Zola Jesus has had a lot of critical press in the last few months, and a lot of it focuses exclusively on her image so let's just get a few things out of the way.Yes, her music can be described as 'Goth', and yes, Twilight fans aren't proper Goths even though that's what people think of when they use that term now because cultural relevancy.

Stridulum II ( a sequel of sorts to the Stridulum EP, named after an obscure Italian sci-fi movie) is a more heavily produced album that last year's New Amsterdam and The Spoils, both quality releases in their own right but somewhat limited by their lo-fi aesthetic. While singer Nika Roza Daniloza's extraordinary voice would be difficult to block out on a busy freeway, the polished instrumentation gives her an opportunity to fill the room with sounds that you can feel in your spine. Album opener “Night'” is one of the year's best singles, the cold resonance and minimal, pulsating drums demand headphone listening. It's a classic rendition of lost love that's both very accessible yet haunting in a Antony Hegarty, Kate Bush sort of mode. In a good way.

Similarly, “I Can't Stand, “Stridulum” and “Manifest Destiny” feature heavy synth and piano sounds so melancholy that they surely will find their way onto breakup playlists for years to come. There isn't much light here to combat all that darkness, but there's something to be said for thematic consistency. This is a record that pulls you into a headspace and doesn't let up until the final track, and in an era of potentially unlimited music that is an achievement in and of itself. The unfortunate thing is that these are all things that can be said about the EP.

Stridulum II is only three tracks longer than the Stridulum EP, so in that sense the album is a questionable financial investment. The first two tracks, 'Tower' and 'Sea Talk' have a more industrial feel, and while they're still inkeeping with the rest of the album they feel more like experiments into a new style rather than fully realised tracks. Album closer 'Lightsick' fares better, a piano-heavy ballad that goes with neither a whimper nor bang, but a forlorn sigh. If this is your first encounter with Zola Jesus then this album is essential listening, and for existing fans Stridulum II should offer enough to keep you interested.

Review Score: 8.5/10