Have you ever heard of Cancer Alley?

In Louisiana, there is a stretch of land, about 140km, with a massive concentration of America’s petrol refineries. In this naturally stunning area of the United States that stretches out into the Gulf of Mexico, residents are 95% more likely to be diagnosed with cancer. This image of an area in the marshy south of the United States, radiating with carcinogens is one that I could not escape when listening to Ethel Cain’s new album, Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You.

Hayden Anhedönia, performing as the character Ethel Cain, has always had this element of tortured southern gothic tone to her music. Her debut album, Preacher’s Daughter, rides a fine line between Bible-Belt nostalgia and post-modern doomerism. Her recent follow up Perverts dives head first into the doom, with an industrial ambient album that was far removed from the almost-pop music of before; the drones of the album would almost be more fitting with the sound of a geiger counter clicking in the background.