DZTN 1980 – Scraps LP (1859 Records)

When Dustin promised a new full-length record, he truly meant it. After the disbandment of Abolitionist at the very end of 2019, he pursued a solo career as DZTN 1980 and became a prolific artist with loads of recordings in his back catalog. Since his decision to start performing under his new moniker, Dustin released a series of full-lengths such as Outside The City, War Of Good Intentions, Ode To A Dead Earth, and Don’t Give Up EP. He established himself as a prolific solo artist through his neverendingly creative outlet and somehow maintaining things in that manner.

Unlike Abolitionist, which were more of a straightforward politically charged melodic punk rock group, DZTN 1980 leans towards a more harmonious post-punk sound. However, there’s a hearable presence of some old-school punk rock aesthetic, which was quite popular in the States during the late seventies and early eighties. You may notice a strong resemblance with Joy Division, The Psychedelic Furs, Siouxie And The Banshees, Modern English, Love And Rockets, The Wipers, Dinosaur Jr, and Husker Du. Still, Dustin’s distinctive vocal articulations are keeping his music in such a unique manner. Just like the Abolitionist, DZTN 1980 solely focuses on the issues of contemporary society and reflects subtly depressive imageries through vividly melancholic melodies. You may stumble upon some interesting accentuations, which are resembling the familiar sounds of coldwave and darkwave scene, so Dustin probably did that with an intention.

Scraps showcases a shift forward in sound, which is unquestionably notable with each new recording. Dustin gradually matures as a songwriter and composer, so his progress as a solo artist is even more notable with time. Each new recording offers a more detailed sound, decorated with layers of flawlessly recorded instruments. You’ll notice a dominant presence of chorus effect over both guitars and bass. Dustin is nurturing a certain post-punk atmosphere with these subtly melancholic movements but also creating polyphonous vibes that are perfectly suiting the listening apparatus. The layer of synths is undoubtfully uplifting these instrumentations on an entirely new level, while the astoundingly programmed rhythm section offers a more organic listening experience.

Scraps delivers utterly impressive maneuvers on the table through eight thoroughly arranged compositions that will surely suit the fans of post-punk, coldwave, darkwave, and classic punk rock sound. The album is currently available on streaming services, but I heard rumors about a possible vinyl release in not so distant future. Head over to DZTN 1980 Bandcamp page and check it out!