London’s heavy-afro-psych-soul trio Vodun have released ‘Bloodstones’, the third video from their breakthrough debut album, Possession, along with a UK tour with Church of the Cosmic Skull and Desert Storm, including a performance at London’s Desertfest.

‘Bloodstones’ covers themes of oppression and slavery during the colonial era and how its effects are still being felt today. Coupling imagery from the Vodun religion with moving footage from the civil rights era, the video resonates deeply with the current political climate, both in the UK and the US.

Speaking of the inspiration surrounding ‘Bloodstones’, frontwoman Oya (Chantal Brown, ex-Do Me Bad Things) explains, "The unbreakable bond between people and their spirit is never more evident than in the attempted removal of the cultural identity from the kin of the Western Coast of Africa. Even today, our eyes bear witness to the Native Americans at Standing Rock, hands still firmly clutching what's left of their culture and sacred land – even after the undeniable genocide that was brutally cast upon them, giving birth to the most powerful country on Earth. Slavery and genocide made its deep and torrid mark on the psyche of many, however the spirit and essence lives on in all of the corners of where these peoples were forced. Yes, blood runs deep... but spirits are made of stone."

Fronted by the powerful soul vocals of Oya aside fierce drumming from Ogoun (Zel Kaute, ex-Pettybone) and the white-hot riffing of The Marassa (Lindsay Hamilton) on guitar, Possession is a journey into the history of the ancient West African religion from which the band takes their name. Maligned and derided since colonial times by slavers, the vodoun religion still exists as a powerful, feminist, and positive force in the lives of many people around the world.

Catch Vodun live in the UK on the dates below.

April

12 The Phoenix, Coventry *

13 Trinity Centre, Bristol *

15 The Ruby Lounge, Manchester *

16 Rescue Rooms, Nottingham *

17 Trillians, Newcastle ** (FREE)

18 The Parish, Huddersfield **

19 The Wheatsheaf, Oxford **

20 The Anvil, Bournemouth **

28 Desertfest, London

* = With Church of the Cosmic Skull       ** = With Desert Storm

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.

Possession is available via Amazon & iTunes.