Pleasures Of Zero specialize in goth-metal, and while that sub-genre usually brings connotations of absolute doom and gloom, their debut EP does not leave me with a morbid feeling. This could all have to do with the way the band constructs their sound, which is equal parts heavy guitar attack, the mellower sound textures usually associated with goth, and synthetic industrial beats. In fact, the band comes off sounding like Evanescence’s heavier moments as performed by Stabbing Westward. And lead singer Kevin Daigrepont’s emotive, soaring vocals have more in common with that band’s frontman Christopher Hall than, say, the tortured rage of Trent Reznor. That’s not to say they don’t how and when to let all that anger out; much like Cave In, Daigrepont and fellow vocalist Chris Fegan alternate between such melancholy beauty and processed screams. And the record’s high production values work very much in the band’s favor, truly enhancing their sound. This batch of songs is one that I just couldn’t imagine committed to a cheap four-track in a garage. For a goth-metal record, Pleasures Of Zero offers its listeners more satisfaction than misery.