From Bandcamp, “The Portal has opened, the Darkness is calling. Absolution can only come through loss. A sacrifice must be made. ZETRA asks the question. Do you believe enough? The album has nine songs, and “The Angel Cries” is first. It has a dark, electronic edge to it, but is also quite catchy. Guitar and keyboards combine to create a weighted bottom end, and the vocals are no longer falsetto, as I believe they were on their first release. That thick groove gets caught in your head for sure, and the lead breaks help it stick there. “So” was the first single released ahead of the album, and it’s another catchy offering. This music could be on the radio…it’ a bit obscure but very pleasing to the ear. “The Spider” is super catchy, and some of the Gothic elements of previous songs give way for those hooks and the chorus to just be driven home. They are embracing melody on the new album.

“Charlotte” is much more weighted but still high in the melody register, and this is one thing that the band does very well. The bottom end is as heavy as concrete, but the vocals are light and airy overtop. There is also a smooth break from it that nothing short of glorious, and even the screamed vocals register as melodic. The final song is divided into four parts. “i Shards of Power” is heavy with electronics, and keyboards, and it creates an air of mystery for what might be coming. Bass notes rumble in and hold down the rhythm, and I get hues of blue. Segueing into “ii A Queen Ascends,” the heavy presence continues as does the mystery. The darkness hanging in the sky begins to fade though, giving way to a beacon of light. The third movement, titled “iii The Order’s Decree,” has pulsing keys, as well as clean guitars, and that light continues to illuminate the path and guide you along your journey.

“iv The Final Rest” wraps up the album, but as to whether or not it completes the tale, that is open for interpretation. As a writer, one of the more fulfilling parts of my job is watching a band’s evolution over time. This being their second album, they were firing on all cylinders until that final four-movement song, but let's get back to that. What I heard on this album was more of an open embracement of melodies and hooks. The core of their sound is still there…Gothic style keyboards mesh with vibrant melodies and while there are somber tones, they take a back seat to those great hooks. The final song is a bit of a mystery for me, and it leaves the album hanging, and the listener wanting more. This is a unique band that has an uncommon sound that is just so pleasing to me.