HEINOUS ACTS OF TERROR - ANHEDONIA | REVIEW
HEINOUS ACTS OF TERROR by Anhedonia
Release: 4/26/2025
Genre: Brutal Slam, Brutal Death Metal
ANHEDONIA is a personal favorite of mine. Their first EP Irreversible Collapse slapped me in the face when I first sat down and listened to it, and I mean that in the best way possible. The production, the riffs, the vocals, the brutality, quite frankly it was unbelievably good for a debut EP. I’ve seen them live a few times now and that's only furthered my admiration for these guys and their music (see photos here). They put on a hell of a show. Hell, they even influenced my most recent amp purchase. So to say the least I've been eagerly waiting for their next release. Having a chance to listen to it today it most certainly did not disappoint.
Just like their last EP, the production in this one is phenomenal. The instruments and vocals all stand out and feel distinct, yet at the same time come together to form this cohesive unit of terror and brutality. I can pick any instrument in a track and bob my head along to it, with a mean stank face of course. I’m no sound engineer, but I've listened to a lot of music and this truly does stand out in the production department. It's raw but tight, everything feels intentional. Drummer Nathan Laytart is responsible for the recording, mixing, and mastering for ANHEDONIA and his genius and creativity can’t be overstated. He blends the classic sound of old school brutal death metal with modern production perfectly. It really stands out in today’s world with so many modern metal releases feeling cookie cutter and over produced.
With all that being said, what good is a great mix if the music behind it isn’t? No surprises here when I say these guys absolutely killed it. All the members of ANHEDONIA are super talented and have come together to make some truly special music. It’s just solid, there's nothing else I can really say. Everyone is just on point. Every time I’ve seen ANHEDONIA play live they’ve just gotten better and better and this EP is a clear indicator of the work that they've put into this project.
I will admit, I can’t discern a lot of the lyrics and I hope they post them like they did when Irreversible Collapse released. But regardless, I can feel the anger in singer Billy Williams' delivery. With the EP being called ‘HEINOUS ACTS OF TERROR’ and having track names like ‘NUMB TO THEIR CRIES’ and ‘SOCIAL INEPTITUDE’ It’s pretty apparent that the subject matter of these songs are dark and angry, and that's perfect.
The final track ‘SOCIAL INEPTITUDE’ features vocals from Devin Swank of Sanguisugabogg. Which I must say is fucking awesome and creates the opportunity for way more people to get their eyes and ears on ANHEDONIA. He offers an additional dynamic that adds to their already great sound. It’s definitely a must listen.
Honestly, I’m probably way biased to be reviewing this release. But who cares, it's my blog anyways? I’ve been watching these guys perform with their other bands for a while now and I’ve become a big fan. When ANHEDONIA formed it was like an amalgamation of talent coming together to create music that's right up my alley. Plus they're just a bunch of genuinely good guys. I can’t really give any more praise than I already have. ‘HEINOUS ACTS OF TERROR’ by ANHEDONIA is definitely being added to my regular music rotation and I can't wait to see what's next for these guys. I really feel like there's something special here.
HEINOUS ACTS OF TERROR By ANHEDONIA
