Aunt Katrina: This Heat Is Slowly Killing Me [Album Review]

Aunt Katrina
This Heat Is Slowly Killing Me
Self-Released [2025]

“Equal parts bedroom confessional and sonic freakout—This Heat Is Slowly Killing Me is a wild, wired indie ride.”

Album Overview: Aunt Katrina began as the solo outlet for Ryan Walchonski after his time in feeble little horse. The project first took shape in Washington, D.C., where he was splitting creative energy between bands before carving out a separate lane for a more personal sound. What started as a one-person experiment has since grown into a full-band effort, now based in Baltimore and fueled by a close-knit scene that includes members of Snail Mail, Tosser, and more.

This Heat Is Slowly Killing Me is Aunt Katrina’s debut full-length—a record stitched together from a period of upheaval, long commutes, and changing relationships. It finds its voice in the in-between: melody vs. noise, harmony vs. distortion, acoustic warmth vs. digital chaos. Every track takes its own path toward catharsis, offering an unpredictable but strangely cohesive ride.

Musical Style: This album lives in the overlap between styles. It’s not quite rock, not quite electronic—but it pulls from both. You’ll hear soft acoustic fingerpicking tangled with chopped-up beats, or calm vocals floating above waves of static and shoegaze fuzz. It’s a push-and-pull sound where nothing stays still too long, and contrast is part of the thrill.

Evolution of Sound: Compared to Walchonski’s earlier work—especially the 2023 EP Hot—this album stretches out in all directions. There’s more patience, more room to breathe, and way more sonic variety. Ambient textures, glitchy interludes, and subtle programming give the record a wider emotional range. With the help of new collaborators, This Heat Is Slowly Killing Me feels freer, more willing to wander, and all the better for it.

Artists with Similar Fire: If you’re into bands that thrive on emotional flux and sonic curveballs, Aunt Katrina will hit the spot. Think Spirit of the Beehive’s chaos-pop, Alex G’s bedroom surrealism, or Duster’s dreamy haze. There are also traces of Mount Eerie’s stripped-down intimacy, sprinkled with Aphex Twin and Four Tet’s love of chopped-up soundscapes. Fans of Autocamper, The Wrens, or early Death Cab might also hear something familiar in the indie DNA.

Pivotal Tracks: “Peace of Mind” is a quiet heartbreaker—acoustic strums, sparse electronics, and a gentle groove make it the most serene track on the album. “Ran Out of Time” ups the tension, building into a wash of static that mirrors its aching core. “Four Corners” drifts through indecision before bursting open in its final act. “Bait” plays like a fever dream—disorienting and hypnotic with its sample-heavy backdrop. And “Locked Me Up” hits with a muscular riff that churns beneath the surface, giving its restrained vocals something gritty to ride on.

Lyrical Strength: Walchonski doesn’t hide behind flowery metaphors or cryptic imagery. The lyrics here are blunt, raw, and emotionally direct—like conversations you almost didn’t have. Repetition and fractured phrasing help drive home the album’s themes of instability, longing, and emotional disconnect. Sometimes it feels like the words might fall apart mid-sentence, and that vulnerability is exactly what gives them weight.

Final Groove: This Heat Is Slowly Killing Me is a strong debut—messy in a way that feels honest, and held together by its willingness to embrace both softness and chaos. Aunt Katrina doesn’t offer easy hooks or predictable builds, but if you’re up for a record that keeps you on your toes while still hitting you in the gut, this one’s worth the time. With this adventurous start, it’s clear Aunt Katrina isn’t just another side project—it’s a full-on creative force with plenty more to come.

AUNT KATRINA LINKS
Instagram | Bandcamp