This is the second of two releases I receive from the same source, Dimitry i. of Tallinn, Estonia, the first being Freakangel's 'The Faults of Humanity' covered in a previous review. Although Dimitry seems to run both bands, here in Suicidal Romance he hands over a good chunk of the vocal reins to Viktoria Seimar, which is a very good thing because Viktoria has a lot of vocal talent. Apparently this isn't the first outing for Suicidal Romance ' their 2007 debut was 'Love Beyond Reach,' and in 2008 an EP titled 'A Kiss to Resist'. I haven't heard either of those, so all I have to go on is 'Shattered heart Reflections' which is just fine.

The lineup in this band is Viktoria Seimar (lead vocals), Dimitry i. (vocals, lyrics, music), and Maarja Korstnick (synths, lyrics, visual concept). In Europe I believe the band is on the Infacted Recordings label, but in the U.S., it's Metropolis, so I'll just consider them a Metropolis import, which isn't a bad thing to be at all. This is very cool Darkwave and dark synthpop, and the most obvious comparison would be to L'ame Immortelle due to the contrast of Dimitry and Viktoria's vocals. However, neither of them sound identical to Sonja K. and Thomas R., which is another good thing as I can only take L'ame Immortelle in small doses. Viktoria's vocals are a lot smother than Sonja's though. If there is anyone that Viktoria does sound like, it would have to be'¦another Victoria! Victoria Lloyd from Claire Voyant. If fact, their voices are so similar at times, it's uncanny. What I like about both of them is that both their voices soar, and are always in key. This is something you don't always find in the goth/darkwave world, so when you get it, it's much appreciated. Dimitry's vocal style with Suicidal Romance is toned down from his Freakangel vox, somewhat like Claus (Leaether Strip) or Rudy (Wumpscut) in their more restrained moments. A wise move on Dimitry's part.

One great thing about 'Shattered Hear Reflections' is that the songs across the board are really good, and the contrast between Dimitry and Viktoria's voice works more often than not. The synth arrangements are competent and don't compete with the vocals. I have to hand it to Maarja for her tasteful and effective playing. It suits the band perfectly. A tasteful yet powerful blend of synth and piano. The vocal melody is memorable which bodes for a high replayability factor. It's dark, but not too dark. Just edgy enough to be intriguing with sufficient drama to hold your interest, and it only seems to get better with repeated listenings. There is also an occasional touch of complimentary harmony with Viktoria's vocals. Everything is so well done that I'd be interested in seeing how they pull it off live.

It's hard to pick out standout tracks when they're all so good, but 'Words That Change Everything,' 'Her Song,' and 'Build Me a Heart' are three of the best. Dimitry is very lucky to have a talented singer like Viktoria in this band. Her vocal acrobatics are enthralling. It's almost Phantom of the Opera-esque in a dark romantic sort of way. I could easily see her being tapped for a track or two on a future Delerium album if Fulber doesn't get her first for Conjure One. Whatever the future holds, it seems like a pretty secure one for Suicidal Romance, considering the quality of 'Shattered Heart Reflections'. Definitely a strong 'BUY'.