Nine Treasures

Nine Treasures (九宝, or jiǔ bǎo) is a folk metal group with members mostly from the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia. Founded in 2010, the group combines traditional Mongolian music with heavy metal, notably using traditional instruments and overtone singing techniques.

Nine Treasures
Nine Treasures at Woodstock 2016 (Poland)
Background information
OriginInner Mongolia
GenresFolk metal, Heavy metal
Years active2010–present
LabelsIndependent
Websitehttps://site.douban.com/ashan
MembersOrgil, Ding Kai, Askhan, Saina, Tsog

History

Origin
Hailar district in Hulunbuir region of Inner Mongolia

The group was created in 2010 in Hailar District of Inner Mongolia in China.[1]

The name of the group refers to the nine materials evoked in ancient Mongolian poems as favoring luck (gold, silver, bronze, iron, agate, amber, jade, pearl and coral). The name was proposed by a former member of the group who currently plays in the group Hanggai; the group considers the name auspicious.[2]

In May 2012, the band released their first album 十丈 铜 嘴 at Mort Productions Beijing, an extreme metal record label created in 2001 and located in Shijingshan District, China. The album was reissued in 2015 under the title Arvan Ald Guulin Hunshoor for easy export. The reissue was done independently through Bandcamp.

International breakthrough

In August 2013, the group made a notable appearance at the Wacken Open Air festival where it won the Wacken Metal Battle in China and came second in the Wacken Metal Battle.[3] In December of that year the group released their second work Nine Treasures under an independent label.

During 2014 and 2015, the group spent most of their time on the road for an Asian tour, traveling north to Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia, south to Taiwan, and east to Vladivostok in Russia.[4]

In January 2015 they released their first EP titled Galloping White Horse, produced independently with 2 new songs and 3 live tracks. A few days later they released their first live album entitled Live in Beijing recorded from a concert in Beijing a few months before. This album contained the same live tracks as those included in the EP. In October of that year, the group was invited to WOMEX in Budapest and then went on tour in Europe for the first time, performing in the Czech Republic, Poland, Latvia, (Germany), Denmark, the Netherlands, and Austria.[5]

Nine Treasures at WOMEX 2015

In July 2016, Nine Treasures completed their second tour in Europe, visiting Latvia, Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Slovenia.[6]

In January 2017, the band released their third album titled Wisdom Eyes. It is distributed independently (like their other albums) on the platform Bandcamp. The band went on tour in Europe between June and July through Austria, Slovenia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, Bulgaria, and Hungary.

Music and lyrics

The group creates a fusion between heavy metal and traditional Mongolian music by introducing specific sounds related to the use of traditional instruments such as the morin khuur, the Russian balalaika, or the Jew's harp.

Depending on the songs, the genre of the music can vary from folk to folk rock to folk metal and even punk according to reviewers.[7]

The lyrics of the songs evoke Mongolian nature, history, tales, legends and mythologies (especially those of Tengri, the chief Mongolian deity). The lyricist of the group, Askhan, also draws on family stories in some songs.

According to Askhan, while the first album is quite raw with no frills, the following are more mature and better worked with sequences, transitions and integration of traditional instruments.[2]

The lyrics are written in Mongolian even when the titles are in English.

The group also uses techniques of Mongolian throat singing.

Members

Current
  • 敖瑞峰, Orgil – bass, vocals
  • 丁凯, Ding Kai – Drums (formerly from Tengger Cavalry)
  • 阿斯汗, Askhan Avagchuud – Guitar, vocals
  • 赛娜, Saina (M-Survivor) – balalaika
  • 朝克, Tsog – morin khuur

Former
  • 伟力斯, Wiils – balalaika
  • 艾伦 – vocals, traditional instruments
  • 萨其尔 – keyboards

Discography

Studio albums

  • Arvan Ald Guulin Honshoor (2012)
  • Nine Treasures (2013)
  • Wisdom Eyes (2017)
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References
  1. "Nine Treasures – Mongolian Nomadic Folk Metal". 31 March 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  2. 胡哲. "Inner-Mongolian band wins over European fans[2]- Chinadaily.com.cn". China Daily. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  3. 胡哲. "Inner-Mongolian band wins over European fans[1]- Chinadaily.com.cn". China Daily. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  4. "Nine Treasures – Earthbeat". 2016. Archived from the original on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  5. "Chinese folk metal Nine Treasures announce European tour – Unite Asia". 21 October 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  6. "Nine Treasures – Metal-Battle 2013 finalists on tour!". 6 January 2016. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  7. 胡哲. "Inner-Mongolian band wins over European fans[3]- Chinadaily.com.cn". China Daily. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
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