Let’s get this out of the way early: the new album by Traitrs is a brilliant work of art, and one of the strongest releases on the darker side of post punk in recent years. If Horses in the Abattoir was already exceptional, what the band delivers this time feels undeniable, arguably even unsurpassable. For listeners drawn to expertly channeled The Cure influences without a trace of imitation, and those seeking deeply emotional expression delivered with complete sincerity, Possessor will feel like home.
The album began to feel familiar even when it was still entirely foreign, especially in a live setting where the band introduced parts of their new material into their established repertoire. Those songs immediately stood out. Burn In Heaven and I Was Ill, You Were Wrong already feel ingrained, as if they’ve been playing on a loop, embedding themselves into the very core of what defines the modern goth and post punk bats.
A third single, Dream Drowning, further revealed the album’s melancholic heart. After all, this is a record created during a period when both members were navigating personal change and depression, and it carries an emotional honesty that cuts deep, shines darkly and ultimately lands with weight.
Possessor follows a classic structure, ten tracks over 42 minutes, but never feels formulaic. There’s a clear lineage tracing back to Pornography, Faith, and Seventeen Seconds, influences that are expressed openly rather than being concealed. The inspiration from these albums, the early period of the Cure, are worn by Traitrs on their sleeves a strength, not a crutch, and the band deserves credit for embracing it all so confidently.
Looking to find more standout tracks, there’s no shortage: Seven Fictions, Cold Skin, Prayertaker, and Japanese Picture Pony all emerge as natural highlights. Each carries a sense of urgency, deep darkness, and an effortless danceability that propels the emotion forward. As a unit, the album not only makes sense, but creates a kind of thick cohesion that seems impenetrable.
All of this is wrapped in meticulous production, where every element cuts with razor-sharp clearness, thanks to longtime collaborator Josh Korody and mastering by Matt Colton.
Possessor convinces effectively and without difficulty at all. As we have previously mentioned, Traitrs have a good grasp of their expertise in dark sound, going deeper into their foundation while maintaining an urgency that grants their music its strong effect. The outcome is electrifying. It's like a lucid nightmare that keeps luring one in, enticing them to luxuriate in its gloom every step of the way.
ZR