Raudiver - Leave Before Dark (Geodesic Records)

Raudiver is a post-punk duo from Houston, Texas who have just released their new album Leave Before Dark on Geodesic Records. The group is named for a parapsychologist and Leave Before Dark was put out last month on Friday the 13th, so the band are certainly checking a lot of the prerequisite goth boxes. Furthermore, the songs combine the larger-than-life anthemic sound of late-80s Depeche Mode with a dreamy impassioned vocal style reminiscent of Beth Gibbons from Portishead. They add this infectious concoction to a gritty darkwave base that nods to the foundation of the genre and 80s synth music while also pointing to the future.

It’s undeniable that the band were aware of New Order when they titled their lead single “True Faith,” but this is a much darker and disturbing affair than Barney’s dance epic. Instead, listening to it, one can easily imagine Martin Gore in black and white, standing in some abandoned hallway making a plea directly to the camera. Elsewhere, they channel the ethereal quality of Cocteau Twins on tracks like the mesmerizing “Mary Tombs” and even flirt with hints of 90s alternative on “Find a Heaven.” For all of the different influences, however, it’s a remarkably cohesive collection of songs that form a stunning debut statement and will easily appeal to any fan of 80s goth and goth-adjacent music.