This review was commissioned. Nonetheless the review is written from an unbiased standpoint.

My favorite project consisting of a goth girl and someone who’s playing two parts with one of those being an Edna Mode cosplay has returned. Obviously that’s not the actual name of said project as that would be one hell of a long title. No, the project we’re discussing today is none other than Portland’s very own Ceremony Shadows who I initially became familiar with in 2024 after the release of their single Resistance. Continuing in a trend Ceremony Shadows has a brand-new release that’s also a single that also begins with the letter R. That word being Reclaim which is a right enough word as they’ve seemingly recaptured the magic of yesteryear.

Reclaim is another simple but elegant darkwave dance single that once more attains that near future vibe. Simple phrases whispered or spoken through a raw mic from vocalist A as vocalist B gives a slightly rougher tone with a slight digital effect to it which makes it sound like their standing in a completely empty and metallic room shouting at themselves. Perhaps recording took place in an insane asylum. This is not a dance single that you’ll find at a rave or whose bass is so high that it’ll crack your windshield and possible cause you to gain tinnitus for the next several years. It’s smoother than that and something that I could easily see a vampire sipping a bit of wine – blood – to in a modern dancefloor as they stalk their next victim.

So yes if you were wondering whether or not this was something that you should check out it definitely is. We need more singles like this that are well produced noting the strengths and weaknesses each member of the project has without ever exposing or exploiting the negatives which is what a lot of bands tend to do and then they wonder why no one wants to listen to them. Keep the momentum going as there’s something special here.