Ethel Cain: In the Tension Field of Southern Gothic and Horror Cinema

Ethel Cain, the alter ego of Hayden Silas Anhedönia, is characterized by a dark and complex musical style that shapes the grim lyrics and themes of the American indie artist. Her debut album "Preacher's Daughter" attracted attention in 2022 with its disturbing story of religious zeal, sexual abuse, and sadomasochism, accompanied by a sonic aesthetic reminiscent of Lana Del Rey. Anhedönia, who came out as a transgender woman in Florida in 2018, draws inspiration from her strict Christian upbringing. Her stage name, reflecting an inability to experience joy, brings to mind the blunted heroines of a decadent 19th century. "Perverts" follows as a work intended not so much as a continuation of "Preacher's Daughter," but rather as an evolution towards a horror film aesthetic. The nine tracks of the album span almost 90 minutes, more akin to feature film durations than a conventional music album. Distorted voices and oppressive sounds create an eerie atmosphere reminiscent of the sound designs of David Lynch. The sporadically introduced, hypnotic vocals merge here with heavy guitar riffs and melancholic melodies, bringing themes such as death and decay to life in a fascinatingly unsettling way. In "Perverts," Cain experiments with the desire found in the fascination of the uncanny, despite all its horrors. The unconventional structure of the album, between horror and hypnotic musicality, makes it a fascinating listening experience, even though it may not invite frequent repetition.