The Van Buren in Phoenix, AZ, was host to Ukrainian metal powerhouse Jinjer, POD, Malevolence, and Space of Variations.
It was finally time for Jinjer to take the stage. The hype surrounding this band has grown exceptionally over the last couple of years, and they’re more than deserving. I first saw this band back in 2018 at the Whiskey A Go-Go in Hollywood, CA. The main thing going through my mind was this band was going to blow up and do big things in the music industry. Little did I know at the time they were already making huge waves! They have such a unique sound, and Tatiana’s voice goes from the prettiest, most delicate sound to one of the most brutal screams I’ve heard in the metal scene in a long time. Even though they were already making huge waves in the industry, I could see this band as the next big thing in the metal scene. The band bleeds talent on every front, and when you hear them live, they sound exactly like they do in the studio, which adds to their already impressive resume. The set list consisted of Jinjers 15 best songs. There were eight large LED screens perfectly placed on stage behind the band, which displayed different visuals all throughout their set. Looking out into the crowd, you could see multiple people waving Ukrainian flags, with people screaming as each member walked out on to the stage. Once Tatiana hit the stage, all bets were off, and it was time to get this metal party started. Opening up the set with “Sit, stay, roll over.” The opening scream to that song gets me every time, and as I looked back, the venue erupted! The amount of emotions this band elicits and the fans’ reactions to them is a sight to behold. It was incredible to see fans cry because they were so close to the band, as well as older and younger generations head-banging together and having the time of their lives. As they got deeper and deeper into their set, everyone knew it was about to come to an end, and Jinjer pulled out one last song and went into “On the Top.” Personally, I don’t think this band has one bad song, and every song shows the talent they have. There’s something about the way Tatiana sings in the chorus that pulls you in and then hits you with that amazing scream she has! While everyone in the building was desperately hoping for another song, it was unfortunately time for Jinjer to leave the stage. The tour ends in Los Angeles, and in the meantime, we’re all waiting for their next headlining tour to be announced.
Thank you, Jinjer, for an amazing night! Our hearts go out to you!
Jinjer originally formed in 2008 in Donetsk, Ukraine, but with a different singer. Tatiana officially joined the band as the new singer in 2009. In the beginning, they toured indefinitely, mostly surviving on their own funds. The passion driving this band is endless, and while things seemed bleak at the beginning of March 2022, Jinjer was finally granted permission to leave their country as ambassadors of the nation, owing primarily to Russia’s war with Ukraine. We need to recognize what Ukraine is going through as a country and how hard it must have been for them to leave their friends and families behind so they could come out to the U.S. and entertain us. Take a moment to reflect on everything they’re going through over there and how much respect they deserve.
Set list
Encore:
Opening up the night was Space of Variations, a metalcore act from Ukraine. This band was impressive on all fronts. They approach music in a unique direction, and it isn’t just straight metalcore from start to finish. They add elements of hip-hop, hyper-pop, and djent. If you are a fan of Norman Jean and Architects, I highly recommend checking out this band.
Malevolence, a band from South Yorkshire formed in 2010, was up next, and this was my first time hearing them. There is no denying that this band is heavy as hell. For 30 minutes straight, it was an all-out assault on our ear drums. They consider themselves just straight up heavy metal, as they’re not another hardcore or metal act. They definitely got the crowd going and were pushing for people to start crowd surfing up to the stage. If you’re a fan of Hatebreed and Crowbar, this band will fill that missing void in your life.
Up next was POD, and to be honest, I thought they were a little out of place on this bill. Well, I will always admit when I’m wrong, and God damn, was I wrong. POD absolutely blew me away, and the amount of energy from front man Sonny Sandoval was second to none. He was literally all over that stage, swinging that mic cord in every direction. There were two highlights: when Sonny jumped off stage and stood on the barricade, getting in the fans’ faces, and before they went into “Youth of the Nation.” Sonny asked that every kid or teenager come up on stage to sing with them, and watching those kids sing and raise the POD flags was a powerful sight, especially to that song. I have a new-found respect for this band, and, honestly, anytime they come through, I’m watching them live!
I also have to give it up for a certain security guard at the Van Buren. Their name is Adam, and watching them in action is a sight to see. They’re always keeping all the fans and photographers safe. Thank you for everything you do!
