A true product of the internet, Kim Dracula rose to fame after posting several tracks on his TikTok account, including a cover of Lady Gaga's Paparazzi. It has to be said that this "little guy from a small town" from Tasmania has some solid arguments, starting with his vocal mastery that allows him to do just about anything with his voice, but also with his offbeat and trashy universe. It's hardly surprising, then, that he quickly attracted the attention of some of the biggest names, including the iconic Korn singer Jonathan Davis, with whom the young Australian has released a track. With millions of monthly listeners and collaborations galore, it was time to consolidate the work done by releasing a first studio album.
It has to be said, the first listen to A Gradual Decline In Morale is confusing. The artist offers several moods within a single track, from extreme metal to trap or electro to jazz, so imagine the result when you spread this approach over twenty tracks that follow one another without respite and are interspersed with humorous jingles and interludes. As a result, you find yourself reaching the fifth track without realising that you've finished listening to the first. Inevitably, it will take several iterations before you begin to discern the album's most interesting moments, and there are many of them. There's Seventy Thorns, of course, with its mix of glam metal and trap music featuring Jonathan Davis. There are also the singles Make Me Famous and Drown, where the artist has fun switching from one musical style to another with disconcerting ease (even though the whole thing is heavily metal-oriented). It's amazing what you can cram into tracks barely three minutes long when you've got a bit of know-how. There's also Superhero, with its funky undertones, and Divine Retribution, on which the young Tasmanian reveals a diverse and varied range of vocals.
Kim Dracula is a monster, and his vocal performance is simply breathtaking. His wide tessitura allows him to go from low to (very) high seemingly effortless, and his control of his flow is impressive: whether he takes on a crooner's voice, uses clear vocals or bellowing like a sow with a grindcore throat, the rendition is impeccable every time. The same is true of Undercover and its frenzied salsa, or Industry Secrets, which explains that to succeed in show business, you have to know how to blow very hard... ("It's who do you know... and who do you blow..."). Kitty Kitty and Rosé set a slightly more relaxed mood, while Reunion And Reintegration explore the grindcore side of things. There's definitely something for everyone here. It's a shame, though, that the constant changes in rhythm and atmosphere make what seems like a nice recipe a little indigestible over time. What's more, we're left wondering what it would sound like live; while the numerous rhythm breaks work well on album, it's hard to imagine that the effect would be the same live.
A Gradual Decline In Morale is just like its creator: a completely mad, uninhibited musical UFO that's full of surprises, albeit a little trying. Kim Dracula is nonetheless a hyperactive artist to keep an eye on, a real whirlwind like only Tasmania can offer.
