Jinjer – Atreyu / Heavy as hell, it’s an absolute screamer

A huge seven-week European tour is now coming to an end. With Atreyu and Jinjer in a lineup featuring Bullet For My Valentine, this was an evening not to be missed. Fans in their thousands were ready, and Junjier and Atreyu delivered an absolute screamer of a gig. You can read the BFMV report here.

Jinjer – Atreyu

Swansea Arena – 10 March 2023

Words: Jade Colvin

Photography: Georgia Brittain

Jinjer

Jinjer - Swansea Arena - 10 March 2023.
Jinjer – Swansea Arena – 10 March 2023. Photo: Georgia Brittain/MetalTalk

Ukraine Metalcore band Jinjer, as special guests to Bullet For My Valentine, took the stage by storm. They have worked so hard to get to where they are now, touring relentlessly, winning awards such as Best Ukraine Metal Act, being ranked among the best rock/Metal albums of the year several times and their song Pieces listed by Metal Hammer in their 100 greatest Metal songs of the 21st century.

Front woman Tatiana hits the stage with her eye-catching hot, hot, hot black and glowing neon pink body suit, with eyes painted to match, immediately owing the stage with wild jumps and kicks to go with their heavy sound.

Jinjer - Swansea Arena - 10 March 2023.
Jinjer – Swansea Arena – 10 March 2023. Photo: Georgia Brittain/MetalTalk

The second song in, Copycat had us singing and dancing along. Their progressive rock style was infectious to dance along to, with a mixture of stylings like reggae, funk and R&B.

Hella Rock Festival

They had a beautiful light show, with blue and yellow flooding the stage at times, representing their home. What you may not have known, they paused their career last year for several months to help with relief efforts, but the Ukraine Ministry of Culture gave them permission to leave and tour as ambassadors for the illegally invaded nation.

Jinjer - Swansea Arena - 10 March 2023.
Jinjer – Swansea Arena – 10 March 2023. Photo: Georgia Brittain/MetalTalk

The band were so tight together, so clean, everything sounded immense, each member showing off their talents, their hard work, looking so comfortable. This is where they belong.

Tatiana’s switch from clean to filthy heavy demonic vocals is something to behold. It’s one thing hearing it at home recorded, where they have time to make changes etc., but catching them live, seeing and hearing for yourself this quick, and what looks like effortless change, is something you MUST witness in person.

Jinjer - Swansea Arena - 10 March 2023.
Jinjer – Swansea Arena – 10 March 2023. Photo: Georgia Brittain/MetalTalk

They thanked the crowd and ended heavy as hell, stomping around to one of my favourites, Call Me a Symbol.

Atreyu

Atreyu - Swansea Arena - 10 March 2023.
Atreyu – Swansea Arena – 10 March 2023. Photo: Georgia Brittain/MetalTalk

First up were Atreyu, an American Metalcore band. But don’t take them lightly, being first on. They are on this tour for a reason. These guys have quite the experience behind them with eight studio albums under their belt, and their latest album release, entitled Baptise, includes the single Warrior featuring none other than Blink 182’s drummer Travis Barker.

Atreyu - Swansea Arena - 10 March 2023.
Atreyu – Swansea Arena – 10 March 2023. Photo: Georgia Brittain/MetalTalk

Looking back, they’ve gone through quite the transformation since frontman Brandon also used to be their drummer. This appears to be a great move to give the band room to grow and for him to shine as a frontman with those huge pipes of his belting-out clean vocals. Their first song was the ever-popular Becoming The Bull, giving what felt like such a personal touch pointing out the crowd members who remembered all these lyrics from their 2007 song.

Atreyu - Swansea Arena - 10 March 2023.
Atreyu – Swansea Arena – 10 March 2023. Photo: Georgia Brittain/MetalTalk

Brandon shouted, “sing a long time,” and to everyone’s surprise, by the second song, Brandon had already found his way into the crowd with the mic for an up close and personal experience, whilst bassist Porter took head of the stage with his guttural screams. Drums boomed through the arena. “Anyone wanna hear an old song?”

Atreyu - Swansea Arena - 10 March 2023.
Atreyu – Swansea Arena – 10 March 2023. Photo: Georgia Brittain/MetalTalk

Brandon was hyping the crowd up, hand to his ear, enticing us to be louder, building that atmosphere. Save Us had everyone really riled up, and then they shared their latest single with us, Drowning. You should check it out.

Atreyu - Swansea Arena - 10 March 2023.
Atreyu – Swansea Arena – 10 March 2023. Photo: Georgia Brittain/MetalTalk

What a set full of laughter, banter from the band, drinking games, and guitarists lit up battling it out together. Ending on Blow, losing his shirt (Brandon is so rock ‘n’ roll) and just like that, the set was over. With the promise of returning, we will be waiting, guys!

Sleeve Notes

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