MusicThe Ukrainian metal band that returns to Brazil after suffering from the warProminent name in contemporary heavy music, Jinjer needed authorization from the authorities to return to performing shows amid the Russian invasion today at 8:05 pm

In the coming days, Brazil will welcome one of the most acclaimed metal bands of recent years for the third time. THE Jinjerwho came to the country in 2018 and 2022, return for their longest tour in the country, with six shows alongside Heaven Shall Burn.

Porto Alegre (11/30, Opinion), Curitiba (01/12, Tork’n Roll), Belo Horizonte (03/12, Mister Rock), Brasilia (05/12, Toinha), Rio de Janeiro (07/12, Circo Voador) and São Paulo (08/12, Earth) receive the groups. Tickets can be purchased at this link.

Jinjer, in particular, has a story of overcoming. The metalcore band, which also combines elements of groove metal and progressive, was formed in 2008, in Donetsk, Ukraine, and was on the rise when two major obstacles occurred.

The first, which affected the entire planet, was the covid-19 pandemic, preventing Tatiana Shmayluk (voice), Roman Ibramkhalilov (guitar), Eugene Abdukhanov (low), Vladislav Ulasevich (drums) to perform live. The second, more specific to where they live, is the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022.

Due to the conflict, the quartet was prevented from leaving the country for months. It was only in June that the musicians were allowed by authorities to leave the venue. They ended up becoming ambassadors for Ukraine on a tour that toured Europe, before heading to other destinations — such as Brazil, on a single date held in October of that year.

Witnessing the horror

In a 2022 interview with Chaoszine (via Blabbermouth), Eugene Abdukhanov celebrated his return to the stage, as it was the only moment he could forget the war. He also described the first weeks of war as the most horrible times of his life.

“Even if we were outside of Ukraine when the war started, we couldn’t play, because in those first few weeks, there was so much death, so much suffering, so much horror, that we couldn’t play.”

The musician was very close to the conflict area: he was driving when explosions started to happen around him. When he realized it, he was in the middle of a bombing raid.

“I tried to get out of there, driving 180 km on a very narrow road. I saw things that, before that, I only saw in movies: big explosions with all these pieces flying around. And they were falling right in front of me, with all the smoke around them. I was heading back to Kiev, I was just trying to get home as quickly as possible. There were traffic jams as people tried to leave the city. […] Everyone stayed at home and every half hour there was a siren. […] Bombs fell 5 or 10 km away, which is not close in our reality, but the earth shook. That’s when the siege of Kiev began.”

Although the conflict continues, the situation of the Jinjer members appears under control. So much so that, in addition to the shows, the band will release their fifth studio album on February 7th: Duel. Amid commitments on the road, they opened the European leg of the band’s farewell tour. Grave, “Celebrating Life Through Death”.