Jinjer Blend Beauty and Brutality as ‘Duél’ Tour Leaves Manchester O2 Ritz Spellbound [Photos]

Over the last few years, the Ukrainian tech-metal juggernaut known as Jinjer has taken the genre by storm. Of course, the mainstream can talk all they want about certain other bands; however, the fact that the O2 Ritz in Manchester, like many others, is packed to the rafters for this date on the Ukrainians’ Duel European tour, goes to prove just how much of an impact the band have left on the scene.

It‘s hard not to be impressed, though, when the quartet put in a shift that is as utterly flawless as this one. However, watching that quartet, it is also impossible to ignore the star of the show, vocalist Tatiana Schmayluk. Schmayluk not only has a voice that has silenced many unexpected souls on those internet “reaction” videos, but she also has the stage presence of a star. Set back either side from the vocalist are her bandmates, who crank out wave after wave of music that swoops from beautifully intricate and calming to crushingly brutal. Like their vocalist, the musical piece of this pie is absolutely top drawer.

Storming through opener, and album title track ”Duél”, the tech-metal band are simply unstoppable. Supporting their critically-acclaimed 2024 album, the band lurch into ”Green Serpent” as Schmayluk stomps and swirls around the stage, roaring along to a near-perfect soundtrack of jarring riffs. As the set progresses, Jinjer demonstrate not one single weakness in their armour. No matter how hard you try, whether it’s the frazzling proggy sections, the savage metal combos, or Schmayluks effortless switch-ups between guttural screams and almost angelic cleans, there is literally nothing you can pick at to fault the band on.

Continuing through the set, a cursory glance out across the room shows a split of those pinballing around in pockets of moshpits, while elsewhere, fans sit back soaking up this musical masterclass from the Ukrainian outfit. Fifteen songs into the set and the band launch into the colossal “Pisces”, a song which encapsulates every glorious characteristic of this band into four minutes of beautifully savage music. While the mainstream has its attention focused on the big-hitters of the tech-metal world tonight, here in this corner of Manchester, this Ukrainian quartet delivered a performance that was nothing short of phenomenal.

Our photographer, Graham Finney Photography, brought back this awesome gallery from the gig, which you can check out below, along with Jinjer‘s setlist.

Jinjer Setlist:

1. Duél
2. Green Serpent
3. Fast Draw
4. Vortex
5. Disclosure!
6. Tantrum
7. Teacher, Teacher!
8. Kafka
9. Judgement (& Punishment)
10. Hedonist
11. I Speak Astronomy
12. Perennial
13. Someone’s Daughter
14. Rogue
15. Pisces
16. Sit Stay Roll Over