DVNE

Edinburgh’s sci-fi-inspired quintet are rocketing up the UK prog metal ranks.

To misquote the Bible, the geeks shall inherit the earth. Science-fiction saga //Dune// is currently one of the most valuable properties in pop-culture, thanks to a pair of blockbuster adaptations by Denis Villeneuve. Meanwhile, the band that took their name from the same franchise are among the hottest in all of UK prog metal. It’s a great time to be a fan of all things cosmic and complex.

Formed by vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist Victor Vicart, Dvne first gained serious notice with second album //Etemen Ænka//, released via Metal Blade Records (King’s X, The Ocean, Intronaut) in 2021. The French/Scottish collective’s winding, crescendoing heaviness, evocative of what would happen if Tool were influenced by space rock and sounded even denser, won critical acclaim. Then, they debuted on stages as massive as France’s 60,000-capacity Hellfest and the UK’s annual prog and post-rock hub, ArcTanGent.

“//Etemen…// was a breakthrough that we didn’t see coming,” Vicart tells //Prog//. “It put us in an amazing situation where we get to tour a lot more and play bigger shows. It also put us in the position where we could see the band continuing to grow. I think the new album will do that as well.”

The new album in question is //Voidkind//, Dvne’s eagerly awaited third LP, which is stunningly even more progressive than its predecessor. Where //Etemen…// made room for several slow, escalating melodies, this followup is ratcheted even tighter, hopping between time signatures, moods and levels of intensity at lightspeed.

“I think //Etemen…// was a bit more flowing,” says Vicart. “We wanted to do something different on this one. We wanted to make things more tightly packaged, because it’ll bring a different kind of energy live. //Etemen…// was amazing to play live, but we were like, ‘I wish we could put in a song that’s a bit shorter, that maybe has more of a punch.’”

The notice that Dvne are now enjoying has been a long time coming. Vicart started the unit in 2013, and being a part of the UK music scene was his reason for emigrating from France beforehand. After making his way through several bands in several British cities, this one (based in Edinburgh) finally felt right.

“We started Dvne because we were friends,” the multi-instrumentalist explains. “I think that’s something that bands don’t talk about enough. It’s difficult being in a band: you talk a lot, you spend a lot of time together, it’s stressful. There are a lot of expectations that you put on yourself. So, you’ve got to be emotionally in tune with each other.”

When he crossed the channel, Vicart’s expectations were for him to make one album, then probably just move back. Now, Dvne are 11 years deep, and things are going so well that there’s no way he’s giving it all up.

“Three albums later, I’m still here!” Vicart beams. “I think I still have a few albums left, as well. I’ve found the right people and it’s working really well.” MM

PROGFILE

LINEUP: Victor Vicart (vocals, guitars, keys), Daniel Barter (vocals, guitars), Allan Paterson (guitars, bass), Maxime Keller (keys), Dudley Tait (drums)
SOUNDS LIKE: Winding, intricate prog metal underscored by cosmic-sounding keyboards
CURRENT RELEASE: Voidkind is out now via Metal Blade
WEBSITE: www.songsofarrakis.com

— Matt Mills