Returning after time away from music due to the war in Ukraine, Jinjer have re-emerged as cultural ambassadors for their homeland, carrying the weight of everything they’ve endured into their most ferocious, intricate, and adrenaline-fueled album yet - a record that should propel them far beyond their existing fanbase and onto the radar of anyone who cares about heavy music.

At its core, Duél is a masterclass in controlled chaos. It’s technically dazzling, overflowing with complexity, yet never self-indulgent or needlessly showy. The grooves are impossibly tight, the riffs snaking unpredictably through intricate patterns, and the drumming is just outright absurd in its precision. Yet Tatiana Shmailyuk’s performance is what ties it all together - switching between Meshuggah-tier growls and soaring, operatic choruses with complete ease. Her ability to anchor the music amid the swirling djent riffs and off-kilter basslines is what makes the album so addictive: no matter how complex the musicianship gets, the songs remain catchy, powerful, and utterly listenable.

The album’s emotional depth is also undeniable. Green Serpent is a crushingly heavy track about Tatiana’s own battle with alcoholism. There’s a real sense of urgency throughout the album, with every member of the band not just playing at the top of their ability, but doing so in complete cohesion, making for an album that feels like a band pushing itself to its absolute peak.

For all its technicality, Duél never loses its swagger, a confidence that recalls the best of nu-metal’s golden era, but without any of the clichés. Jinjer tap into that same blend of groove, aggression, and immediate impact, but infuse it with modern djent complexity and surgical precision, resulting in an album that feels like metal at its most vital - a fusion of raw power and sophisticated musicianship that keeps you on edge from start to finish.

While many bands in the modern metal landscape rely on sheer heaviness or technical complexity to make an impact, Jinjer fuses both with an effortless sense of groove and momentum - relentless, precise, and brimming with human emotion, shifting between jagged, off-kilter rhythms and moments of stunning melodic clarity. Jinjer has honed their craft to the point where they sound like no one else, but what makes Duél truly resonate is the unmistakeable passion behind it. As Ukraine continues to fight for its survival, Jinjer is proving that their country’s voice in heavy music has never been stronger.