Ethel Cain's 'Perverts': A Descent into Dark Ambient Dread

Ethel Cain's highly anticipated second album, "Perverts," plunges listeners into a darker, slower soundscape dominated by claustrophobic ambient textures. This 89-minute LP moves away from the expansive nature of her debut, "Preacher's Daughter," opting instead for an intensely personal and unsettling exploration of themes like powerlessness, guilt, and shame. The album opens with a harrowing 12-minute title track that evokes a sense of dread and might be compared to unsettling digital folklore.

Throughout "Perverts," Cain delves into slow-burning songs marked by delicate intimacy and complex vocal performances. Tracks like "Onanist" and "Punish" feature her voice layered over distorted guitars, conveying profound feelings of nausea and rejection. The album oscillates between structured songs and disorienting ambient collages, creating a sense of whiplash as it explores the psychic wreckage of internalized conflict, particularly surrounding sexual pleasure and religious upbringing.