Vulvodynia (ZA)

About

Out of Durban, South Africa, Vulvodynia have built a reputation as one of the more relentless acts in brutal deathcore since forming in 2014. They named themselves after a gynecological condition purely for shock value, which tells you something about their aesthetic. Their catalog spans five studio albums, from the raw early work on Cognizant Castigation through to the cosmic brutality of Praenuntius Infiniti on Unique Leader Records, and their 2019 album Mob Justice tackled the socio political climate and brutality in Africa head on. They have shared stages with Despised Icon, Archspire, Cattle Decapitation and Shadow of Intent, touring Europe, North America, and Australia along the way. Their fifth album Entabeni arrived in July 2024, featuring guest spots from vocalists of Bodysnatcher and PeelingFlesh. The band has navigated serious lineup turbulence, including the firing of founding vocalist Duncan Bentley in 2023, with guitarist Lwandile Prusent stepping up to handle vocals through that transitional period.