It’s often said that burnout can be an unavoidable calamity for creative endeavours. Burnout is perpetual motionless machine, frustration feeds an unmovable pen, which feeds procrastination, which exacerbates frustration. Blank pages beget a drought of thoughts.

Milwaukee’s The Dramatic Lovers pierce through that gray desolation with the Hiatus EP, led by Billy Seidel’s haunting but soothing vocals. Hiatus EP seeks to reflect upon that lethargy, with the pensive demeanor of opening track ‘Blaze Orange’ piercing through an seemingly endless void of silence. Longing is a feeling well revisited throughout, with the hope of better times, even as a memory, flirting with a busy mind.

‘Horns of dilemma’ continues the fleeting glimpses of certain hope, with that guitar hook teasing a larger soundscape. The reflective mood of post-punk ambience impacts inelastically with a sobering couple of tracks. ‘Heart on sleeve’ with its stripped down sound shows a meaner side, whereas the beautiful, heartwrenching ‘Throwing Halos’ lays down the EP’s denoument. ‘Wanna Love’ has a few glimmers of light scurrying around, but still, there’s an overwhelming despondency lingering after. Get a warm brew and loose yourself into The Dramatic Lovers‘ latest release.

Words: Sam J. Valdés López.