Kilwinning...aside from sounding like something Charlie Sheen would say after a 48 hour binge on cocaine and prostitutes, is actually a town in North Ayrshire, Scotland, and it's home to one of the UK's brightest breakthrough acts on the current rock scene. Let me introduce you to VUKOVI...named after the Croatian translation for "Wolves", this alternative pop-rock four-piece are hungry and on the hunt for success. After a few well received singles and some promising coverage in the likes of KERRANG!, they have recently dropped their debut self-titled album via LAB Records...let's check it out...
We open up with "La Di Da" and while it wont win any awards for originality as a working title, it does offer us an upbeat introduction; an angst-ridden break-up track full of defiant attitude...vocalist Janine delivers a well balanced performance coming off as both bitter and resilient at the same time; a punk-inspired alt-rock track, it's a decent start. What you'll soon discover about this record is that it retains all of this swagger virtually all the way through, Vukovi haven't pulled any punches here whatsoever! "And He Lost His Mind" gets going with some frantic, gritty guitar work courtesy of Hamish (he really couldn't have a more Scottish name could he...) and it's off-kilter riffs give the track that extra bite, while "Weirdo" utilizes some fantastic pop hooks over it's chorus.
The album just get's better and better mind you...those pop hooks resurface time and time again on tracks such as "Target Practice", providing the listener with some real up-beat funk and rhythm, it's impossible not to want to bounce to this, this is incredibly infectious and offers us an early album highlight, likewise with "Bouncy Castle" (which is the least rock and roll name for a rock song I think that's ever existed) but it's just too catchy to ignore...it's vibrant, it's energetic...it's...appropriate...while "Animal" and "Boy George" both really take it up a gear in terms of all we've just talked about, the energy in these four Scot's is incredible, they've really given 110% for this record and it clearly shows.
Given the evidence in front of me right here I can safely say that these wolves need no sheep's clothing; they are passionate, determined and feisty to boot, a lot of people have already seen their potential...they are ripe with charisma and if they keep this up they can easily lead the next wave of successful breakthrough UK bands. This album is highly recommended and these are very much ones to watch...now...where can I hire a bouncy castle....[8]
We open up with "La Di Da" and while it wont win any awards for originality as a working title, it does offer us an upbeat introduction; an angst-ridden break-up track full of defiant attitude...vocalist Janine delivers a well balanced performance coming off as both bitter and resilient at the same time; a punk-inspired alt-rock track, it's a decent start. What you'll soon discover about this record is that it retains all of this swagger virtually all the way through, Vukovi haven't pulled any punches here whatsoever! "And He Lost His Mind" gets going with some frantic, gritty guitar work courtesy of Hamish (he really couldn't have a more Scottish name could he...) and it's off-kilter riffs give the track that extra bite, while "Weirdo" utilizes some fantastic pop hooks over it's chorus.
The album just get's better and better mind you...those pop hooks resurface time and time again on tracks such as "Target Practice", providing the listener with some real up-beat funk and rhythm, it's impossible not to want to bounce to this, this is incredibly infectious and offers us an early album highlight, likewise with "Bouncy Castle" (which is the least rock and roll name for a rock song I think that's ever existed) but it's just too catchy to ignore...it's vibrant, it's energetic...it's...appropriate...while "Animal" and "Boy George" both really take it up a gear in terms of all we've just talked about, the energy in these four Scot's is incredible, they've really given 110% for this record and it clearly shows.
Given the evidence in front of me right here I can safely say that these wolves need no sheep's clothing; they are passionate, determined and feisty to boot, a lot of people have already seen their potential...they are ripe with charisma and if they keep this up they can easily lead the next wave of successful breakthrough UK bands. This album is highly recommended and these are very much ones to watch...now...where can I hire a bouncy castle....[8]
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