#6: Nine Treasures
Mongolia/Inner Mongolia (China) seems to have a thriving folk metal scene; I consider Nine Treasures as one of the few awesome acts rockin’ from the great steppes.
Background Info (Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives)
Country of origin: China
Location: Beijing
Status: Active
Formed in: 2010
Genre: Folk Metal
Lyrical themes: Mongolian Folklore
Current label: Unsigned/independent
Years active: 2010-present
What makes Mongolian folk metal uniquely epic? Two things in general — the instruments, and of course, the throat singing. Nine Treasures, nonetheless, has its own style. The band has a permanent morin khuur player; they also employ a balalaika (a Russian lute). I would say that most of their songs give off a lively and positive feel in contrast to many of Tengger Cavalry’s, which are sort of darker (I’m relying purely on the sound coz, yep, I don’t understand any Mongolian).
Moreover, Nine Treasure’s epicness is centered on the hypnotic notes of the morin khuur (a bowed string instrument), as opposed to other acts that employ throat singing more extensively.
Favorite albums:
- Awakening from Dukkha (2021) — this is a compilation album, and it contains re-recoreded versions of many of my favorite songs.
Favorite songs:
- Bodhicitta (feat. Liberation) — this is a single released in 2019; I think this is their heaviest song because it tends to lean towards metalcore as opposed to their usual more “folk-oriented” heavy metal rhythms. Moreover, the song features actual growling vocals. What I extra-liked about this song is that it features a yatga (a Mongolian zither)
- Nomin Dalai (re-recorded; Awakening from Dukkha)
- The Dream About Ancient City (re-recorded; Awakening from Dukkha)
- Praise for Fine Horse (re-recorded; Awakening from Dukkha)
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