Soft Kill has a gently abrasive sound that explores moody and atmospheric realms similar to gloomy titans like the Cure and the Sisters of Mercy. Recently the Chicago-by-way-of-Portland band released Choke, an album characterized by crystalline, cascading guitar melodies, occasional synth flavors, and an economical, heartbeat-like rhythm section. But what Soft Kill owes most to bands of the early goth and post-punk era is an upending of the traditional rock band formula. Throughout Choke, guitar and bass carry the melody, with Tobias Sinclair’s somber vocals providing accent marks and punctuation against backdrops that are at once warm and chilling. WILLIAM KENNEDY