Not sure how or why I managed to avoid this album by the Texas duo for so long this year, but here we are. It is very synth-based, and I tend to like more organic instrumentation so there is that. The typical delay-heavy guitar. They have captured a great sound for this, but what this is might not be the most original take on this sort of thing. I like the vocals of the second song better as they are more emotive. His voice dips lower to try to create a more Sisters of Mercy feel, I appreciate that it is darker but it also sounds like everyone else doing this sort of thing.
"Temperence' dances around a similar sonic zip code to the previous songs have, all of this fits neatly on a DJ's set at Goth Nite but it does not push any boundaries, which is what bands like the Cure and Bauhaus did when they came out which cemented their place in music history rather than being forgotten in the bargain bin. I am skipping over synth interludes to focus on songs as that is what keeps you from dying in the bargain bin. "Cauldron of Chaos' is not dark nor is it chaotic, it sounds dialed in and uninspired. The strum of the guitar that is low in the mix on " Sangre de Oro" fills things out a bit and picking up the tempo was a smart move as everything was beginning to sound too uniform
"Etternal' is way too happy for what they are supposed to be doing. With Cold Cave the lines are more blurred they can get away with something poppier and dancey, but these guys market themselves as darkwave. Things are more effective when they drop down to the dusky creep of the last song, the guitar is not fighting against the dance beat. I will give this album an 8, meaning it has kept them from the bargain bin once again, and will make their fans happy. Not something I am going to listen to again, as it can be done better, but appreciate the effort, and it sounds great.
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