Portland two-women power duo HOAXED has released their first full length album "Two Shadows", which is a very digestible half hour listening of ethereal "crunchy modern metal, ghoulish gothic rock, twanging Americana and shimmering shoegaze" inspired tracks. I know that's a lot of descriptors, but if you're like me they are very strong and exciting descriptors that had me ready to jump right in.

Opening song and title track "Two Shadows" is an eerie instrumental soundscape featuring low howling winds, spectral chimes and mysterious choral vocalizing that sets the mood of the album before bursting in with a psychedelic doom rock feel in "The Call". Vocalist Kat Keo brings a sound very reminiscent to that of Stevie Nicks to this track- so it brings a witchy, fire in the woods feel. "The Knowing" comes with a darker, more gothic sound with layered vocals that will definitely have you feeling like you've been put under a spell.

"For Love" opens with an unsettling ticking that sets the tone of speed and near urgency of the track met with harmonizing vocals that feel nearly hypnotic when paired together. "Grand Illusions" keeps the gloomy feel going while adding in an upbeat pop feel. This song brings in a rhythmic percussion and a 90s female grunge sound- it's an incredible feeling of nostalgia while also sounding completely fresh. Reeling you in with deep church organs and aquatic themes "High Seas" is a tranquilizing track diving back into darker, gothic themes.

Remember all the descriptors at the beginning of this review? Don't think I have- "Guilty Ones" hasn't either. This track starts with that Americana twang guitar, melts into a mesmerizing shoegaze style singing, and doesn't forget to add metal blast beats with the drums. This track is absolutely alluring and keeps you interested even as we are nearing the end of the album. The next track (and longest on the album at five and a half minutes) "Where Good Won't Go" is a bit down-turned from what we've heard thus far and leans into a nearly doom metal style. The rolling drums and slowed, drawn out vocals make the track feel a little dragged out, but don't bow out yet. Final track "Forsaken" rolls in with the same lethargic feel before picking up pace, layering in choral atmospheres and a groovy, ghostlike sound with apt lyrics like "there's blood in the water, the terrors descend, we were all destined for violent ends" before ushering us out on a deep distorted riff.

These two obviously wanted to set a very specific feel with this album and they absolutely nailed it. It's otherworldly in all aspects- whether transporting you to a coven, a siren song on the sea, or a ghostly journey in a haunted manor. If you are into songs that sound like a gloomy fall day, this album is definitely for you.