In preparation for the new Ethel Cain release, I've decided to listen to as much of Hayden's music that's online as I can beforehand. I fell in love with Preacher's Daughter when I heard it for the first time a couple months ago. Everything I've heard of hers so far I've loved, so here's my thoughts for my first time hearing Golden Age by Ethel Cain.
1: Sunday Morning
This one has a very ethereal sound to it. There's the high, airy notes held over the main melody for long periods that create this atmopshere to it. I don't know much about Ethel Cain's lore beyond Preacher's Daughter, but the way she sings the title of this one feels like a call back in "American Teenager." I could be wrong, and it could be coincidentally the same words sang similarly. Just a fun note to make.
2: Casings
The crackling and waves of sound under the music in this one help build to the beat drop in such a tasty way. The lyrics were also hard-hitting. They'd definitely resonate with most who have ever been cheated on before.
3: Lilies
The layers to the music in this one help to fully immerse you in the song. Hayden's voice is so angellic, like I don't have a better description for the way she sings in this one. Mercy gives a different feel to the song with their voice being pitched up higher, but it blends beautifully with Hayden's.
4: Head in the Wall
The layers from the previous song cut away for the raw delivery of the lyrics in this one. This one specifically hit be hard. It made me feel, especially with how she sang this one without too many musical layers to distract from her vocals. This is a song I don't think I could just throw on and listen to; I have to feel it every time.
5: Knuckle Velvet
A short and straight to the point song, this is one I've at least heard the ending of from Tiktok. Listening to it in its entirety made me see why she doesn't want to put out anything like it again (per her Tumblr). It's a different sound than I'm used to from Ethel Cain. The way she sings most of this one reminds me a bit of Halsey, which isn't a bad thing because I love Halsey too. Just not what I expected. I really like the line "gore me through the heart" from this one.
6: Golden Age
I adore the stripped vocals at the beginning of this one. It almost sounded like it was recorded on a phone, making it feel intimate. Comparatively, the power in the choruses pack more of a punch.
This project feels like a journey of self love separating from the love of others that tends to hurt too much to feel real. This was my first time hearing any of these songs, as I mentioned before. I can see the growth in Hayden's sound for Ethel from this 2019 release to her most recent single, "Punish," and even Preacher's Daughter. I'm still very impressed by Golden Age, which is unsurprising. I'm endlessly blown away by Hayden's talents, and I'm so excited to keep listening to her discography leading up to Perverts next year.