Band:	Zetra
Album:	Zetra
Style:	Shoegaze, Gothic rock
Release date:	September 2024
A review by:	omne metallum

01. Suffer Eternally
02. Sacrifice
03. Starfall [feat. Serena Cherry]
04. Mirror
05. Shatter The Mountain [feat. Sólveig Matthildur]
06. Holy Malice (Annabel)
07. Inseperable
08. Gaia
09. Moonfall [feat. Gabriel Franco]
10. Miracle

Polish up those shoes, you'll be gazing at them awhile.

It's a rarity in the world of music that a band can establish themselves as a name to look out for prior to the release of their debut album; most usually rely on said album to be their calling card and expose themselves to wider audiences. Goth rockers Zetra, thanks to a series of well-received live shows and singles, have skipped this step and generated interest among fans with little in the way of material to satiate their curiosity. Now with the release of their self-titled debut, Zetra have the hard job of meeting the high expectations they have generated for themselves.

Zetra have developed a hypnotic and ear-catching style, one that will pique your interest and pull you in with its blend of pop and gothic sensibilities. Best described as gothic new wave, Zetra focuses on the ethereal and is awash in synth and reverb: a potent and addictive mix for sure.

This hypnotic quality is best displayed on a track like "Starfall", with its lo-fi approach drawing you in before the keyboard hooks you completely; the result is a potent and powerful mix that will have you listening again and again. Zetra's ability to conjure up an atmosphere is well-developed, with the melancholy of "Sacrifice" and "Inseparable" bleeding out of any earphones you may be listening on.

Though they have a sound and style, they do not quite have the songwriting to fully take advantage of it consistently; much of Zetra is enjoyable but sounds far too similar, and tracks like "Holy Malice (Annabel)" lack a spark to truly differentiate or elevate them. Where the band do shake it up slightly, with "Gaia" having a greater guitar focus for example, the listening experience is enhanced as you hear Zetra move out of their comfort zone somewhat.

The production work on Zetra is one of the biggest positives of the album, as it is ideally suited for what the band aim for; the polished approach retains a lo-fi feel that matches the band's sonic aesthetic, allowing the likes of "Gaia" to breathe, and enhancing the atmosphere Zetra imbue into each track.

Zetra has been a long time coming, and finally gives fans a good chunk of material from Zetra to sink their teeth into. With the band laying out their sound and approach well, it highlights the potential they have and the reason why it will be worth keeping an eye on them going forward; however, the record is not quite the complete article just yet.