Album Review: Dvne – Voidkind (Metal Blade Records)

Post-metal prog-sludge artisans Dvne return with their third full-length album, ‘Voidkind’, out on April 19th, 2024, via Metal Blade Records.

Dvne… a band that make a mockery of the word ‘unique’. Dvne… a band that makes a mockery of the words ‘genre bending’. Dvne… a band that makes a mockery of all preconceived notions of what ‘post-metal’, ‘progressive metal’, and ‘sludge metal’ should sound like.

Dvne… a very special band, indeed.

Any sense of objectivity goes out the window from the very start as the introduction to this album comes in the form of the stunning Summa Blasphemia. Any notion that this isn’t going to be an album of the year contender is gone, even before another track has been played. Dvne are this damn good, and this opener showcases their captivating abilities to the highest level.

As beautiful as it is heavy, as enigmatic as it is intense, as ingenious as it is chaotic, and this continues into the rich soundscape that is Eleonora. Dvne expanding on their progressive and melodic side, but when they get heavy, they really get freaking heavy. Followed then by a track that oozes atmosphere, and has some of the album’s thickest riffs in Reaching for Telos. Before along comes Reliquary to turn things towards the more forceful side of progressive metal. Albeit, with Dvne’s impressive penchant for shifting things naturally.

A break is welcome at this stage, because as brilliant as it all is, there’s a lot to take in and the mind will be swarming with everything experienced so far. Happily, Dvne know this and deliver the short piece of instrumental melody and haunting vocals that is Path of Dust to calm things down momentarily.

Momentarily because Sarmatæ is next and Dvne showcase a dazzling display of vibrant heaviness here. Before bookending this section with another short slice of effective music in the form of Path of Ether. This one is all about ambience, and it is gorgeous.

Allow yourself to drift to this piece of music because Dvne are bringing us all crashing back with the finale section of the album. Three tracks, three monumental efforts that run the entire gambit of what this band is capable of, and three tracks that are up there as the very best this band has ever produced. From the dynamic Abode of the Perfect Soul, to the vibrant Plērōma, to the wandering width of Cobalt Sun Necropolis. Dvne give more than words can possibly describe. Just rest assured, this latter part of the album is exceptionally special.

Special music from a special band. It’s Dvne… and they have released something truly ‘divine’.

Dvne – Voidkind Track Listing:

1. Summa Blasphemia
2. Eleonora
3. Reaching for Telos
4. Reliquary
5. Path of Dust
6. Sarmatæ
7. Path of Ether
8. Abode of the Perfect Soul
9. Plērōma
10. Cobalt Sun Necropolis

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