Preacher's Daughter - Ethel Cain
Though it's been out for a few years now, Preacher's Daughter still holds up as a fresh entry into the ever growing wave of so-so pop music. Hayden Anhedonia leans into ethereal and cinematic narratives that are gripping and interesting. She builds entire worlds out of sound: fever dreams wrapped in reverb, ghostly confessions whispered through Southern Gothic lens flare. Each track feels slightly haunted by family, faith, or the inevitable rot that follows both.
There’s a theatricality to it, yes, but it’s rarely self-indulgent. It’s the kind of experience that invites you in slowly, almost cautiously, before completely swallowing you whole by the third listen. The pacing, the tension, and the way the melodies seem to shimmer and decay at the same time, feels intentional. You get the sense that Hayden knows exactly how much to reveal and when to pull back.
Even if you’re not the type to sit through an hour of emotional excavation set to cinematic synths, there’s something magnetic here.
9/10