This January, alternative singer-songwriter Hayden Silas Anhedönia, better known by her pseudonym Ethel Cain, released her fourth EP, titled“Perverts.” Landing at a whopping hour-and-a-half with only nine tracks, “Perverts” has garnered lots of attention with its controversial name and raised many questions among fans of Anhedönia. 

With much of its release shrouded in mystery, Anhedönia’s new EP has shocked the public with its controversial topic discussion and unique production style. The project itself is dark and atmospheric. It delves into themes of self-gratification, self-loathing, and isolation. Rather than sticking to standard guidelines for tracks and having a chorus or a bridge or even lyrics at all, “Perverts” leans into the direction of ambience, with tracks like “Housofpsychoticwomn” and “Pulldrone” largely consisting of unique sounds like strange whirring noises, distorted chords, and warped hymns.

“Perverts” is unlike any other album or EP I have ever heard before. Listening to it, I found myself immediately engulfed by the dark and eerie atmosphere created by Anhedönia. There were moments where I even had to turn down the volume or take a break in between listening in order to remove myself from the dark environment created by the music. Despite momentarily feeling frightened, I view this EP as an incredibly impressive display of talent. It is inspiring to see an artist with such talent and creativity that can invoke such feelings of fear and anxiety within listeners, 

However, “Perverts” is not everybody’s cup of tea – in fact, it may be too few people’s taste. Admittedly, I typically do not  listen to ambient music, and there were moments in songs, like the title track “Perverts,” that dragged on longer than they needed to. Despite this, the quality of the EP is not diminished. There are tracks that will appeal to listeners and fans of Anhedönia who  anticipate sonic similarity in this new project to her previous ones. “Vacillator” and “Punish” are two of these tracks. They consist of ominous yet heartbreaking lyrics accompanied by eerie and somber instrumentals. Tracks like these two bear the most similarity to Anhedönias preceding career defining album “Preachers Daughter.” If that is the vibe you are searching for, I would advise you to take a pass on most of this EP, but take a listen to these two tracks. But who knows, ”Perverts” may surprise you with its unique artistic vision and strong execution. I found myself intrigued by the dark, alluring atmosphere and surprised by how much I liked the EP. As a longtime fan of Ethel Cain, I am happy to see Anhedönia releasing music that she wants without caring about what the public “wants” of her. On her socials, Anhedönia describes her EP as a “sandbox” –  a space for her to create whatever she wants with no limits. To me, “Perverts” stands as a powerful example of what artists are capable of when they create without restrictions.

Ethel Cain, known as an alternative experimental artist who gained popularity on social media platforms for her song “American Teenager,” released a new project on Jan. 8th. The EP, “Perverts,” was originally announced on Oct. 14th, 2024 to fans yearning for another project as beautiful as the last. 

The EP begins with the title track, featuring long, piercing moments of silence, inflicting moments of thought-provoking consciousness. This recording showcases an intriguing beginning to an illustrative story that continues to bleed through Cain’s masterpiece. 

“Punish,” the second track, is a soft piano ballad that builds gradually into an electric guitar synth. “Punish” allows the audience to be consumed by the prevalent theme of the dangers of self-gratification. Similarly, “Onanist” also deals with this narrative, along with the topic of religious guilt. The fourth track, “Vacillator,” consists of a slow drum beat with soft piano and guitar, representing the hesitance in relationships due to the terror and emotional withdrawal that comes with rejection.

A personal favorite, “Houseofpsychoticwmn” presents love in its truest form. However, the song’s sound indicates a depraved reality that love actually entails. Its repetitiveness allows the melody to progress and recede, stipulating the different levels of how deep obsession and devotion manifest.

The tracks “Etienne,” “Thatorchia” and “Pulldrone” diverge from the rest of this EP. While “Etienne” and “Thatorchia” are void of any vocals, they are not meaningless in the structure of this project. The motive behind “Thatorchia” can be derived from the title, which means death. The feelings evoked from this song represent the emotions of despair; the warp of the music is vast and terrifying, while Cain’s voice is angelic and beautiful. “Etienne” conveys a dystopian theme as its creation is dedicated to Etienne-Louis Boullee, an 18th century French composer known for invoking changes in social values. “Pulldrone,” when broken down into the simplest terms, is a prayer detailing the religious imagery Cain produces.

In reflection, this EP is not just music; it’s an experience. Ethel Cain is always vulnerable in her projects, but “Perverts” is an experience for those interested in the deepest depths of her psyche. It’s evocative as much as it is beautiful. The lyrics, composition and ambiance display the true effort and craft of Cain’s masterful mind. This EP holds a powerful storyline, a winding road through dark woods as the listener discovers truths about themself they never dared think about.