gonna turn the volume down.
Monuments took the stage with an energy that was palpable. The British quintet unleashed a relentless barrage of intricate guitar riffs, thunderous bass lines, and pounding drums that got the blood flowing. Their progressive metal sound, characterized by complex song structures and melodic interludes is like headbanging to math, but in a good way.
Monuments’ charismatic frontman, Chris Barretto, commanded the stage with his powerful vocals and engaging stage presence. Songs like “Cardinal Red.” and “Nefarious” showcased their technical prowess. The highlight of their set was undoubtedly the epic “I, Creator,” which closed the set, leaving the crowd wanting more.
Jinjer emerged amidst a crescendo of cheers and applause. Fronted by the indomitable Tatiana Shmayluk, the Ukrainian metalcore juggernauts wasted no time in launching into a ferocious set.
Tatiana’s vocal range is nothing short of astonishing, effortlessly transitioning from guttural growls to soaring clean vocals. Dressed like a schoolgirl from Satan’s school for wayward children, she made the stage her own. Jinjer’s instrumental prowess was equally impressive, with Eugene Abdukhanov’s thunderous bass lines and Roman Ibramkhalilov’s virtuosic guitar work leaving no doubt that this band is at the top of their game.
The setlist was a balanced mix of Jinjer’s discography, featuring crowd favourites like “Pisces,” “I Speak Astronomy,” and “Vortex.” 6 tracks came from the most recent release Wallflowers, whose name is clearly ironic.
The mosh pits and crowd-surfing reached a fever pitch as Jinjer concluded their set with the explosive “Sit Stay Roll Over.” A single song encore that still managed to satisfy the masses.
No word yet on whether the petition by the MTelus speakers’ attorneys for a week of acoustic shows has been received, but the Jinjer didn’t care and neither did the crowd. Long live the metal \m/ \m/
Review – Richard Brunette
Photos – Ryan Rumpel
