I remember seeing this guy blow up on TikTok back in the pandemic era, and I was honestly just impressed that someone managed to gain a sizeable following with metal content. It took a while for him to go from shortform internet content to releasing songs, to finally putting out a debut album. When I heard the news, I was really curious to see what he would try to pull off.
First impressions, it was quite cool. I love that he stuck to his identity and made the whole album theatrical, and it really felt like something he would make. The production and sound quality is solid too, so all there really was to consider was the songwriting and performance itself.
Kim Dracula was always quite skilled with his vocals, especially in the nü-metal department. Proficient in several advanced vocal techniques, and also with rap-screaming, things we've all seen him pull off in his TikTok era, I'm not surprised but still as glad to see him throw all of it in and more on this album. From a purely technical standpoint, this album is ace.
Songwriting is where it gets slightly more iffy all around. I respect that the chaos in this album is intentional and a reflection of Kim Dracula's vision and sonic identity, but I did find myself a bit lost here and there throughout the full listen. It's a super jumpy album experience which can ruin it for some people, but I personally think it's a quirk I can run with. Songs like Luck Is A Fine Thing (Give It A Chance) and Land Of The Sun sound like they could be ten different songs, but I've come to enjoy it quite a lot, especially when each section is great on their own to begin with.
Vocally, he seems to be throwing in everything. Anthemic cleans, fast screams, potently high whisper screams and inhumanly low growls, all put against a diverse palette of genre sounds. You can find anything from ska and jazz to funk and flamenco painted onto the modern metal canvas of this album. Speaking of modern metal, I am actually quite surprised at the kind of modern metal elements he used on this album, especially with the production and songwriting choices, it is extremely on par with the best of modern metal today, and a surprising but very welcome choice especially with his virality. I think it's safe to say that he has zero regard for appealing to the pop masses, which is a great thing.
I think his main shortfall (which isn't very big, mind you) is the incoherence of the album experience, between chaotic songs, there seems to be a recklessly fast-paced changing of lyrical themes and sonic palettes, which contributes to the overall perceived messiness of the album. I have to say though, given the odd selection of morbid and sardonic themes in this album, I think it fits the concept. This is a peek into the mind of his madman character, one that has a clear story from start to end, a dramatic delusion of desire for fame, singing about murderous infamy in some, violently interjecting himself into various amalgamated sounds and aesthetics in others. You wouldn't think it to be pristine and orderly.
This debut album has its merits, I think we can all agree on that. Kim Dracula has definitely shown that he is more than capable in the technical aspect, and on the songwriting side, what isn't great still shows a lot of potential, that can become game-changing with some proper refinement. He definitely has a knack for moments and impactfulness, but he could do with a bit more pop sensibility to round it up, just enough to make it sound less like an experimental endeavour and more like a full-fledged display of his musicality. Jonathan Davis is also a very apt guest to have on the album, as Korn is clearly a big influence of his, evident with all the scatting scattered throughout the album. A surprising but fun addition to the tracklist as well is his cover of The Goo Goo Dolls' Iris, one that he twists into a darker and more unsettling rendition.
It's definitely a mixed reviews kind of album, but I think it's commendable. Out to do his own thing and seek a new sound, he's made it very clear with this debut album that he's got something special. Now, all he has to do is convince the critics that there is something truly artistic and more to his music than the dramatic persona of this album that comes off as cringeworthy or unbearable to some. I personally think it's fun though, at the very least, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with a fun album.
Rating: 6/10