Album Review: Anhedonia by This Hisses

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Based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba, This Hisses is a dramatic death rock/post punk, three piece band infused with a much more dramatic feel than what you would typically expect from the genre.

Led by Julia Rychman’s opera trained voice (also playing keyboard), she delivers an emotional, beautiful, yet sinister, album. Backed by Patrick Short and JP Perron, both of whom are well versed in the genre through years of playing with a variety of different acts.

The overall feel of the album is a memorable one, Rychman’s voice carries her thoughtful lyrics from start to finish in each track and the instrumentation is timed well in response. However, some tracks feel oddly out of place. Toward the beginning of the album is the vibe that you’d expect to carry the album through and there’s a comforting reoccurring pace that accompanies them. Track number four, Farm Boy Lovin’ cuts what they had accomplished in the tracks leading up to it. It’s not necessarily a bad song, but it was haphazardly placed.

The rest of the album carries through with phenomenal vocals and delightfully elaborate and dramatic guitar riffs that are speckled throughout each song. The album feels really cinematic and like Rychman is more of a shadow, watching dramatic, love lusted events pan out. What she delivers is the intensity and darkness that one would expect to find from a psychological thriller inspired by Nozferatu.

This Hisses have definitely a large repertoire of influences in their heads. However, there still remains a strong, consistent post-punk sound that emanates a strong appreciation for the old and the new of the genre. There is a bit of a mash up of genres here, but there is nothing wrong with that, provided that the finished product keeps everything tied together, which This Hisses have done wonderfully.

Check out YouTube.com/TheBaronSJ for their music video Blacksmith and thishisses.com for their tour dates and more.

 

Emily is in her fourth year of Political Science. She loves studying and academics which follows into her research work. She's a stern black coffee drinker and is a proud Acadienne. When she's not working or doing school work, you can find Emily listening to 70s music on vinyl and watching Parks and Recreation. If you ask her about parliamentary institutions, she won't stop talking.