Customer Reviews

Evoke

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Alright, an improvement over BonePeeler? Well im still quite undecided, but overall the album is quite good. My only problem with this album is that some of the songs are just TOO repetitive. I quite enjoyed the energy behind "Churist Churist", and thought that "Maiden", "Tomb", "Evoke" and "Perdition" were awesome tracks. On the otherhand "Krolok" is probably the weakest track on the album, requiring more substance, followed by "Breathe". The album art I thought was quite original and some of my favorite. A good package.

I'm rather torn on this album. I can't honestly recommend it, and I can't completely dismiss it. It's true, as far as :W: goes, one could certainly do better. But the gems that are on "Evoke" are some of the best offerings that Ratzinger has made since "Wreath of Barbs." I suppose that the easiest way for me to tackle a review is to look at the individual tracks. (For evaluation, I'm including the two remix tracks as well.)

1.) "Maiden": Oh dear. This track should be taught as a textbook example of how to butcher a perfectly good theme and musical hook. I believe that most of the hostility toward this album stems from this opening track, which is absolutely abysmal. This is a shame, since Jane M. does an excellent job with "Hold" later in the album. Here, she caterwauls some of the most ridiculous lyrics I have ever heard on an industrial album. Not even Leeb at his most goofy (an increasing trend, sadly) can top the clunky ineptitude of these verses. Rudy, shame on you for taking a great theme like a rape/murder victim waiting for her violator in the afterlife and making us groan and laugh at it. It's doubly unfortunate that the waltzing lilt of the chorus is so well done, as we can't really enjoy it because of the previous assault on our ears.
"D-" (spared the "F" only for the sing-song of the chorus, which is creepy.)

2.)"Churist Churist" - OK, I've looked around, and I still can't find the translation of these lyrics. I'm still not even sure what language this is. Overall, though, this is one of the less noxious tracks, even if it does fall prey to repetition and weak musical arrangment. Plus, it's kind of catchy, but honestly the Recently Deceased remix of it is far superior. Definitively average, but with some flair.
"C+"

3.) "Don't Go" - Aww, how sweet. But really, I think the song needs a hook (sarcasm.) Seriously, repetition is your enemy. Quit beating a dead horse. The music arrangment is nice, and Jane M. is a little less annoying - I didn't want to impale her skull with rebar. In fact, she almost sounded like Kate Bush... which she really does in her next track, but without the wailing. Still, too boring to be really enjoyable.
"C"

4. "Evoke" - This track is one of the better ones, as the title track rightfully should be. Catchy as hell, danceable, and suitably brooding lyrics with ONE major exception, which really almost killed me with giggling: "When I get evoked." Such an awful amount of cheese, Rudy. You were doing so well, and now I can't take one of your better songs seriously. Besides, I think you meant "invoked?" Still, this one's a good one overall.
"B" (for repeatedly breaking my enjoyment with that groaner line.)

5.) "Tomb" - I'm not really sure why something this lively would be called "Tomb," but this is one of the better industrial/EBM instrumentals I've heard in a while. It's almost up there with some of VNV Nation's instrumentals (closest quality comparison is "Electronaut") One of the "big four" of this album.
"B+"

6.) "Hold" - Here it is, the best one on the album. Jane M. is spot-on this time, with perfect pitch, timing, and enunciation and no maudlin wailing. The music features great harmonics and unusual turns, and Ratzinger's lyrics are subtle yet potent. Very stylish, infectious, and memorable. Why can't the rest be like it?
"A"

7.) "Krolok" - Umm... this one doesn't do it for me. Too much contextless sampling, weak, tinny music, and no real sense of identity. A "filler track", but marginally enjoyable compared to others.
"C-"

8.) "Breathe" - Tinny, frenetic synth, and more vocal sampling without context. This time, though, it comes across as vaguely offensive and incomprehensible. Maybe this could be the new skinhead stompy-stomp theme. I'd skip it.
"D"

9.) "Rush" - Que the lame lyrics again. The music sounds like it belongs on a console VG soundtrack. More laughable than threatening, and plagued by repetition.
"D+"

10.) "Perdition" - Obviously Rudy's been watching "Lord of Illusions." Give it a rest. Unintentionally funny lyrics that sound like they were written by an ESL student due to the awkward ordering, and almost J-Pop-esque riff undercut what might have been a good track. As it is, it's easily forgettable.
"C-"

11.) "Obsessio" - Once again, no idea on the lyrics. But I do like the spoken-word quality of Clara S. The arrangment's a little stale, but ultimately not repulsive.
"B-"

BONUS TRACKS

12.) "Churist Churist" (Recently Dead Remix) - MUCH better than the original. Dire, apocalyptic, and crushing. Clara S. sounds utterly soulless, like an automated emergency message (Fire. In. Cryo. Storage.) The last "good" track, only eclipsed by "Hold," and a definite keeper.
"A-"

13: "Maiden" (Nersoton Remix) - UGH. How dare you assault us with this TWICE, Ratzinger? Thanks to this, the album begins AND ends with a turd. The only thing that this version has going for it is the fact that Nersoton was wise enough to eliminate an entire verse, and axe Rudy's growling "maiden, maiden, maiden." There's no saving this turkey, though.
"D" (for torturing us less.)

So there you have it. You can either get it for the good points, or pass it for the bad. I hope this helps.

I havent been a long time Wumpscut fan, just the last 8 months or so and I've only heard 5 albums, but this one is one of my favorites that ive heard. Has that nice dark-electronic sound that doesent sound like cheesy techno-trance. I guess this is a good album for new Wumpscut fans. The "old school" fans dont seem to like it as much.

I'm a big fan of Rudy Ratzinger's (the man behind Wumpscut) music, and although "Evoke" is more akin to the softer "Bone Peeler" release than the harsh "the Mesner Tracks" (which I still believe is Wumpscut at its best), the album really grew on me quickly. I'd still classify this album as primarily Electronic Body Music (EBM) and hence dance friendly, but if you are a fan of Rudy's harsher albums or other terror EBM acts like Feindflug or Suicide Commando, you might be a bit disappointed at first. But give the album a chance, it will grow on you. If you happen to enjoy the German band, the Retrosic, you'll instantly fall in love with this album too.

My favorite tracks include "Hold", "Obsessio", "Rush", "Perdition", and the "Churist Churist (recently deceased rmx)" bonus track. Clara S., who provided the lyrics on Obsessio and the Churist Churist rmx, also happened to provide vocals on one of the tracks on his previous album. With Jane M. providing the vocals on a number of the other tracks, this album actually has a larger number of songs with female vocals than is typical for a Wumpscut album.

Overall, the album has a very dark and mature sound to it. The sound is not overly aggressive, but at the same time, it is upbeat enough that I wouldn't be surprised to hear many of the tracks make it to the dancefloor at a goth or industrial club. I've enjoyed the album enough that I'm considering actually buying one of the special edition albums and passing my current copy on to a friend.

Rudy's musical production has always been subpar to most in his "darkwave industrial" genre. This album has good production, but, however, not as complex, as for lyrical based songs. Rudy's lyrics are what bring this CD down. They are simple and repetitive. The "girls" vocals are much improved and more prominent. Accually, the girls vocals as well as the instrumentals are what make it a sustainably decent album track by track in my opinion. Overall a good listen because of coarse it's rudy; but disappointing if you're fan looking for Wumpscut to venture into his old style.

I dont even know what to say. This has got to be the worst :w: album yet. It seems that through time Rudy is getting worse and his obsession with these terrible female singers is getting to be too much. I loved :w: when all there was, was good industrial slammish and rythm. Now all I hear is offkey lyrics (which a 5 year old could write) to boring music. Dont waste your money on this garbage. Rudys legacy ended at Wreath of Barbs.

I am a huge Wumpscut fan, but I am sorry to report, this is my least favorite :W: album. It's not that Rudy is lacking in talent, ...he is and always will be one of my favorite artist, and by far one of the greatest artist in electro/industrial scene, but not with this album. If your new to :W:, please don't start here...I suggest Embryodead, Music For A Slaughtering Tribe, Eevil Young Flesh, Bunker Gate 7, or Cannibal Anthem. Even Bonepeeler, and Wreath Of Barbs would be better than Evoke. Evoke is not a great Wumpscut album.

To be sure, Bone Peeler was the lowest point in :wumpscut:'s career by a wide margin. The release of Evoke was something that I looked to with no small amount of trepidation, fearing that it would continue BP's established formula of boring (as in unimaginative, not slow) instrumentals accompanied by some of the worst vocal work heard on an industrial album. Luckily, this isn't the case, and those that appreciate Rudy Ratzinger's work for more than its abrasive qualities should be pleased.

Evoke gets its worst song out of the way first with Maiden, a track that would have been at home on Bone Peeler. The female vocals on the song lack grace and quite simply, the vocalist can't sing (this is curious, because her other voice work on the album is passable). Things pick up on Churist Churist, which is more creative than 90% of what was featured on the last album. The song seems to be written in a language of Ratzinger's own creation, and is interesting if nothing else. Other high points on the album include Evoke, Hold and Tomb (which seems like an attempt to recapture the magic of Ratzinger's early instrumental work). Breathe, probably the highest energy track on the CD (not counting the remixes), is plagued by some very ill advised samples. While the song was probably meant to be some sort of social commentary, it misses the mark and succeeds only in being a bit offensive.

As a whole the album is far more melodic than most of :wumpscut:'s previous work, adding female vocalists (with varying degrees of success) on several tracks. Gone are the aggressive drums and the harsh, grating distortion; replaced by rhythmic synths and subtle hooks. For metal fans and those who loved :w: for albums like Dried Blood and Embryodead, this will likely be a huge disappointment. But anyone who can appreciate Ratzinger's overall body of work (excluding perhaps the dreadful Bone Peeler) should find Evoke to be a satisfying experience. While it isn't a return to form, it's certainly a return to quality.

Ok, I am just writing this review to balance out all the idiots who gave it really low ratings, claiming it sucked, Wumpscut is washed up, or whatever. Ok, this is no Embryodead or Dried Blood, but this is still a good CD in its own way. Aside from the "Maiden" tracks, (I have to skip those sorry), there are some good ones on here. The title track, "Evoke", along with "Perdition" are both good cuts. If you are a Wumpscut fan, you will like this cd. you might have to skip 1 or 2 tracks, that's it. Don't listen to people saying this cd sucks, or that "Wumpscut is over", Rudy will never really be over, sure his sound changed, but music is SUPPOSED to evolve people. Here in the darkness, evoke, evoke.

Don't you wish there were a way to view only the better reviews of an album? Maybe there is and I'm just blind.

Oh well, I find reviews themselves tedious. But I've been enjoying writing Wumpscut reviews lately, just because nowdays, they are so controversial. Oh lord, how I love it. How I love to hear things so odd, so different. Why are fans afraid of change? One reviewer writes of cookies and cakes. Supposedly, we were expecting chocolate chip, and we got sugar. Well, I'm lactose intolerant: eating chocolate chip cookies is starting to hurt my stomach. Yes, Wumpscut is dead. That is to say, the days of chocolate chip cookies are dead: Music for a Slaughtering Tribe, Bunkertor 7...do we really want a repeat of those? People speak of so-called formulas, well what the hell do you think a revisiting to glory days of Electronic Body Music would be? "Shells of Wumpscut records"...what do you expect, soul satisfying music? Buy an R&B album! "Rudy isn't making cakes for us or himself anymore, just his bank account." Yeah, right. Give me a break; if he were making music to make money, why were the last three (even four) albums so controversial, and so heart-breaking to the "die hard" fans?

I know, I know, this is less of a review and more of a rant, but if you are a fan who desires change, appreciates the evolution of artists over listeners, aren't afraid of the color white, buy this album. Heck, if you're totally scared, just pick it up used.