Recommended tracks: “Hiraeth,” “Mycelium Eyes,” “Stay Still,” “Mascara”
Artists you might like: Two Feet, MISSIO, DNMO
Every once in a while, you stumble across an artist and their work speaks to you on another level. Whether it be through their lyrics, their unique sound, their visual identity, or just an interesting vibe… it’s like you accidentally uncovered a part of yourself that you had no idea was missing.
This is the only way I could begin to describe genre-blending artist Sub Urban and his visceral sound in his latest masterpiece.
Arguably his most powerful work yet, If Nevermore (Anhedonia) is the deluxe edition of what is, by far, my favorite album of 2025.
When If Nevermore was announced, my expectations were high: like many others, I first discovered the creative project of Daniel Maisonneuve with his 2019 viral hit “Cradles,” and followed him to his aesthetically unique EP Thrill Seeker in 2020. He continued building the world to the creative mind behind Sub Urban in his theatrical debut album HIVE (2022). While an overall compelling album, I couldn’t help but sense that something was being held back…
That’s when he poured his soul into his following project: If Nevermore feels like a person’s DNA being transcribed and translated directly into musical sound. It’s unapologetic, strange, relatable, and wildly human.
The 14-track project takes the listener on an emotional journey, ranging from songs exploring existential dread atop a catchy hook, to making you feel like you’re floating within some soft, nostalgic goo. One moment you’re calm, and the next, you’re surrounded by mayhem — and I live for the uncertainty.
The sound itself is liminal, chaotic, and chill all wrapped in one. Listening to it feels like walking through a dimly lit, sentient hallway, and in all the uneasiness, you can’t help but admire the artwork on the walls.
I spent the better half of 2025 flipping back and forth between tracks, struggling to determine which If Nevermore song could be considered my “favorite.” Nobody made me decide, and nobody can make me; my answer will change every time, and you will have to like it.
From the start, I was in awe of Sub Urban’s artistic comeback with lead single “Skinny Loser.” It serves as an intense, vulnerable look into body dysmorphia atop a sick rock beat, and impressive vocal tone shifts throughout (a true, perfect first introduction to the project).
Perhaps the peak of his creativity, album opener “Mycelium Eyes” properly straps listeners into the 55-minute rollercoaster with an eerie calm that swiftly throws us into an intense, badass guitar riff before the “chaos clocks in.”
“Mascara” is another standout track, focusing on both lust and finding a sense of identity, and described by Sub Urban as a “snowball of self-esteem, betrayal of biology, and strangeness of sexuality.” I always describe the conclusion of this song as giving a sound to the familiar feeling of driving home alone at night, leaving your past on the road and questioning every decision you’ve ever made (just me?).
“Come here, teach me what I can’t learn / Your tears eat me whole, I deserve / Disgust, to be perverted by you / I cannot contain myself / My tongue sleeps when your eyes go red / Like rum, sweet before the descent / You speak things I don’t want to hear / But now you’ve lost your facade.”
On brand with the track’s deceivingly cheerful tone, I’ve found myself happily singing the introduction of “Stay Still” ever since Sub Urban first teased the song. The ironically light-hearted tone is infectious, and the lyrics are not-so-happy as they seem, diving into a toxic relationship the narrator painfully settles for (interestingly enough, I’ve realized this song basically contrasts “In Sunder,” in which the narrator hopes to move beyond mistakes of others’ past.)
Some songs I appreciated even more when accompanied by their music videos, like the narrative frozen western in “Make Me Forget,” the isolated and sickly Sub Urban depicted in “See Myself,” and the long-awaited, surreal music video for “What You Sow.”
The latter remains a standout song on its own with its haunting organ introduction, fast-paced vibe shifts, and an addictively catchy tune.
“You reap more than what you sow / I’ll lose myself before I lose you / Don’t let me taste your bittersweet / Our addiction is one I can’t keep.”
At this point, I genuinely could not imagine a way to enhance an already exceptional body of work, so when I heard rumors of an “expanded edition” of his album, I found it hard to believe there was any room to improve… luckily, I kept an open mind.
If fans learned anything from Sub Urban and his music, it’s to stay on your toes: just when If Nevermore feels complete, the deluxe edition arrives to blow the mind.
The deluxe album If Nevermore (Anhedonia) introduces listeners to four brand new tracks: “Hiraeth,” “Chemical Coffins,” “555,” and “Lord of Nothing.”
Anhedonia is the inability to experience joy or pleasure, feeling a lack of interest in previously enjoyable experiences (just to scratch the surface). This overarching concept is not new to Sub Urban’s lyricism; the title even juxtaposes “HEDON,” the concluding track of his debut album, HIVE, opening the door to the narrator’s longing for pleasure and the rush of adrenaline (“I would rather feel something new than not feel at all […] Was I always this tired? Has my high expired?”).
“Hiraeth” feels like the epitome of the project, like an answer to an unfinished question from the initial release of If Nevermore. Exploring a deep longing for what may never have been, Sub Urban described this song and music video as a creation from love, determined to try something new and find inspiration in new compositions. It’s a playfully disconcerting track that continues Sub Urban’s genre-bending path and theatrical sound, mixing reverse sounds, beat skips, and a dark, alluring vibe that is effortlessly enchanting.
“Chemical Coffins” is a particularly high-energy track, performing as a bridge between the two chapters of Sub Urban’s discography. Described as a “mentally violent” addendum to HIVE, this song was originally intended for the debut project but was delayed because it was too vulnerable (luckily, the idea of being “too vulnerable” does not really exist in the If Nevermore era).
Perhaps the sister song of “Hiraeth,” “555” continues the unsettling atmosphere in a demanding tune. Half the song feels like someone gently screaming while also cupping my ears. Working alongside director Anton Reva, the music video is among the most abstract and visually compelling of the project. It’s an observable portrayal of a descent into madness, captivating me for every second. (I am also intimidated by whatever plays during the last 30 seconds of the music video… I am intrigued yet somewhat frightened.)
The mesmerizing concluding track “Lord of Nothing” delivers a danceable but deeply unnerving tone, capturing the signature Sub Urban irony. In the same way “Mycelium Eyes” keeps the listener on the edge of their seat, “Lord of Nothing” brings us backwards through the previous 17-tracks: through the highs and lows of both the subject matter and the melody of the project as a whole.
“I see what you are / This dream’s gone too far / I think it’s time for you to leave.”
The unveiling of Anhedonia leaves but one mystery: why the exclusion of “Mercury”? While Sub Urban revealed that this single was once named after him, I find it interesting that the 2025 Halloween release was left off the deluxe project. Perhaps in the same way the final four tracks did not feel right on the original release of If Nevermore, “Mercury” remains in a category of its own.
Sub Urban has come into his own with his latest project. Progressing from the beginning stages to his more eclectic, gothic sound almost feels like we are getting a peek into the inner workings of his brain — as complex, experimental, and blissfully chaotic as it may be.
Simply put, If Nevermore and If Nevermore (Anhedonia) are his most powerful works yet.
While it’s clear Sub Urban has come a long way as a musician, lyricist, and creative mind, I believe this is only the beginning of what’s to come… it’s time for you to decide if you’re along for the ride.
The night of his online release party, Sub Urban announced he will be hitting the road on his The Bell Tolls Tour this fall. The North American headlining tour will span 24 dates, starting on Sept. 9 in Phoenix, AZ, at Walter Studio A, and concluding on Oct. 13 at Las Rosas in Miami, FL. Remaining tickets are available here.
Sub Urban The Bell Tolls Tour Dates:
Sept. 09 – Phoenix, AZ – Walter Studio A
Sept. 10 – San Diego, CA – Soma Sidestage
Sept. 12 – Los Angeles, CA – Echoplex
Sept. 13 – San Francisco, CA – Cafe Du Nord
Sept. 15 – Seattle, WA – Baba Yaga
Sept. 16 – Portland, OR – Polaris Hall
Sept. 18 – Boise, ID – Shrine Social Club (Basement)
Sept. 19 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
Sept. 20 – Denver, OR – Cervantes’ Other Side
Sept. 22 – Iowa City, IA – Gabe’s
Sept. 23 – St. Paul, MN – Amsterdam Bar & Hall
Sept. 24 – Chicago, IL – Subterranean
Sept. 26 – Ann Arbor, MI – Blind Pig
Sept. 27 – Columbus, OH – A&R Music Bar
Sept. 28 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
Sept. 30 – Toronto, ON – The Garrison
Oct. 02 – Philadelphia, PA – Ukie Club
Oct. 03 – Cambridge, MA – Sonia
Oct. 05 – Washington, D.C. – The Atlantis
Oct. 06 – Brooklyn, NYC – Baby’s All Right
Oct. 08 – Durham, NC – Stanczyks
Oct. 09 – Orlando, FL – The Social
Oct. 11 – Jacksonville, FL – Jack Rabbits
Oct. 13 – Miami, FL – Las Rosas
Keep up with Sub Urban: Website // Spotify // YouTube // Instagram // Facebook // X
