Evoke is best described as a scaled back version of the Wumpscut. If you bring your imagination and wear your emotions on your sleeve, then it will certainly evoke something. Just what I can’t quite be sure...

:Wumpscut: - Evoke

Metropolis Records

Evoke is best described as a scaled back version of the Wumpscut. If you bring your imagination and wear your emotions on your sleeve, then it will certainly evoke something. Just what I can’t quite be sure. Those who enjoyed earlier Wumpscut releases may find Evoke to be too sparse and cold. Evoke seems to be a clear effort by Rudy Ratzinger to reach beyond the industrial modes that he has exhibited on earlier releases. It is not a success, nor is it a failure. More accurately it is an album that feels like it lacks focus.

The highlights on Evoke nearly always contain the vocal efforts of Jane M. Without her, Evoke could easily become just another one of the many industrial cogs in the dance machine. Her lush vocals, particularly on the emotionally and physically raped "Maiden" and the longing and devotional "Hold" provide a wonderful counterpoint to the crisp synth lines and marching beats that forms the crux of each track on Evoke. Her voice is effective at drawing us into the raging inner conflict. These songs aside we are left with only the Ratzinger vocal deadpan performance of the title track "Evoke" and the instrumentally minded "Tomb" for anything that approaches a fraction of the same intensity.

After that, the album rapidly bogs down, with monotonous tracks "Don’t Go", "Krolok", and "Rush". By the time we arrive at the quirky "Maiden" remix by Nersoton we are struggling to even care. Only the most fervent Wumpscut fan is likely to enjoy the full length release.

Wumpscut official site: http://www.wumpscut.com

Metropolis Records: http://www.metropolis-records.com

Kind of like Laibach, Das Ich, and Einsturzende Neubaten