Evestus Music Official Homepage

This Is Evestus

Evestus might be the best example why artists such as Marilyn Manson and Trent Reznor should be locked up. An example of what happens to children when you don’t pay attention to what kind of cartoons they are watching or computer games they play. For all these mediums have helped keep this mind outside of society and building his own for years now. The scary thing is.. his world might be starting to invade yours soon.

The Estonian Industrial Rock group EVESTUS was formed in 2008 when founder Ott Evestus gathered a band of musicians to perform at MTV Baltics Birthday Party. The band consisted of two guitars, four cellos, keyboards and live percussions. Since all the music is written and produced by OT, then the band's line-up has remained dynamic with drummer and percussionist Tanya as the only steady member since 2008.  With the first LP "This Is Dramacore" (2010) Evestus gained the international acknowledgement of underground goth and industrial scenes as an act to watch out for and after 2012 EP "No God", accompanied by 4 official music videos, Evestus was playing clubs and festivals in Baltics and Scandinavia for two years. At the end of 2014, Evestus released "No God : Dissecting Faith" Rare/Remix album and entered the studio to write and record a follow-up LP to "This Is Dramacore".
In October 2015 Evestus released a new extremely depressing single and video "Watch You Leave" and the band lost half of its members.
In 2016 Evestus regrouped, went on tour with MINISTRY and started work on a new album with producer Ade Fenton (Gary Numan).
2018 Evestus took part in the Estonian Eurovision pre-contest with “Welcome to my World” and even though they didn’t go to represent Estonia in Eurovision, Ott Evestus was chosen to be the spokesperson for Estonia, reading Estonian votes during the Eurovision Song Contest. At the end of the year Evestus released a music video for “Everything in Here” and signed to a UK label Syndicol Music.
In March 1st 2019 Evestus released “Post 18 Depression” EP, featuring a Tears For Fears cover “Mad World”. Played three shows in the UK and was about to start mastering of the new album “All Goes Black” when in December 21, Ott Evestus was struck by bacterial meningitis and fell into coma.
Just when he had barely recovered, got back his basic motor skills and could pretty much adequately remember who he is and what he does, the world was hit with COVID19. Evestus took this period to reform his concept of the band and rearrange and remix the album “All Goes Black”. As with the concept and mood of the album, affected by the coma experience, the title of the record also changed into “Monster I´ve Become”.
EVESTUS is currently playing select shows with a new line-up (featuring members from Stryh:9 and Intrepid) and looking for partners for the album release.

Full Biography of Evestus
(you might want to grab some coffee and a cigarette..)

OT Evestus first became locally known as an insane frontman of a nu-metal band Solwaig. The scene people had mixed feelings towards him because he performed every show with a new outfit and make-up, but always kept to himself. Never hung around before or after the band performed. Everyone knew the rest of the band, but noone knew him. So started different stories about "Evestus" inspired by the lack of information available on this guy... and these stories and rumors started inspiring him into pushing the boundaries of what "Evestus" could be..

2004 - Going solo

His first album was a collection of songs that were basically just piles of loops and samples from movies and cartoons such as “Fight Club”, “Airheads”, “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, “The Maxx”, “Invader Zim” and others.

The year was 2004 and the album was titled “Destiny in Life” to symbolize his calling. His destiny. As if he needed more proof, the album, which only had 200 copies made, somehow found its way to Canadas D-trash records who decided to release it under their label to a wider audience. Basically, Evestus got signed. It came as a huge surprise to everyone, for no one took this album for more than a cute way of preserving ones collection of digital rantings. But Evestus knew this was it. That he was given a clear sign of his path.

2005 – Post Apocalypse Pop

The second album was a very solid work inspired by a box office hit PC game “Fallout 2″. “Wastelands“, a diary of a vault dweller, was a concept album with a very distinct sound and style. A “post-apocalypse pop music” as some referred to it, featured hints of raw industrial soundscapes mixed with classical instruments and even a bit of dixieland jazz. D-trash records went all out on promoting this album and it received very good reviews all over the world. Evestus became an established name in the industrial underground and started to receive a lot of requests for live shows. The problem was, he had never thought about performing his music live. But at this day of age, if you want to make it as an artist, this is something you can’t ignore. This was a tough break for Evestus. Around that time, Solwaig had it’s last shows and broke up. After a brief period as a percussionist in Forgotten Sunrise, Evestus realized that he had to take his solo project to the next level, because he could never settle with being a cog in someone else’s machine.

2006 – It’s getting darker..

Evestus reformed his little “studio” that until now had been nothing more than an old pc with a soundblaster pro sound card and desktop speakers, and started writing new songs with a live band in mind.

You see, Evestus was very theatrical when it came to Solwaig live shows and he had always believed that when you go see a live show, you go to see a show foremost. He had little respect towards bands who play on a stage in the same manner they play in their bedrooms. That is why he could not bear the idea of performing his previous material live through a laptop as so many similar artists did. It was simply not enough of a show for him.

While 2006 and 2007 were spent researching music production techniques and live solutions, Evestus actually worked at several studios during that time in order to gain insight and experience on audio production, fooling the managers into thinking that he had any knowledge on the field, while all he was after was a chance to spend time in a real studio.

Some of the vocals on “This is Dramacore” were recorded in these studios as well of some of the “Sacrifice” video footage. Evestus spent many nights alone in these studios, drinking and recording. When the owners became aware, he was fired. But he had gotten what he was after.

2008 – INDUSTRIAL ROCK BAND WAS BORN

2008 was when things started really happening. The “Sacrifice” single [released through Estonian hip-hop label Legendaarne Records ] along with a video by Grete “Stitch” Laus, made it to the MTV Baltic’s Top 20. The single was followed by a lot of local press and at the end of the year another single was released, “You’re Not Good Enough To Be My Enemy” that landed #4 at MTV Baltics Top 20 leading to a lot of live shows starting with a gig at MTV Baltic’s birthday party, supporting Kerli. Evestus had one week to put together a band for the opportunity. The result was Georg “DzDz” Gurjev (Horricane) on keyboards, Ricardo Guerilha on 1st guitar, Jan Talts (former Solwaig) on 2nd guitar, Tanya on percussions and from Estonian National Symphonic Orchestra – 4 cellists (also known as C-Jam Cello Quartet) on 4 cellos.

2009 – almost famous

2009 was spent finalizing “This is Dramacore“. Aside from a slight distraction in the form of NOKIA Music Gala, which once again showed Evestus live at it’s greatest. But with a solid live band to back him up, Evestus got a chance to re-record and replace virtual instruments with real ones and truly bring his musical concept to life. A track called “Conveniently Confused” was released on a UK-s Terrorizer Magazine covermount cd in their 2009 October issue.

2010 – This Is Dramacore

February saw the finishing touches of the album mixing and Evestus started focusing on a live set-up to support the new release on stage. On april 29, 2010, “This Is Dramacore” was released and one week later Evestus was supporting Estonias biggest industrial band NO-BIG-SILENCE for two shows in a row! The new album took off great and received a lot of very positive feedback. There was only one more thorn in the spine of Evestus… and that was putting Tanya, who had been playing only floor toms, behind a full drumset. In the beginning of June, first two gigs were given with
Tanya on a full drumset and by Hard Rock Laager festival in July, Evestus was ready to hit the stage with 50 minutes of pure Dramacore!

Later that year, Evestus joined forces with Finnish industrial-rockers Apples of Idun and Estonian deathbeat act Forgotten Sunrise to visit Riga and Vilnius and spread the northern industrial wave in the Baltics!

2011 – the downward spiral

Even though “This is Dramacore” was very well received by the critics everywhere, the success was not enough to keep a 9-piece band together in Estonia. Even as a 5 piece, touring the Baltic states and Finland used up every bit of financial resource the band had, between upgrading the bands technical set and the European economic collapse resulting in empty venues all contributed to a stress within the band that after a series of costly shows, Evestus decided to take a break and evaluate the situation. Ofcourse, giving up the music was never an option. Most of 2011 went into writing material for a follow up and strategic planning – with the music industry going through nearly revolutionary changes every month, this could be the best time to be an artist. Or the worst.

2012 – a new hope

In October 15, 2012, Evestus released a music video “Sleep Forever” with an announcement that a new EP will be out before the end of the year! After almost a year-long hiatus from the band, this felt like a new beginning for Evestus and his fans alike! The new video flew right to the top (#1) of Estonian weekly music video chart “Eesti Top 7″ at Estonian national television on November 6th and stayed in the chart for four weeks. “Sleep Forever” was followed by another video a month later – “Voices”, that was released in conjunction with a free digital single including the title track and two remixes (By Chaos Royale from Tokyo and Apples of Idun from Finland). This single made way for the EP released on December 21st 2012 titled “No God” and packing 5 brand new songs, including the two aforementioned video tracks. The “No God” EP was released as a digital download and limited edition CD digipak – limited to 300 numbered copies. A sign that this release was more of a treat for close fans and a testament to the public that Evestus is alive and kicking while the band keeps on working on their next full-lenght worthy of a spot next to their previous opus “This Is Dramacore”.
"Sleep Forever" music video landed at #9 on the Estonias Top 50 Music Videos of 2012 chart!

2013 – Last piece of the puzzle

2013 begun with the “Voices” video entering the Estonian Music Video Chart “Eesti Top 7″, following its 2012 successor “Sleep Forever” in nailing the #1 position on its first week in the chart! In April Evestus played live at Tallinn Music Week, as a statement that the band is fully active and once again a force to be reckoned with! The same month ORKUS magazine featured Evestus as an act to watch out for! TMW gig immediately drove in live offers from all the Estonian promoters! on May 5th Evestus released their first official online Merch store making it well known that Evestus Merch is not only wearable but highly collectable!
In August, HK decided to leave the live line-up for personal reasons. In September John joined the band as a guitarist and Jan switched from guitar to Bass. The next month Evestus struck a deal with Ian Jansons from Latvia to become the bands manager.
In December 18th Evestus released a music video for “The Fall” that was featured by torrent portal The Pirate Bay.  

2014 - Dissecting Faith

In January, "Voices" music video landed at #4 on the Estonias Top 50 Music Videos of 2013 chart! The new manager Ian Jansons started organizing gigs for Evestus starting with two Latvian dates with Freakangel in February. In April "The Fall" music video entered "Eesti Top 7" M/V chart where it stayed on #1 for five weeks. In May Evestus filmed the last bits for "No God", their sixth official music video and the summer was spent playing festivals (Klang, HRL, Letkurock, Findustry...).

"No God" music video was released with the "No God : Dissecting Faith" Rare/Remix album (digital only) on September 1st - including remixes by Freakangel, Chaos Royale and i! (Armalyte Industries) .

2015 - OTT Evestus started the year by disbanding the live band once again and spent most of 2015 in solitude, writing, re-writing and recording demos for the next full length Evestus album. Working title "Monster I've Become".
A somewhat detached song and video "Watch You Leave" was released on October 26th.

2016 - All Goes Black

Evestus took the stage at Tallinn Music Week 2016 with Tanya back on drums and a new member Simo on guitar to show the live band in it's best shape yet!
In June the band toured Scandinavia with Finnish industrial rockers The Physicists. Later that month Ott Evestus went to UK to work on his new material with producer Ade Fenton.

In August, Evestus was offered to support the industrial rock legend MINISTRY in Moscow and St. Petersburg, kicking off their ´From Beer to eterna-tour´. Two months later Evestus was supporting Youth Code in London and Bristol. HK joined Evestus on keyboards for both tours. 2016 was finished with a furious appearance at Body Machine Body festival in Tallinn in November after which Ott turned his focus on finishing new material for 2017 release.

2017 in MAY Evestus toured the Baltics, Czech and Slovakia with italian glam-rockers Psycholies, in August Tanya joined the other known Estonian industrial band Freakangel as a full-time member and left Evestus. She was soon replaced by Siim Jõgioja when Evestus was elected to take part in the Estonian Eurovision pre-contest “Eesti Laul”. In September Evestus released a digital single “Enemy Reloaded” with “I am Hate” as a B-side.
Enemy Reloaded and Dramacore also received lyric videos as a collab project between Grete “Stitch” Laus and Ben Garcia (Ministry).

2018 Evestus continued work on their next full length, played their first “quiet” show at a small hotel room at Nordic Hotel Forum during Tallinn Music Week and started experimenting with video backdrops during shows. In august Evestus played three shows with Hocico with a video background for the full set, adding to the live experience. In November Evestus signed with UK-s Syndicol Music and released a video single “Everything In Here”.

2019 Evestus started the year by releasing a surprise EP “Post 18 Depression” under Syndicol Music on April 1st, supported by several shows in the UK.

LIVE History
 

18.03.2023 — Evestus Live with Freakangel at Gen Club, Tartu, EST
17.03.2023 — Evestus Live with Freakangel at Sveta Baar, Tallinn, EST
15.10.2022 — Evestus Live with HIDE at Sveta Baar, Tallinn, EST
07.07.2022 — Evestus Live at Barbar Feast with Korpiklaani and others. EST
21.05.2019 — Evestus Live with Winny Puhh at Camden Underworld, London, UK
26.04.2019 — Evestus Live with Resolution 13, Memoremains and Mad Morality at BarBar, Tallinn, EST
02.03.2019 — Evestus Live at Renaissance Festival at Electrowerkz, London, UK
01.03.2019 — Evestus Live with Seething Akira at The Sussex Arms, Tunbridge Wells, UK
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07.09.2018 — Evestus Live with Up The Sky + Asylum at BarBar, Tallinn, EST
19.08.2018 — Evestus Live with HOCICO at Melna Piektdiena, Riga, LAT
18.08.2018 — Evestus Live with HOCICO at Sveta Baar, Tallinn, EST
17.08.2018 — Evestus Live with HOCICO + King Satan at On The Rocks, Helsinki, FIN
04.08.2018 -- Evestus Live at Kultuuriklubi TEMPEL, Pärnu, EST
28.07.2018 -- Evestus Live at Punk & Rock Festival, Tartu, EST
14.07.2018 -- Evestus Live at SMASH Bikefest, Rutja, EST
07.04.2018 -- Evestus Live at Tallinn Music Week, Tallinn, EST
06.04.2018 -- Evestus Live at Nordic Hotel Forum, Tallinn, EST
16.03.2018 -- Evestus Live with HDS at RnR Heaven, Tartu, EST
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30.09.2017 -- Evestus Live with Khroma at Fonoklubs, Cesis, LAT
29.09.2017 -- Evestus Live with Khroma at Club Lemmy, Kaunas, LT
28.09.2017 -- Evestus Live with Khroma at Club Rockstars, Tallinn, EST
05.08.2017 -- Evestus Live at Amme Rock Festival, Tartu, EST
07.07.2017 -- Evestus Live with FREAKANGEL at Club RoRo, Narva, EST
03.06.2017 -- Evestus Live with PsychoLies at Club Kanara, Jirkov, CZ
02.06.2017 -- Evestus Live with PsychoLies at Brezovski Senk, SK
01.06.2017 -- Evestus Live with PsychoLies at Pekelna Brana, Plzen, CZ
31.05.2017 -- Evestus Live with PsychoLies at Club Gora, Ostrava, CZ
27.05.2017 -- Evestus Live with PsychoLies at Nabaklab, Riga, LAT
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26.05.2017 -- Evestus Live with PsychoLies at Club Lemmy, Kaunas, LT
25.05.2017 -- Evestus Live with PsychoLies at Club Metro, Vilnius, LT
24.03.2017 -- Evestus Live with NU-NATION at Hard Rock Cafe, Helsinki, FIN
10.03.2017 -- Evestus Live with FREAKANGEL at Tapper, Tallinn, EST
04.03.2017 -- Evestus Live with FREAKANGEL at Gen Club, Tartu, EST
03.03.2017 -- Evestus Live with PEDIGREE at Art Club RoRo, Narva, EST
16.02.2017 -- Evestus Live with DANGER and Mechanical Vein at The Underworld, Camden, London, UK
12.11.2016 -- Body Machine Body VI Dark Music Festival, Tallinn, EST
16.10.2016 -- Evestus Live with YOUTH CODE at The Exchange, Bristol, UK
15.10.2016 -- Evestus Live with YOUTH CODE at Electrowerkz, London, UK
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02.09.2016 -- Evestus Live with Herald at Rock Club Tapper, Tallinn, EST
03.08.2016 -- Evestus Live with MINISTRY at A2 Green Club, St.Petersburg, RU
02.08.2016 -- Evestus Live with MINISTRY at Yotaspace, Moscow, RU
11.06.2016 -- Evestus Live with The Physicists and MMMM at Depo, Riga, LAT
10.06.2016 -- Evestus Live with The Physicists at Rockstar's, Tallinn, EST
09.06.2016 -- Evestus Live with The Physicists and Black Sleep at TVO, Turku, FIN
08.06.2016 -- Evestus Live with The Physicists at Semifinal, Helsinki, FIN
07.06.2016 -- Evestus Live with The Physicists and Northern Genocide at Ravintola Torvi, Lahti, FIN
05.06.2016 -- Evestus Live with The Physicists, Kill the Sleeper and My Own Sorrow at Broder Tuck, Stockholm, SWE
03.06.2016 -- Evestus Live with The Physicists, Hearteater and Without Voodoo at KB18, Copenhagen, DK
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15.04.2016 -- Evestus Live with Signs of Execution at Club Ro-Ro, Narva, EST
02.04.2016 -- TALLINN MUSIC WEEK 2016 at Von Krahl, Tallinn, EST
05.09.2014 -- FINDUSTRY Festival with Freakangel, Älymystö etc. Bar Bäkkäri, Helsinki, FIN
09.08.2014 -- Letkurock Festival with Black Light Discipline, Frantic Amber etc. FIN
31.07.2014 -- Evestus Live with HOCICO and Forgotten Sunrise, Club Rockstar's, Tallinn, EST
26.07.2014 -- Mototoober Bike Festival, Saaremaa, EST
25.07.2014 -- KLANG! Festival, near Riga, LAT
28.06.2014 -- HARD ROCK LAAGER Festival 2014, Vana-Vigala, EST
15.02.2014 -- Post Valentine's with Freakangel at Fontaine Palace, Liepaja, LAT
14.02.2014 -- Valentine's day with Freakangel at Melna Piektdiena, Riga, LAT
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30.11.2013 – Freakangel record release party at Club Rockstar’s, Tallinn, EST
08.11.2013 – Jana Kask & Mai Skizo record release party at Rock Cafe, Tallinn, EST
06.10.2013 – Evestus Live with Dominanz, Myrah and Frailty at Rockclub Tapper, Tallinn, EST
05.10.2013 – Evestus Live with Dominanz, Myrah and Frailty Latvijas No1. Rokkafejnika, Riga, LAT
12.07.2013 – Patarei Kultuuritolm 2013 Festival, Tallinn, EST
17.05.2013 – Evestus Live with Freakangel at club Rock’n Roll Heaven, Tartu, EST
10.05.2013 – Tuska Metal Battle 2013 at club Rubiin, Viljandi, EST
05.04.2013 – TALLINN MUSIC WEEK 2013, Club Rock Cafe, Tallinn, EST
06.01.2012 – Club Semifinal with Cold Cold Ground and V for Violence, Helsinki, FIN
25.11.2011 – Club Tapper with Nuclear Monarch, Estoner and Paean, Tallinn, EST
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25.03.2011 – TALLINN MUSIC WEEK 2011 at Club Tapper, Tallinn, EST
04.12.2010 – Club Semifinal with Apples of Idun and Cold Cold Ground, Helsinki, FIN
06.11.2010 – Club Muse with Apples of Idun and Forgotten Sunrise, Vilnius, LIT
05.11.2010 – Club Melna Piektdiena with Apples of Idun and Forgotten Sunrise, Riga, LAT
09.07.2010 – Ösel MC-s Mototoober 2010, Saaremaa, EST
02.07.2010 – HARD ROCK LAAGER Festival 2010, Stage A, 20:00, Vana-Vigala, EST
11.06.2010 – Evestus Live with Apples of Idun, Epoché and Mimicry at Club R’n'R Heaven, Tartu, EST
10.06.2010 – Evestus Live with Apples of Idun, Epoché and Mimicry at Club “Rock Cafe”, Tallinn, EST
08.05.2010 – Evestus VS No Big Silence at Club R’n'R Heaven, Tartu, EST
07.05.2010 – Evestus VS No Big Silence at Club Tapper, Tallinn, EST
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24.04.2010 – Jägermeister Rock League, Tallinn, EST
28.03.2009 – Tallinn Music Week 2009, Tallinn, EST
07.02.2009 – Extreme Weekend, Tallinn, EST
19.01.2009 – “NOKIA comes with music” Gala at Club Hollywood, Tallinn, EST
30.08.2008 – MTV Birthday with Kerli, Tallinn, EST
15.09.2007 – Club “Rockstars” with Rabia Sorda and Forgotten Sunrise, Tallinn, EST
31.08.2007 – Sähköjänis Kolome Festival, Pieksämäki, FIN
24.03.2007 – Dance Macabre, Vilnius, LT
05.09.2006 – Live with Forgotten Sunrise, Iconcrash and Morgue`s Last Choice, Tallinn, EST
21.07.2006 – Evestus first live at Club “Rockstars”, Tallinn, EST