REVIEWS

Buy this album from CD Baby

Evestus
This is Dramacore

Posted: Sunday, July 18, 2010
By: Ilker Yücel
Editor

Four years after his well received sophomore album, during which time he has released two singles, gained the attention of European MTV, and made appearances at several high profile local events, Evestus has a lot to live up to. His third album, This is Dramacore continues down the path Evestus has laid for himself in creating music that is as aggressive as it is accessible, full of malevolence as well as melody. While some would feel a tremendous amount of pressure at the prospect of a self-released album, Evestus shows no fear as he demonstrates an absolute control over production and visual construction; the album is perhaps the best sounding and most musically diverse he has yet released, all with a remarkably well composed visual theme that is somewhere between steampunk and gothic horror, apropos to the album's lyrical themes.

As can be surmised from the album's title, the bulk of the lyrics throughout This is Dramacore seem directed at the masses' fascination and obsession with scene drama, be it perpetuated via online forums or the prevalence of pop culture ephemera. Such is clear on a track like "Pikachu Warriors" with statements of "we are consumers and we're bored" and "the TV tells us what to do," all set to a distorted march augmented by a symphonic backing of strings and chanting vocal choruses. Other songs follow this lyrical direction, especially on "So In Love" in which Evestus mocks those with addictions but without passion, and "Dramajunkie" with its statements against irresponsibility and the excessive negativity in society, set to fast breakbeats with stabs of cathedral organs and grinding guitars. Of course, Evestus himself utilizes these attitudes for his own aims throughout the album as if to reflect the proverbial mirror and demonstrate the futility of such mindsets, but all the while reveling in it. Where This is Dramacore truly shines is in the composition and production. From the opening fanfare of "Demons of Fame" leading into an ethereal display of rocking guitars, string pads, and well placed samples, topped off by Evestus' hip-hop-like delivery, the song plays out as if Stromkern were being backed by a philharmonic orchestra. The title track is notable for its juxtaposition of squelching electro and stop/start drum & bass patterns with gothic symphonic textures, as well as the chunky acoustic guitar and ambient electronics on "All the King's Drugs." The vocal cadences on "Conveniently Confused" are somewhat reminiscent of Peter Schilling's "Major Tom," while the offbeat rhythm and whimsical vocal layering of "Leftover" before breaking into a fast-paced melodic electro dance track makes for one of the album's most entertaining moments.

This is Dramacore is perhaps the most musically and visually conceptual and accomplished album Evestus has yet released, and in ever respect, it succeeds admirably. The music is well composed and well produced, possessing a grit and grunge that complements the subject matter quite well, while the arrangements of symphonic compositions with electrified industrial rock make for an aggressive combination of melodic accessibility and scathing noise. If Evestus can maintain this level of improvement and capability, he is sure to become one of the underground's most renowned figures in time.