A self-described amalgamation of afro, heavy, psych and soul, London based trio VŌDŪN are a unique group of musicians bursting through the midst of the repetitive heavy rock scene. Lead by vocalist Oya (AKA Chantal Brown, formerly of Do Me Bad Things), driven by Ogoun’s driving, tribal drums and completed with insanely heavy, trance inducing riffs from Marassa, this band is like nothing you have ever heard before.
Starting off with some context, VŌDŪN is a West African Religion that you may know better as Voodoo. In a recent interview with The Sleeping Shaman, Oya explains the bands interest in this ancient practice as both personal and educational: “the spiritual side of connecting with nature, but with the added aspect of female loas were also very appealing to us. We felt like those traits have much to offer our modern world and its destructive enthralment with capitalist, disposable consumerism.” Each member’s deep connection to Vodun seems to have created a strong musical bond between the three resulting in brilliant, ground breaking songs.
Because of this, Possession doesn’t feel like a debut album at all. Tracks like ‘Oya’ and ‘Bloodstones’ are so intricately written with Oya’s vocal range used in every possible way. ‘Possession’ and ‘Mawu’ are so tight, the ensemble brings such a huge sound it’s almost impossible to believe that there are not more instruments taking part. You get so much from this album, there are even little history lessons in between tracks; they discuss the use of Vodun during the French Revolution and the suffering that the religions followers’ endured if found to be practising.
The amount of talent, time, effort, belief and work that has gone in to this album is obvious from the start. VŌDŪN’s work ethic is intrinsically linked to the subject they immortalise; their ability to be consumed by their experience, indeed, to be possessed by it, allows them to create music that is deep, meaningful and other worldly.