Many bands use their emotions, insecurities, hopes and fears as a focus for their music. For Vukovi, it seems like almost every song is an act of catharsis for them—and it shows in the depth of feeling that their fans bring to each and every show they play.

Vukovi (Slavic for “Wolves”) are a band who have been playing together longer than you think. Singer, Janine Shilstone and guitarist, Hamish Reilly have released four albums since 2017, but their history goes back to at least 2010. The band have been touring their most recent offering in the UK and Europe since it was released in early 2025 and the Norwich stop comes towards the end of “Part 2” of the UK tour for the Scottish duo. (Alongside regular touring drummer Martin Sharples‑Johnston)

The band are supported on this tour by London-based Saint Agnes and Flesh Planet from Yorkshire. Like the headliner, both support acts are credited with a genre-blurring reputation. First up, Flesh Planet filled the room with their atmospheric post-grunge/shoegaze crossover. Think “Slowdive meets Deftones”, performed with a psychedelic punk enthusiasm. Frontman Damian Hughes’ vocals are delivered with a dark menace slightly at odds with the colours of the band’s aesthetic (including a searing-pink jumper which is possibly the brightest object in Norwich that evening). Their brooding, slightly surreal lyrics on tracks like “Evelyn” are great intro for Saint Agnes’ brand of darker, high energy alt-rock.

Saint Agnes themselves are no newcomers. The self-confessed outsiders formed in 2014 in London and have a history of fiercely independent non-conformity. They make music for themselves first, and if it happens to be what the fans want that’s a bonus. This attitude manifests throughout their performance. Singer and guitarist Kitty Austin has huge stage presence; there’s a fire to the way she attacks each song that forces the audience to take notice of the band and their message. It’s a short set, but one which includes some material from their upcoming album Your God Fearing Days Are About To Begin, due at the end of May. It’s one to look out for and, on this evidence, deserves a headline tour at decent sized venues and lots of attention.

It’s fair to say that Vukovi could be considered one of the bands at the forefront of the booming alt-rock scene in the UK and Europe. At the heavier end of the spectrum, they combine powerful, intensely personal lyrics with melodic, singalong choruses that have swelled the ranks of their dedicated followers over the last four years or so. The setlist includes songs taken from all of their albums, but majors on 2022’s Sci-Fi concept album Nula and 2025’s My God Has Got a Gun.

Kicking off with the intro track “This Is My Life And My Trauma”, they swagger into “Gungho” and a self-assured “Misty Ecstasy.” “Slo”, “Violent Minds” and “C.L.A.U.D.I.A.” follow, demonstrating their tortured, haunted side. The depth of the band’s introspection on these songs is reflected back by a crowd who sing along with fervour or lose themselves in the energy of the sizeable pit that maintains its fervour throughout the set.

There are few quiet moments in this collection of songs but the band and crowd feed off each others’ energy. “Fucking hell guys…” grins Shilstone mid-set. “On a fucking Sunday night…!!!”

They build to four fan favourites. It’s hard to tell which of “My God Has Got A Gun”, “I Exist”, “Run/Hide" and “La Di Da" incite the most chaos, but there’s an impression that “I Exist" and "La Di Da" are highlights of the evening.

It’s clear their personal and sometimes disturbingly candid message connects with a lot of the metal and alt-rock community. The progression evident across their four albums, showcased energetically across this UK tour, demonstrates they have talent in spades and the determination to make it work. Only time will tell if they can kick on and take the next step up on their journey.