TRAITRS are a new act for us, and we’re discovering them just as they pivot towards a new sound.

By Graeme Smith

Feature photo by Daniel Cherney

That ‘newness’ has a familiarity about it, though, and anyone familiar with the Goth and new wave of the ‘80s are going to find a lot to love about their new album Possessor. Across ten tracks, the record recalls the kind of sound that was popular at the time, giving it a modern, 2026 coldwave/darkwave twist.

Think The Cure and The Smiths and you’re in the right club. The comparison hits you right from the off but as you delve deeper into Possessor you start to pick out what makes TRAITRS unique. An authentic emotion runs through each story as tales of possessiveness, toxic love and selfishness unfold.

They’re sung with languid heart, driven forward by moody bass, metronomic drums, and fuzzy riffs. Tracks like opener Burn In Heaven and mid-record highlight Selfish Hunger build in layers to cathartic peaks, giving us a release from tension-inducing verses.

Elsewhere there are quieter, slower burning moments like the percolating Cold Skin and the funereal Mourn. The latter has a sense of classicality to it that gives it a refined air. It’s another highlight.

Japanese Picture Pony revs things back up to a canter before Crawl closes things in a lingering fashion, giving us a final emotional release.

The new direction comes as TRAITRS are building momentum as an act. The Toronto duo have released a string of singles leading up to this album release, their first since 2021’s Horses in the Abattoir. Long-time fans certainly won’t be put off, while new ones like us are welcomed in.

The thought that TRAITRS have put into Possessor is evident in a sharply-curated collection ideal for replay. If you like the aforementioned acts as well as modern coldwave and darkwave you’re going to find a lot to love about what TRAITRS are doing.

To keep up to date with the act, you can follow them on Instagram.

Possessor is out now, and you can listen to it below.