Dvne – Voidkind (Review)

Dvne are a progressive post-metal band from the UK and this is their third album.

I fell hard for Dvne on their 2017 album Asheran, which they then followed up in 2021 with the critically acclaimed Etemen Ænka. Which brings us to the much-anticipated Voidkind, an album that boasts 58 minutes of new material.

Voidkind develops the Dvne style by taking what came before it, strengthening the foundations of it, and then building some new structures to complement the old. This manifests in the songs as increased levels of immediacy and a greater focus on hooks. Having said that, Dvne’s ability to craft compelling atmosphere and progressive depth is still present and intact, but it now benefits from an added layer of catchiness and memorability. Of course, these are not areas alien to Dvne’s music in the past, but at key places on the new record they have been heightened.

The sound of Voidkind is also heavier and punchier. It’s clear and strong, with each instrument powerfully felt. The keyboards offer atmospheric enrichments, while the guitars simultaneously crush and entrance. The heaviness of the music is streaked with melodic colour, imbued with dynamic energy, and infused with feeling,

Each song tells a story of its own, with its own voice, own narrative, and method of expression. All tie in to each other well, flowing and weaving holistically to make Voidkind a supreme act of worldbuilding. It’s a fully immersive journey, taking the listener across ten tracks that demonstrate exactly why Dvne are so well-regarded.

Voidkind is epic, sweeping, and finely wrought. It’s the sound of a confident band playing to their considerable strengths. Dvne are in their prime, and Voidkind is a wonderful album.

Essential listening for fans of bands such as Neurosis, Cult of Luna, Mastodon, The Ocean, Psychonaut, Sorxe, Inter Arma, etc.