LINGUA IGNOTA (latin for unknown language), Kristin Hayter’s solo effort, explores violence towards women and gender through extreme music. Kristin Hayter brings sacred music and power electronics, black metal and harsh noise together, taking advantage of her background in both the church, as a soloist, and in metal, as a band member playing shows in high school.

LET THE EVIL OF HIS OWN LIPS COVER HIM, Hayter’s first EP, is a masterful exercise in pacing. The first two tracks of the EP are deceptive; a reverb-drenched organ drones under Hayter’s haunting voice, and there is no hint of the walls of harsh noise to come later in the EP. The liturgical atmosphere established in DISEASE OF MEN and SUFFER FOREVER continues into THAT HE MAY NEVER RISE AGAIN, until the track explodes into a mountain of harsh noise, topped off with intense screamed vocals from Hayter. The organ plays on, even as waves of noise clash with Hayter’s screams.

THE CHOSEN ONE ends the EP with a return to ballad format, substituting piano in for the organ of the previous tracks. A punishing listen, and well worth it. The pacing of this EP and Hayter’s masterful performance makes LET THE EVIL OF HIS OWN LIPS COVER HIM a must listen.