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Zetra (band)

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Zetra are a British synth-rock duo from London, England, consisting of Adam Saunderson and Jordan Page. Formed in 2018, the band released several independent EPs and cassettes via Bandcamp before signing to Nuclear Blast Records in 2023. The band's eponymous debut album, Zetra, will be releaesd on 13 September 2024.

Zetra
Zetra performing in London in 2024. From left to right: Jordan Page and Adam Saunderson
Zetra performing in London in 2024. From left to right: Jordan Page and Adam Saunderson
Background information
OriginLondon, England
Genres
Years active2018–present
Labels
Members
  • Adam Saunderson
  • Jordan Page
Websitewearezetra.bandcamp.com

History

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2018–2022: Formation and early releases

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Zetra was formed in London in the summer of 2018 by Adam Saunderson (guitar/vocals) and Jordan Page (synthesizers/vocals).[1][2] Both members had played in heavier bands prior to its formation; Jordan said that the project emerged "from a set of riffs we were throwing back and forth between each other that didn’t fit into anything we’d done before."[1] The duo would go on to released several EPs on Bandcamp, a number of them which were given a limited release on cassette.[3] In May 2020, Zetra released the two-volume With Your Demons collection, featuring demos written during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. The limited cassette releases sold out within the first week of their release.[1]

In July 2020, Zetra released their eponymous debut EP through Death Waltz Records.[4] It is a concept album about Soviet astronaut Vladimir Komarov.[1][5] Having been partially reworked into other projects, this EP is now no longer available online.[6] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all works released in 2020 were written and produced in isolation and Zetra were unable to perform them live during this time.[7] In June of 2021, Zetra supported the band Video Nasties for three shows in the UK.[8] In September 2021, Zetra released the From Within EP.[9][10] A follow-up EP, From Without, was released on January 2022 through Church Road Records.[9][11] Between March and April 2022, the band opened for Unto Others on their UK and Ireland tour that year.[12][13] The band also opened for Employed to Serve at two of their shows in May 2022.[14][15] The band also played at the 2022 Roadburn Festival in the Netherlands in April,[16][17] and at the ArcTanGent festival in August.[18] On 4 November 2022, the band opened for Creeper at the Roundhouse in London.[19][20]

2023–present: Zetra

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On 20 Janaury 2023, Zetra opened for Godflesh and Author & Punisher at the 229 in London.[21][22] In February, they supported Author & Punisher on his UK tour.[23][24] Between 20 May and 26 May 2023, Zetra opened for A.A. Williams on the UK dates of her 2023 UK & Europe tour.[25] Zetra also performed at the Desertfest in London,[26][27] and on the Sophie Lancaster stage of the 2023 Bloodstock Open Air festival.[28] On 21 October 2023, the band opened for Svalbard at the Key Club in Leeds.[29] In November and December, they supported SKYND on their four-date UK tour.[30] On 27 November 2023, Zetra announced that they had signed to Nuclear Blast Records and released a new single, "Sacrifice".[31] The duo said that "It is not lost on us that we have found ourselves realising our debut album for such a prestigious record label, but it has always felt like Zetra was meant share a home with Dimmu Borgir and In Flames."[32] On 31 December 2023, Zetra joined Ville Valo, former frontman of HIM, at the Helldone Festival in Finland.[33] Vallo had previously expressed admiration for Zetra in interviews, being a fan of their cover of Mummy Calls' "Beauty Has Her Way" in particular.[34]

On 20 February 2024, Zetra released a cover of The Cure's "Burn", to mark the 30th anniversary of 1994 film The Crow.[35] In March 2024, they supported Creeper and Naut on the former's 12 Days of Night tour in the UK.[35] On 3 April 2024, the band announced that their self-titled debut album would be released on 13 September 2024 and released another single, "Starfall", featuring Serena Cherry of Svalbard and Noctule.[36] The duo said the album is centred around observing the human experience through the eyes of the Spirit of Zetra.[37] The album will feature guest appearences from Solveig Mathildur (of Kaelan Mikla) and Gabriel Franco (of Unto Others).[32] From 4 April to 10 May 2024, Zetra supported Ville Vallo on his European tour in support of his solo debut Neon Noir (2023).[38] Zetra will perform at the 2000trees festival in July 2024,[39] and at ArcTanGent in August.[40] In October 2024, the band and GosT will support Health for the European leg of their Rat Wars tour.[41]

Style and influences

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Zetra have categorized their sound as "gothic heavy metal shoegaze",[1] with influences of synth-pop and new wave and synth-rock.[1][32] Metal Hammer described their sound as "an icy, enveloping mix of 80s-inspired synth-pop, goth-metal heaviness and atmospheric dream-pop, capped with hazy vocals of indeterminate gender(s)."[3] Zetra have cited Black Sabbath, Cocteau Twins,[42] Mortiis, My Bloody Valentine, Gary Numan, Paradise Lost, Radiohead, the Smashing Pumpkins, Tangerine Dream, Type O Negative and ZZ Top as influences on their sound.[1] The band listed Coldplay as the biggest influence on their debut album.[43] Journalists have also compared the band to The Cure, Depeche Mode, Deftones, Ghost, the Pet Shop Boys and Tiamat.[1][44][45][46]

The Spirit of Zetra has been described by the band as both a muse[47] and a "prism" through which their songwriting is reflected.[48] This source of inspiration is also cited as the origin of their decision to wear corpse paint on stage and heavily feature the imagery of chains live and in music videos.[49] Zetra's early EPs are each centered around specific storylines and narratives,[50] such as their Zetra EP, which is based on Vladimir Komarov's failed space mission,[1] and With Your Demons Volume Two partially revolving around the overturn of societies and the audiences thereof.[51] The band's debut album has less of a specific concept; its tracks present the Spirit of Zetra as an outsider to earth and an observer of the human experience.[52]

Awards and nominations

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Heavy Music Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2024 Themselves Best UK Breakthrough Artist Pending [53]

Discography

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Studio albums

Title Details
Zetra

EPs

Title Details
Zetra
  • Released: 24 July 2020[4]
  • Label: Death Waltz
  • Format: CS, DD
The Wanderer
  • Released: 17 December 2020[54]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CS, DD
From Within
From Without
Sacred Songs
  • Released: 21 December 2022
  • Label: Children of the Vortex
  • Format: CD, CS, DD

Demo albums

Title Details
Demo One
  • Released: 14 February 2019[55]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CS, DD
Chambers (Rehearsal Recordings 31​/​10​/​19)
  • Released: 31 October 2019[56]
  • Label: Children of the Vortex
  • Format: CS, DD
With Your Demons Vol. One
  • Released: 1 May 2020[57]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CS, DD
With Your Demons Vol. Two
  • Released: 15 May 2020[58]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CS, DD

Singles

Title Year Album
"Mr. Tambourine Man"[59] 2020 Zetra (EP)
"Cry Little Sister" / "Beauty Has Her Way"[60] Non-album single
"Life Melts Away"[61] 2021 From Within
"Care"[62]
"Pull Me Under"[63]
"The Raven's Game"[64] From Without
"Call of the Void"[65]
"Into My Flesh"[66] 2022 Sacred Songs
"Float"[67]
"Satellite"[68]
"Hopeless Odyssey"[69]
"Sacred Song" / "Starlit Comet"[70]
"Sacrifice"[71] 2023 Zetra
"Burn"[35] 2024 Non-album single
"Starfall" (featuring Serena Cherry)[36] Zetra
"The Mirror"[72]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Stewart-Panko, Kevin (31 August 2020). "London's Zetra Create Synth-Gaze and Take it Right into Space!". V13.net. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Metal Talks: Zetra". Metal Talks (Podcast). Spotify. 6 May 2024. Event occurs at 0:20. Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b Everley, Dave; et al. (9 February 2023). "5 bands every metal fan is going to be talking about in 2023". Metal Hammer. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2024 – via loudersound.
  4. ^ a b Wögerbauer, Christian (16 July 2020). "Zetra: kündigen Gothic Metal / Shoegaze EP "Zetra" über Kosmonauten an" [Zetra: announce gothic metal / shoegaze EP "Zetra" about cosmonauts]. vampster.com. Archived from the original on 14 June 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  5. ^ Mills, Reza (31 July 2020). "Review: Zetra 'Zetra' EP". The Sleeping Shaman. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
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