The music of Brooklyn duo ERAAS creates an entirely self-contained world - an illusory, mysterious, at times supernatural realm that conjures a sense of suspense while being seductive. From the brief dialogue that precedes the pummeling beats of opener "Looking Glass" to the closing hiss and crackle of the title track, Initiation represents a coming of age for the band. For anyone who's heard their 2012 self-titled debut album, ,Initiation" is the culmination of the different themes explored there, honed, refined, pushed further and fashioned into its own unique world; a weird and alluring junction of ghostly atmospheres, punishing percussion, spectral vocals, phonography and sound design, all interwoven into a captivating atmosphere that is distinctively ERAAS' own. With "Initiation", the band seem to be looking for a sign of hope within the emptiness that surrounds them, trying to make amends with those in their lives, but not quite sure how to. A struggle we can all identify with. Listening to this record feels like a journey of sorts - faceless intruders, dreams of non-existent lovers, ghosts in the doorway, immortality, betrayal, and revenge -- trying to make sense of it all.