Weird Music Wednesday : Seeking the Absolute by Nine Treasures
Where traditional eastern instrumentation meets good ol’ western head banging!
I knew absolutely nothing about Nine Treasures prior to taking a listen to their new release Seeking the Absolute early last week (it was released on Oct 24, 2025) except that it was labeled as “Folk Metal.” This particular genre interests me... Rather than evolving over recent years, metal is sounding more the same lately. Similar guitar tones & techniques, blast-beats on the drums prioritizing speed over musicality, and more often than not, cookie monster vocals which are both unintelligible and just plain grating on the ears. There are a few notable exceptions to this gross generalization (see this post from last week) but it still applies to the majority.
So, if the folk metal genre offers a promise of melody and story-telling with real singing, artfully combined with the heaviness and attitude that truly defines metal genre… sign me up! Also, from a personal perspective, I was focused on world music percussion techniques while in music school so I also have a particular interest in fusing sounds and techniques from very different styles of music as a means to create something new. So, I was hopeful, but had no expectations about what Mongolian folk metal could offer me. Turns out, this band delivers in the best way.
Rather than relying on the novelty of their instrumentation, Nine Treasures, led by Askhan Avagchuud, seamlessly fuses traditional Mongolian elements—specifically the melancholic cry of the morin khuur (horse-head fiddle), Balalaika, the rhythmic pluck of the tovshuur, and Mongolian throat singing—with a powerful, modern alt-metal backbone. The result is a dynamic sonic tapestry of tracks that maintain a compelling balance; the music is often buoyant and oddly danceable, yet it never sacrifices the weight and driving energy of contemporary metal. This controlled fusion prevents the folk elements from becoming a mere accent, integrating them deeply into the core riff structures and songwriting. The only criticism I have is the obviousness with which the band used Tool as their muse. If you’re listening carefully, you can hear Tool in everything from the song structures, specific grooves and riffs (especially on drums), breakdowns, and definitely the production of the record.
Their music often draws from Mongolian mythology, environmental themes, and spiritual influences from their upbringing, or so the internet says. Truthfully, I can’t understand a word of what’s being sung, but if I consider the vocal as just another instrument these songs are super-enjoyable.
Seeking the Absolute is an invigorating antidote for those stuck in genre ruts; it demonstrates that fusion, when executed with this level of craftsmanship and confidence, can create something both exotic and immediately accessible, reminding listeners why they fell in love with heavy music in the first place.
MUSIC
My favorite tracks include the two album openers: “Until Now” and “Indecision” as they strike a nice balance between the traditional and contemporary elements of their sound within a straightforward metal song package. “The Ultimate Evolution” is probably the most specifically Tool-sounding song on the record. It’s not bad, mind you… just very heavily influenced. The last three songs on the record, including the title track “Seeking the Absolute,” are probably the most creative with arrangement and are the most fresh sounding to my ears.
“Until Now”
“Seeking the Absolute”
Seeking the Absolute (Album)
Spotify:
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/seeking-the-absolute/1825420176