King Woman – Celestial Blues (Review)

King Woman are a doom metal band from the US. This is their second album.

Here we have 41 minutes of atmospheric doom metal, flavoured with aspects of post-metal and shoegaze, as well as some dreampop, and avant-garde tendencies. This means that overall King Woman’s sound is an atypical one, and they’ve successfully managed to carve their own niche in a crowded scene.

The songs deliver a modern doomgaze experience that’s highly compelling. The atmospheres are rich, and the emotive content high. The music is sensual and dark, with textured songwriting that results in a sumptuous feast of individualistic music for the listener to gorge upon. The band do well regardless of whether they’re playing heavy and distorted or not, but it’s good to hear that when the heaviness kicks in they don’t hold back.

The vocals are well-performed and are a natural focal point despite the actual music being of equally high quality. The singer has presence and personality, and she plays her multifaceted parts with an easy talent. Whether it’s soft and ethereal, rich and powerful, hypnotic and intense, dramatic and flamboyant, or any number of other styles or feelings that are called for, her unusual delivery is always on top form. Some of the parts where the vocals are layered are especially good.

The songs have many hooks, memorable parts, and good ideas. It sounds as if a lot of work, care, and passion has gone into the making of Celestial Blues, and the resulting quality is undeniable. I’ve been really impressed with this album, and the more I listen to it the more I’m drawn into its darkly intimate world.

King Woman have created something special here, so get comfortable, turn down the lights, and let Celestial Blues flood over you.