Metal Blade Records is pleased to welcome Inner Mongolian metal collective, Nine Treasures, to its esteemed roster.
Thanks to three acclaimed albums, millions of streams, and European tours and festivals (Wacken Open Air, Woodstock Poland, etc), metal heroes Nine Treasures are well on their way to accomplishing their goal of a Mongolian metal revolution. Formed by vocalist/guitarist Askhan Avagchuud in 2010 in the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia in China, Nine Treasures are a unique combination of heavy metal and traditional Mongolian instrumentation, utilizing both conventional vocals and Mongolian throat singing. Guitars, bass, and drums collide with indigenous string instruments including the balalaika and the morin khuur (horsehead fiddle), resulting in a sonic kaleidoscope that follows no set template. Playing one-hundred-plus festival shows and headlining gigs per year in Asia, to audiences of up to 50,000, Nine Treasures are at the top of their game.
Comments Askhan Avagchuud (guitars, vocals, balalaika, tovshuur), "We are excited to be on Metal Blade. We've always been inspired by heavy American and European bands. America and Europe are very important for us to tour and create a relationship with metal music fans from these countries we admire."
Nine Treasures has nearly completed an epic new record, more than five years in the making, which will drop on Metal Blade next year. In the meantime, the band will re-release the twelve-song compilation album Awakening From Dukkha as well as a remaster of 2017's Wisdom Eyes.
Awakening From Dukkha collects re-recorded songs from Nine Treasures' three studio LPs, 2012's Arvan Ald Guulin Honshoor, 2013's Nine Treasures and 2017 Wisdom Eyes. The band's evolution has been profound. "We experimented a lot and through our entire journey, we felt like we were getting better with each album," Askhan says. "But the main vibe for us has always been the same, which was the pentatonic eastern music mixed with heavy metal. We don't do half step notes often, that's why the energy is similar throughout all of our albums."
That said, the brand-new music on the as-yet-untitled 2025 LP will be a giant step for the band, as the frontman explains, "This new album is different from any of our past releases. We added focused production detail and evolved the way we write music. We are focused on big riffs and inspiring moments that take our audience on a journey; that's part of the tradition we grew up in."
The band takes its name from a group of objects referenced in ancient Mongolian folklore, Nine Treasures touch on the mythology and fairy tales of their homeland. Askhan, a practicing Buddhist, is intent on using their music to bring comfort, and ease the suffering of others. "I want to share the teachings I've learned with people like me who have experienced anxiety or life struggles who seek refuge and healing in music," Askhan says. "We want Nine Treasures to bring positive and inspiring energy into the world - the greatest thing we can do with this is to inspire people."
Watch a video for Nine Treasures' "Wisdom Eyes" below. The reissues of Awakening From Dukkha and Wisdom Eyes will be released digitally on January 10.
Awakening From Dukkha (Re-Recorded) tracklisting:
"Black Heart"
"Arvan Ald Guulin Honshoor"
"Fable Of Mangas"
"Nomin Dalai"
"Tes River's Hymn"
"Ten Years"
"The Dream About Ancient City"
"Praise For Fine Horse"
"The End Of The World"
"Wisdom Eyes"
"The Stubborn"
"Three Years Old Warrior"
Wisdom Eyes (Remastered) tracklisting:
"Ten Years"
"The End Of The World"
"My Hulunbuir"
"Wisdom Eyes"
"Hushuu Child"
"Us"
"Robe Of Prince"
"Don't Want To Dance"
"The Stubborn"
Nine Treasures lineup:
Askhan Avagchuud - guitars, vocals, balalaika, tovshuur
Orgil - bass, backing vocals
Saina - balalaika, backing vocals, guitars
Namra - drums
Nars - morin khuur, backing vocals
(Photo - Hattoo)
