State of the Union- Evol Love Industry

https://www.myspace.com/evolloveindustry

https://www.infacted-recordings.de

https://www.myspace.com/infacted

https://wtiirecords.com

https://www.myspace.com/wtiirecords

 

1.  Industry

2.  Evol Love

3.  Dead Serious

4.  Roller Coaster

5.  Fall from Grace

6.  Nothing at All

7.  I Want

8.  Radioman

9.  Bad Girls Need Love Too

10.  Love is Complicated

State of the Union’s latest offering, “Evol Love Industry”, is sure to please fans of VNV Nation, Assemblage 23, Covenant, etc.  It definitely would fall into the category of ‘futurepop’ (is that term even used anymore????).  While having diverse, hard beats, thick bass, and driving synth lines, it is also very melodic and danceable.  The touches of orchestrations and piano on “Evol Love Industry” are a big part of this.  Johann Sebastian’s vocals are crystal clear and convey the emotion of the lyrics quite well.  Speaking of the lyrics, they are above average and very easy to relate to.  Stand-outs on this release for me are as follows.  “Evol Love” is a song that I can only refer to as a dirty love song.  It would also be a definite dancefloor fave, with its heavy beats and sexual subject matter.  “Fall from Grace” begins with a very catchy synth run that stuck in my head all day upon first hearing it.  This is actually one of the slower songs on this release, but doesn’t quite cross over into ‘ballad’ territory.  The chorus uses a cool vocal effect that, while not being something you’ve never heard before, still adds a certain something to the song.  “I Want” is definitely one of my favorites on this release.  I don’t know if it’s because of the way the music builds up throughout the main verses until opening up fully during the chorus, or if it’s because I can totally relate to the lyrics (I think most people will).  “Bad Girls Need Love Too” is a naughty little number that is almost a more melodic sister to Combichrist’s “This Shit Will Fuck You Up”.  Finally we come to “Love is Complicated”.  It is probably the most heartfelt and emotional tune on “Evol Love Industry”, and my personal favorite on the album.  Once again, as with “Fall from Grace”, this song never crosses over into becoming a full-blown ballad, and it doesn’t need to.  The way the song is structured is perfectly fitting for its subject matter.  I give State Of The Union’s “Evol Love Industry” my highest recommendation.  It is, without doubt, one of the best releases of 2008.

Jeremy Davey