Review by JD on June 4, 2012.

Anyone who knows me, already knows beyond a shadow of any doubt that I love Doom Metal. It is the one form of metal, other than traditional, that excites me the most. I have found one Doom band that successfully plays some amazing Doom Metal, with a little smatterings of Death to fill it out with. Ladies and Gentlemen... from Washington State... Anhedonist.

With down turned nasty riffs and some of the most intriguing and brutal lyrics, Anhedonist pounds out some impressive shit. Moving effortlessly between the spastic fury of Death Metal and the pounding heavy slowness of morose fuelled Doom... this Seattle based band makes the two sides of their metal coin live and pulse as if one beast. Add in the most intense and fury filled vocals to bring the music together - you get a heavy masterpiece of a metal orgasm.

This breathing beast of an EP showcases a band that has taken their art to a level that few can attain. Powerful lyrics of dire pain and torment mixed with original and heavy guitars take the listener to their world where the brave.. or it may be the depraved... would dare set foot. Haunting yet viciously heavy, the two main sides of the music whisks you into that world, even if your not wanting to, and holds you there for the duration of the forty plus minutes this EP clocks in at.

As a first full release, Anhedonist album "Neatharwards" is a fresh sound that has appeared out of a slightly murky talent pool that has shaken off the horrors of the whole Grunge movement. With such a strong sense of what their band’s sound needs to be, and the ability to bring it to fruition, they have laid the foundations to be one of those bands that many will fight to get to be as good as.

Categoerical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9.5
Atmosphere: 9.5
Production: 9.5
Originality: 9.5
Overall: 9.5

Rating: 9.5 out of 10