Orgil: Bass, Backing Vocals
Saina: Balalaika, Backing Vocals, Guitars
Namra: Drums
Nars: Morin Khuur, Backing Vocals
With In search of the Absolute, 9 Treasures‘ first album for Steel Blade, the alt-metal lineup is worked up to ship their first globally launched album, In search of the Absolute. Shaped by vocalist/guitarist Askhan Avagchuud in 2010 within the autonomous area of Internal Mongolia in China, 9 Treasures are a singular mixture of steel and conventional Mongolian instrumentation, using each standard vocals and Mongolian throat singing. Guitars, bass, and drums collide with indigenous string devices, together with the balalaika and the morin khuur (horsehead fiddle). Briefly, pentatonic japanese music combined with heavy steel. The consequence? A sonic kaleidoscope that follows no set template.
“On In search of the Absolute, we tried to seize the issues that really excite us deep inside, these unforgettable moments when your thoughts swings vast open to infinite prospects,” says Askhan. “You open a brand-new realm for your self, unfamiliar, but extremely thrilling. On the similar time, it’s like an infinite puzzle, and to finish it, you additionally want calm reflection and meticulous evaluation. That’s why we glance upon it as ‘In search of the Absolute.’“
The singer/guitarist grew up listening to the Huge 4, nu steel and European bands like In Flames and Kids of Bodom. Askhan was cautious to make 9 Treasures‘ melding of genres an natural factor. “It’s not so simple as simply placing a guitar chord behind some Mongolian melodies,” he explains. “Our music is a lot deeper than that. We work to make sure the 2 distinct aspects of our sound complement each other. I’ve modified the way in which I play the guitar to accommodate the Mongolian components, and vice-versa. To do that takes a variety of evaluation and experimentation.”
9 Treasures transfer simply from a straight-up headbanging fashion to the extra atmospheric progressive fashion on In search of the Absolute. Guitar-wise, Askhan makes use of a variety of Mongolian enjoying methods and songwriting logic into his enjoying and is worked up for the “contemporary blood” it provides to the band’s sound. The quintet’s diversified approaches and common messaging will enable them to tour with any musically progressive band, be it Amon Amarth or TOOL.
The primary single from In search of the Absolute is “Actual Dream,” a tune written whereas the band was in Los Angeles. “Actual Dream” marked a turning level for 9 Treasures. “It felt like moving into a brand new dimension. Via this tune, we rediscovered our confidence and broke by means of a protracted artistic bottleneck,” says Askhan. “It actually felt like a rebirth. We explored each doable construction, piecing collectively the proper association by means of countless trial and error. In the long run, we acquired precisely what we had envisioned-it was all value it.“
“Till Now” was one other breakthrough second in writing for In search of the Absolute. “One morning, whereas enjoying the tovshuur [Mongolian plucked musical instrument] I stumbled upon a sliding riff that simply clicked,” Askhan remembers. “We stored refining it time and again till it turned the ultimate model. Halfway by means of, the observe breaks right into a stream-of-consciousness improvisation, wild and free. Each time we carry out it, it looks like using a wave that simply retains rising and rolling. We get utterly misplaced in it-and we find it irresistible.”
The title observe absolutely embraces the spirit of Jap enjoying techniques-”particularly glissando, time and again again-which is why the tune’s working title was merely ‘Slide.’ By that point, our artistic course of had turn into utterly free,” Askhan says. “We not cared about guidelines or boundaries-we simply adopted our instincts and poured all the pieces out. The twin solo within the center, between the morin khuur and the slide guitar, is considered one of my favourite moments-two devices, two textures, enjoying the very same notes. It’s an ideal fusion.”
The band takes its title from a bunch of objects referenced in historic Mongolian poems, and in music, lyrics and visuals, 9 Treasures contact on the mythology and fairy tales of their homeland. However the band’s songs comprise extra common references, too, explains Askhan, a training Buddhist. “Lyrically, ‘In search of the Reality’ is a tune about holding onto religion and looking for the final word reality of the universe. That’s one thing I’ve personally been striving for in latest years-so in some ways, this tune is a message to myself. A sort of self-encouragement. However I additionally hope it may deliver power to others, too.”
Following 9 Treasures‘ 2024 signing to Steel Blade, the label re-released the 12-song compilation album Awakening from Dukkha in addition to 2017′s Knowledge Eyes. 9 Treasures play 100-plus pageant exhibits and headlining gigs per yr in Asia to audiences of as much as 80,000. With three acclaimed albums main as much as In search of the Absolute, tens of millions of streams, and festivals together with Wacken Open Air, Woodstock Poland and extra, 9 Treasures are completely poised to seize The Americas, Europe and onward.
Achievements so far have been famous by the press worldwide, with publications together with The Quietus providing rave evaluations: “There are not any compromises on sonic assault for the good thing about the historically acoustic devices. Tracks borrow gleefully from a variety of steel methods, taking the tuneful riffs of melodic steel, the momentum of hardcore and the knack for complexity from progressive kinds, utilizing these in tangent with throat singing methods to hammer residence the vocal hooks, that are sprinkled liberally.“
9 Treasures are wanting ahead to the October 24, 2025 launch of In search of the Absolute, desirous to unfold their distinctive sound and positivity worldwide. “Our new music suits with our historical past but additionally offers the viewers extra surprises because of tons of latest components that we added. Our message is straightforward,” Askhan concludes. “We simply need everybody to be joyful and revel in themselves at our exhibits. We wish 9 Treasures to deliver some optimistic vitality into the world – the best factor we are able to do with that is to assist individuals.”
