The gods of metal finally had mercy on Iowa and sent Jinjer to play amongst the cornfields as part of their tour in support of the new EP, Macro, which was released on the day of the show, October 25.

With complex instrumentation thoughtfully layered on the fusion of power metal with a variety of other musical genres, Jinjer’s compositions are enchanting. There is jazz, blues, reggae, hip-hop, Russian/Ukrainian folk, and something reminiscent of The Arabian Nights; there are clean powerful vocals effortlessly transitioning into death growl and back. There are so many levels and so much pure energy in this music, it’s mesmerizing. However, Jinjer takes the term “progressive” beyond the technical side of the genre; their lyrics are a breath of fresh air among the cookie-cutter themes often associated with metal. Unlike many artists who sing about themselves and their emotions, in most of their lyrics, Jinjer speak to the audience; they are humanity’s wake-up call and borderline political at times. Think for yourself; don’t let them fool you; take responsibility for your life.