The truth is the new Vøvk single “Promin” has been out for a bit. I didn’t really know how to write about it before now because the whole thing about the track is that it has a guest appearance from Johannes Persson of Cult of Luna and I don’t like writing about that band because of the one time they outright lied to their fanbase and said that one of their albums was based on a work they claimed to find but that they just made up, then when they were called on it said they’d pulled off the hoax because music journalists don’t check facts, and, well, that’s an exceedingly shitty thing to do to people who spend money on your products, not to mention the nerds (journos) who line up to suck you off for being good at music, so I decided maybe Cult of Luna weren’t the kind of human beings I wanted this site to support. Accordingly, I do my best to not write about them. And yes, when the Vøvk track came out, that created a complication.

An album announcement — Vøvk‘s new record Litera will be out Oct. 3 — makes it easier to help promote the Ukrainian trio without getting all hung up on some at-best-tangentially-related BS someone guesting on one of their tracks pulled like 15 years ago. I haven’t heard the full album yet, but will keep an ear out, and if you’d like to hit up “Promin” in the meantime, the lyric video is below.

From the PR wire:

Ukrainian Progressive Rock Act VØVK Announce New Album – “Promin” Featuring Johannes Persson (CULT OF LUNA) Released as First Single!

Listen: https://id.ffm.to/_promin

Ukrainian progressive rock outfit Vøvk announces their deeply personal and conceptual new album, “Litera”, set for release on October 3. This album explores Ukraine’s emotional landscape in times of turmoil, using nature and primal feelings as subtle metaphors.

“Litera” (letter) highlights the written word as a core of culture – the smallest unit that builds words, stories, and songs. The album reflects hardship without naming war directly, but its presence is felt through symbols and emotions. The songs mirror states of struggle, loss, pain, hope, and renewal – reflecting the natural cycles that govern life on Earth.

The album’s tracklist reflects a natural cycle – from drought to fire, flood, spring, dawn, and back to drought – each song is tied to a specific natural phenomenon, animal, or tangible element. These motifs portray the inner world of a person facing change and struggle.

Tracklist:
01. Sil
02. Iskra
03. Leleka
04. Mur
05. Tyhr
06. Promin
07. Okean

As a powerful first single from the album, the band has unleashed “Promin”, an emotionally charged track elevated by a remarkable guest appearance from Johannes Persson, vocalist of Swedish post-metal titans CULT OF LUNA. This collaboration stands as a profound statement of solidarity, as Persson lends his voice to the Ukrainian language for the very first time.

The single comes with a visualizer inspired by the timeless, fantastical cinema of Georges Méliès, available to watch here.

Vøvk frontman Oleksandr Kuts echoed this sentiment, stating, “This song needed a sense of support and unity, and this partnership with Johannes Persson is not only a creative choice but also a meaningful act of solidarity. He deeply understands the Ukrainian context, and his decision to sing in Ukrainian – a language he doesn’t speak – shows his genuine commitment and personal convictions. He delivered it authentically, sincerely, and with his signature sound. We’re endlessly grateful for his trust, courage, and connection to our story.”

“Litera” is not just a collection of songs – it’s a cohesive story that resonates at the intersection of the intuitive and the deeply conscious, offering each listener space to experience it in their own way. Although the album is performed in Ukrainian, its emotional core speaks a universal language that anyone can connect with – reminding us that music always transcends words.

The album will be coming out on October 3rd, released by kontrabass, with official pre-orders to follow in the weeks ahead.

Recorded, mixed and mastered by Roman Bondar at Lizard Audio in Kyiv, Ukraine
Artwork by Diogo Soares
Art direction & design by Anton Shiferson

VØVK are:
Oleksandr Kuts – lead & backing vocals, bass, percussion
Yehor Druzenko – guitar, synths
Yevhenii Khrulov – drums, backing vocals, percussion

https://vovk.bandcamp.com/
https://instagram.com/vovkband
https://facebook.com/vovkband
https://www.youtube.com/@vovkband
https://www.tiktok.com/@vovkband

Vøvk, “Promin” lyric video