Description
King Woman – “Created in the Image of Suffering” LP
San Francisco songwriter Kristina Esfandiari issued her proper, full-length /full-band debut under the name King Woman in 2017 (following-on from the Doubt EP of 2015), using dark brooding doom rock to reconcile herself with a childhood spent in a Christian cult-like community. Thereby becoming one of best new doom acts of the decade, crossing over between the world of metal and post-rock/shoegaze. Always captivating and rich in sonic texture, helped, no doubt by the skill of engineer Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Wreck & Reference, Oathbreaker) and his Atomic Garden studio. This is doom metal that is lead by the voice and words – rather than merely some stoner laying down a repetitive guitar riff for ten minutes – and it’s all the more brilliant because of it.