REVIEW: BEAR - Anhedonia

The uproarious Belgian band BEAR are back and better than ever on latest EP Anhedonia, blending their groovy mind-melting mathcore with moments of calm, and violent whiplash between them. The four-piece recorded the entire thing live in the studio together, as one band playing with every ounce of energy you can feel in the music. Coming off of the back of a fantastic release in Vanta, it was going to be tough to top it but the Belgians have gone hell for leather on the follow-up, and clearly for good reason - as two members of the band explained in conversation recently.

Guitarist James Falck comments: "After writing Vanta (the band’s previous release), which was written during a particularly unpleasant moment in my life (cancer, surgery, treatment, family deaths, breakups), I personally was able to exorcise a lot of demons, and since then a lot of incredible things have happened in my life. Making music has always been a big source of therapy for me, and these songs really represent this state I was in until recently; where I had a lot to be grateful for, but the trauma and pain I had experienced in the years before had created a certain level of numbness, apprehension, and indifference." 

Bassist Dries Verhaert adds: "We indeed approached this project quite differently, both creatively and in the studio. Looking back, I’m proud of what we’ve achieved. Anhedonia is BEAR at our most authentic and vulnerable. If you ever find yourself in the dark, keep pushing. Accept help from those around you, and keep moving forward. This album is proof that even in the toughest times, there’s a way through." 

The music itself, as described earlier, blends the mad mathcore they’re known for with some moments to breathe, but never quite warns the listener of them. This makes for a listen that ends up feeling like you’ve played an ice hockey match, or been in a spar with a heavyweight boxer, such is the sheer intensity of the experience. Even though the EP only comes in at five tracks, clocking in for a total of 19 minutes of listening, it’s a multi-faceted release and certainly isn’t afraid to take risks.

Opener Empty Markers takes mere seconds of eerie intro before uncorking a can of ‘hefty guitar’ straight out of the biggest amp you’ve ever seen, and is followed up by Lacerate which is as apt a name for a song as there’s been in many a year. The Smile is anything but happy, but the real standout is probably the title track, which we find in penultimate position here. With influences ranging as far as abrasive metalcore and punked-up hardcore to pure doom and fuzzy sludge, it runs the gauntlet of sounds that would have your elderly neighbours quivering in their garden wondering why the apocalypse has arrived, before Metastatic arrives just in time to add some anthemic value and rhythmic shenanigans to the end of times.

Anhedonia is fantastic. It’s great fun to listen to, whether all in one or as individual songs, and never feels boring or derivative. Named for a condition that, amongst other things, is known to prevent the feeling of pleasure, this EP compounds that into less than 20 minutes listening that is so much more than worth a speedy jaunt through.

Score: 9/10

Anhedonia will be released on May 22nd 2026 via Pelagic Records.

Words: Jasmine Longhurst

Photos: Yngwie Vanhoucke