After fifteen years of singing the legends of their homeland, Nine Treasures has signed with Metal Blade Records.
To celebrate this international recognition, Askhan (vocals/guitar/tovshuur, Suld), Orgil (bass/backing vocals), Saina (balalaika/backing vocals, M-Survivor), Namra (drums), and Nars (morin khuur) unveil their fifth album, Seeking the Absolute.
We begin with traditional sounds on Until Now, but saturation soon joins the catchy mix, as do the exotic vocals, whether clear in the quiet moments or saturated for the powerful charges. Folk instruments punctuate our progression to Indecision, which offers a touch of melancholy in the vocals, steering the composition towards prog touches while allowing for wilder passages, but the track remains fairly measured, unlike Yellow-Black Storm, which plays on an intoxicating sweetness thanks to the tovshuur and morin khuur duo. The interlude flows very naturally into Steel Falcon, which quickly picks up the pace and offers a catchy groove while remaining rooted in airy Mongolian tones, even taking advantage of a break to let us catch our breath before striking again at mid-tempo for a thicker final. We continue with a touch of dissonance on Real Dream, where the rhythm section reprises this intriguing groove combined with its unusual instruments, but the band also knows how to offer a few moments of pure rage to reinvigorate the track before moving on to The Ultimate Evolution, which allows us another moment of uncertainty. Mysterious tones set in and flare up fairly regularly, offering long instrumental sections before the screams reappear, creating a real contrast with the playful sweetness of Just Like You. The track is quite festive and accessible, easily inviting us to join in its short dance before energizing us again on Lonely Old Horse, which also takes a more heady approach with palpable peaks of energy that are interesting to follow. The cheerful march eventually fades away, giving way to Seeking the Absolute, the eponymous title track where the band reconnects with its furious roots and a few heavier riffs, without ever forgetting its dreamlike Mongolian touch that never fails to give their rhythm a unique flavor, which they skillfully use to give the break an intense flavor and thus ensure a quality finale.
After fifteen years of musical creation, Nine Treasures is finally beginning to get the recognition it deserves. The road ahead is still long, but Seeking the Absolute is a valuable asset in continuing their journey.
80/100