From Bandcamp, “On their second album, SILVERA endeavored to maintain the core elements of their own sound while also expanding the horizons. This led the four-piece to experiment with new techniques, such as incorporating harsh vocals into one of the songs and composing three new tracks in the studio. This departure from their previous approach, where the foundational elements of songs were typically established prior to entering the studio, allowed for a fresh creative process. The result: an even fresher set of songs, taking the best elements of metal rock and everything in between and putting them together to create songs that really stand out.”

The album has 12 songs, and the title track is first. It hits you with a big riff out of the gate, and a heavy sound, tempered with melancholy vocals. As is common in the genre, much of the big sound comes from the hooks in the chorus. “Utopian” begins with clean guitar tones that segue into another energetic sound, with lead guitar. Again, much of the focus is on the big hook in the chorus, which the band drags out for days, and you can sing along with. The harsh vocals bring an angry element to the table as well. “Death of Me” had s bit sadder of a sound, but it is still presented with a lot of energy and a catchy chorus. So far, the three songs are easy to sing along with.

“Gone Too Far” is really the first song that presents some variation, along with a heavy emotional impact. It’s a slower song that is akin to a “power ballad” as we use to call them back in the day. The female vocals are a bit of a nice surprise as well. “Masquerade” has a richer and fuller sound, mostly from the riff, and where the band turns it on again is in the chorus. This common feature for the genre is what it is all about—driving home the chorus. “Patiently” has a sappy sound, and that is meant in the most positive way possible. At its basic level, music is supposed to connect with the listener, and this more tender song is easy to make that connection with.

“D.I.D.” has a grittier edge to it, from a low, crunchy riff and some leads. It represents the harder side of the band on the album. There are even some leads here. “Betrayal” is the final track, and it has another big hook. The challenge for me as a listener is that I have heard this sound thousands of times since I was a teenager in the 1980’s. How can a modern band capture some of the magic of that time while differentiating themselves from their peers? It starts with an honest approach, which SILVERA have done. Although it isn’t anything groundbreaking, it does have some very memorable hooks.