An anode for use in a high voltage electrolytic capacitor is provided. The anode contains a sintered porous pellet and a leadwire extending therefrom in a longitudinal direction. The pellet is multi-layered to the extent that it contains at least a first layer positioned adjacent to a second layer, both of which extend along the length of the anode. The anode leadwire is embedded within the first layer. For this reason, the first layer has a thickness greater than that of the leadwire. Nevertheless, the use of a separate and distinct second layer adjacent to the first layer can allow each of the layers to be independently pressed using a multi-sided compaction device so that the properties of the anode are not significantly impacted by the presence of the relatively large anode leadwire.