Cassette / DL
6 July 2018
Industrial churchcore band return with a new
album.
There is mystery surrounding Vukovar, not the
regular what they look like, or, what they had for breakfast but instead, the
mystery is why they haven’t achieved much greater success so far as it is all
that they deserve. Hints of Joy Division
perhaps but with a darker, more melodious approach. Sparse in chorus but plentiful in riveting
gloom presentation and wonderful lyricism, Infinitum sees them progress once
more.
As if their last album proper, Puritan wasn’t
testament to the incredible promise that the band have, then Infinitum blasts
that into the past with nine new tracks of sombre often challenging territory. Cleverly utilising waltzy type melodies and
black bass lines together with reverbed drum beats, Vukovar once more visit the
place which they seem so at ease in existing.
Album opener, Rites begins with a pounding, continuous
drumbeat which soon subsides to a gentle spoken word affair from their singer, who probably
gives his finest performance in a Vukovar shirt to date. Synth swathes touch on the beautiful as they
occasional move up and down the musical scale which leads into In The
Overgarden via more spoken word and an initial opening not dissimilar to
Bowie’s Heroes. The comparisons to Joy
Division will always be there but ironically, sounds more like Bernard
Sumner than he does Ian Curtis and, is perfectly adept at his voice reaching
both low and high pitched in an accomplished, underrated way.
Vukovar are no pop band nor are they one-trick
ponies as this, their fifth album testifies.
They are competent enough to explore their sound further and the pain
and suffering conveyed in their music is something that is severely lacking
from much of today’s bands. The Skin Is
New The Skin Is Ours is perhaps the albums most commercial attempt – a track of
just voice and scrawny keyboard and an occasional cymbal sound towards the end
– it is desperate and dramatic and simply superb.
Infinitum, and similarly Vukovar as a whole need to
be listened to with open mind and heart.
As the withdrawn An Invincible Prison launches into an unpredictable
screeching guitar will testify.
Feedback, distortion and unadulterated power. The House Of Thirteen Scenes is creepy on a
horror movie scale and The Destroying Place sees them go as close to mainstream
friendly as they could possibly get.
Infinitum is another triumph and however difficult and
strenuous the recording process was, Vukovar have certainly put sweat, heart
and soul into making it. If you’re unfamiliar
with their work then now is the time to jump on board. Brilliant.
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