Vukari – Divination (Review)

This is the second album from Vukari, a post-black metal band from the US.

With such striking album art, my fervent wish was for the album to match the quality of the cover.

My wish was granted.

Vukari play a very modern take on black metal that covers both its atmospheric and post-black metal bases well.

Atmosphere is something that Vukari foster easily, amidst the blast beats and more restrained reflective sections. It seems to come easily to the band, and a parallel can be made with the album cover; simple and effective, it says a lot with the bare minimum.

The band have a good sense of melody on the songs, and this merges with the ominous atmospheres to create despondent paens to darkness.

Along with the melodic aspects, the atmospheric elements and the post-metal reflection, you’d be mistaken for thinking that there would be little room for black metal’s primal aggression, as this can sometimes be lost in bands like this that focus on pushing the proverbial envelope. Thankfully, this is not the case here, and Vukari manage to entwine all of these aspects together with a base of icy aggression and frosted intent that merely adds to the overall great package that the band has.

This may be modern and cutting edge, but the band’s love for the classic days of second wave black metal can still be heard in some of the harsher riffs. Norway’s legacy is not lost on Vukari, and it’s good to hear these influences holding their own on Divination.

The vocals consist of searing screams that are accompanied by the occasional deep growl. The performance is faultless and works with the state-of-the-art music perfectly, melding a steely core of venom into the band’s makeup.

Intensive melodic darkness, post-black metal exploration and savage atmospheric tendencies see Vukari producing a Hellishly impressive second album. This is definitely one that will surely light up the underground, as Divination is just that damn good.

For black metal that’s forging its own path through the Stygian depths, this is essential.

For fans of Wolves in the Throne Room, Altar of Plagues, Deafheaven, Palace of Worms, Entropia, etc.