REVIEW

The debut album from UK shoegaze / gothic metal duo Zetra.

Formed in 2018 by Adam Saunderson (guitar, vocals) and Jordan Page (synths, vocals), Zetra initially explored synth-pop and new wave aesthetics before gravitating toward a heavier, more fantastical sound. That gradual evolution has resulted in what the band themselves describe as “gothic heavy metal shoegaze,” a hybrid that feels less like a genre exercise and more like a fully realized identity.

The lush keyboard textures may invite comparisons to Drab Majesty, yet Zetra diverge sharply in execution. The guitars lean decisively toward metal-rooted heaviness, built on thick, deliberate riffs, while the vocals remain notably delicate and graceful. The balance is striking: the weight of Black Sabbath, the dark sensuality of Type O Negative, and the ethereal elegance of Cocteau Twins appear carefully proportioned rather than stacked for effect. In that sense, the term “gothic heavy metal shoegaze” seems unusually precise.

That lineage is further underscored by an impressive roster of guest musicians drawn from the gothic and metal scenes, including Serena Cherry (Svalbard), Sólveig Matthildur Kristjánsdóttir (Kælan Mikla), and Gabriel Franco (Unto Others). Their presence feels less like a marketing flourish than a natural extension of Zetra’s musical orbit.

The album’s concept reaches its clearest expression on #1 “Suffer Eternally.” Despite its unequivocally metal backbone, the track transforms once aurora-like synth layers and angelic vocals emerge, coalescing into something unmistakably shoegaze in atmosphere. Crossovers between metal and shoegaze often dilute one side or the other, but here the tension is preserved, suggesting a solution few bands have managed to articulate so convincingly. While there are precedents for artists transitioning from gothic metal toward shoegaze, deliberate attempts to fuse the two so evenly remain rare, lending the album a quietly innovative edge.

Zetra’s striking, almost demonic visual presentation adds another layer of contrast. Even casual YouTube commenters have noted the dissonance between expectations shaped by imagery—often invoking KISS or black metal—and the music’s shimmering elegance. That contrast is pushed further on #3 “Starfall,” featuring Serena Cherry, where Adam Saunderson’s pristine clean vocals collide with Cherry’s ferocious screams in a dramatic interplay of light and shadow. The visual irony—where the figure who looks most demonic is the one delivering the most angelic vocals—only sharpens the track’s impact.

Although several music videos are clustered in the album’s first half, the latter stretch maintains its momentum. Highlights include the gently melancholic #7 “Inseparable,” carried by wavering piano lines; the synthwave-inflected, driving rock of #8 “Gaia”; and the apocalyptic #9 “Moonfall,” which features Gabriel Franco’s spoken-word performance to haunting effect. Together, these tracks reinforce the sense that the album’s ambition is sustained rather than front-loaded.

Notably, even prior to the album’s release, Zetra drew significant attention within gothic circles after supporting Finnish band VV, led by Ville Valo. Their London finale, featuring Icelandic artist Eivør as an additional act, reportedly marked a high point of the run. While current tour dates are limited to Europe and North America, the band’s growing profile suggests their reach is likely to expand.

Zetra’s debut stands as a rare case where gothic metal and shoegaze do not merely coexist, but actively enhance one another—an album that feels both meticulously crafted and genuinely exploratory.