VUKOVI - NULA
credit: nat wood
Scottish band VUKOVI return to the music scene as a duo with new album NULA, following on from the success of critically acclaimed Fall Better. VUKOVI’s latest instalment kicks off by establishing the conceptual vision, as we’re audibly transported to a sci-fi dreamscape, embarking on the journey of the character ‘Nula’ from which the album title is dubbed. It’s bold, ambitious and certainly unique.
Launching quickly into the second track ‘Tainted’, it feels like the epic intro scene of an anime series, with fast, punchy riffs and a wide range of contrasting tones. Which connotes some of the influences inspiring the creative direction this album has taken as vocalist Janine Shilstone states “growing up I was obsessed with the likes of Akira, Batman: The Animated Series, Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth, The Alien franchise and Star Wars…” Embracing some of these influences has certainly opened up a different perspective in VUKOVI’s sound as some of the more tech inspired voices contribute to a more expansive dynamic range.
When talking about the record, guitarist Hampshire Reilly explains “I sometimes think I can over complicate my playing, just because I need to keep myself interested. But I’ve gone all out on NULA, and everything that is there is is something that needed to be there.” This definitely comes across, as the duo have carefully navigated the balance of sonically blending genres like nu metal, shoegaze, punk, pop, electronic and rock. Going from extreme pop to grungy riffs, there’s no place they care not explore in creating this unique masterpiece.
However at points this ambition seems to be overdone, as the crossover between various styles seems audibly confusing. Individually each track works well as destination stops along an exploration of the ‘Nula’ character, but as a holistic conceptual piece it sometimes feels lost trying to touch on all these amazing inspirations. Whether the dissonant rift between tracks is an intentional creative decision or not, it might lose some listeners along the way. That being said, it works in the favour of distinguishing each track from another and stops the album blurring together. In the context of taking songs out of context from one another in the playlists and set lists, it doesn’t take away from original conceptual idea which in itself is a hard feat to achieve when making a concept album.
During the course of the NULA, VUKOVI cover some challenging topics internally with tracks like ‘SLO’ and ‘I Exist’ discovering mental illness in various forms in a liberating and honest approach. As well as extending that gaze externally, with ‘XX’ tackling female oppression from toxic masculinity.
David Barter
★★★★☆