Ignorance is bliss or so they say but I would rather have known about these guys long before now, on the go for nearly a decade Vukovi have been creating some outstanding music and their latest offering, “My God Has Got A Gun”, is no exception, the same brash punk/metalcore/electro sonic assault you would expect.
I found myself drawn in completely by the first track, “This Is My Life And My Trauma”, a short sharp punch in the head that starts off very innocuously with high-pitch vocals before it drops with a booming bass line that is heavy as fuck, and we are off to a cracking start. There is no let up as “Gungho” comes in hot with a cool funky electro beat with that monster bass running underneath it, there is something about this that just engrains itself in your brain right from the off, whether it’s the mashup of styles or Janine Shilstone’s incredibly alluring voice, either way it rocks big time. The hypnotic bass line and a blistering drum beat that combine with the quirky electro beat give the title track “My God Has Got A Gun” an odd vibe that works really well, it’s a strange fit that makes this compulsive listening, once again Shilstone shines; changing it up from melodic too spoken, where her incredible Scottish accent shines through and adds a little more oomph to this crazy number, one of the best on the album.
“Fallen Beyond” has a pop punk/electro vibe that works fantastically well and is backed up by heavy drums that crash about in the background, this is a real favourite of mine, a killer tune. “Fuc Kit Up” has an anthemic air about it with its slow build-up to the massive chorus’, once again the drums and bass take centre stage giving the song the platform to build off not to mention the cool keyboard solo in the middle of the track, a stunning track. For me “Misty Ecstasy” is the best track on here; from its killer rhythm, kicking beat and soaring vocals it has it all, this is a serious earworm, and you can only love it. “Sno” has a great mix of synth and heavy rock, cutting riffs and heavy drums trade-off with the synth and electro beats while Shilstone’s rousing vocals will raise the hair on the back of your neck. “Cowboy” is a “ballad” if you want, I was reliably informed that this particular track sounds like an upbeat Phoebe Bridgers??, either way, it’s a solid track. Normal service is resumed with “Peel”, an angsty number built off a solid drum and bass beat that combines nicely with Shilstone’s vocals and the crunching guitar riffs. “Kitty” is an electro-influenced track with a kicking drum beat and some savage riffs to bring the heaviness, Shilstone’s vocals are next level here as she puts in a hell of a shift, a blistering solo at the backend of the track gives it a little extra.
“Bladed” closes the album much like it started, in barnstorming fashion, a massive wall of sound centred around the vocal brilliance of Shiltone, a brutal mix of metal and electro does the mind wonders and caps off a brilliant album.
I was taken by surprise with this one but truly enjoyed every minute of it.
Pre-order and pre-save MY GOD HAS GOT A GUN here.
Review: Conor
“My God Has Got A Gun” is out on the 24th of January via SharpTone Records.
Vukovi are:
Janine Shilstone Vocals
Hamish Reilly Guitar
“THIS IS MY LIFE AND MY TRAUMA”
“GUNGHO”
“MY GOD HAS GOT A GUN”
“FALLEN BEYOND”
“FUC KIT UP”
“MISTY ECSTASY”
“SNO”
“COWBOY”
“PEEL”
“KITTY”
“BLADED”
“FIRE KINGDOM”*
* Bonus Track — LP onlyMY GOD HAS GOT A GUN is available in the following formats:
—Red, Black and White Splatter LP (Limited to 500 – Exclusively on the Band Store)
—Black & White Half & Half LP (Limited to 500 – Exclusively at Sharptone US)
—Black LP (Available via artist stores, label store and EU retail)
—Jewelcase CD (Available via artist stores, label store and worldwide retail)
As the world waited with bated breath for new material, VUKOVI embarked on their first co-headlining tour across the United States with brethren Calva Louise, supported metal titans Babymetal across the UK, and conquered a number of major music festivals such as Welcome To Rockville, Sonic Temple, Download Festival, Rock For People, and Graspop (to name a few). How they found the time to crisscross the globe, leaving a trail of electrified audiences in their wake, remains a mystery.Some say that when VUKOVI takes the stage, the air hums with a strange electricity, and time itself seems to bend, as if the band is channelling something otherworldly.We asked the band for comment, but were offered no answers, only more questions.
Their songs tell stories that are both intensely personal and universally relatable, exploring themes of mental health, love, and the human condition with a sharp edge. Yet, beneath the surface, there’s always an undercurrent of something darker, a sense that the music is a portal to a world just beyond the veil of our reality.
As VUKOVI continue to carve their path through the rock landscape, one thing is certain: they are a band unlike any other, a force of nature that refuses to be tamed or fully understood. They invite us to join them on their journey, to explore the uncharted territories of sound and emotion, but they do so on their terms. In the end, perhaps it’s the mystery that makes VUKOVI so compelling — a reminder that in a world where everything seems knowable, there are still secrets worth keeping
VUKOVI ARE:
Janine Shilstone — Vocals
Hamish Reilly — Guitars