King Woman : "Celestial Blues"

I have been looking forward to the follow up to "Created in the Image of Suffering" . Not a bluesy in terms of the guitar riffs, but it does have a heavier emotional weight. The riffs them selves feel depressing at times, which I of course love since darkness and sonic heaviness are what I seek out in music. For an opener the title track is more introspective in it's ambiance, though there are punchy sludge ridden dynamics. The bulk of my favorite album's also have some diabolic undertones to them so "Morning Star" which is her "Sympathy for the Devil" checks off this box. The drumming is outstanding on this song.  I am even more impressed by when she adds grit to her voice on "Boghz" . One of the album's heaviest songs that is more metal in it's intentions than the first two songs. 

The intensity is trading for a more familiar brooding on "Galgotha" though this time around it is more refined than what we have previously heard from this band in the past , though a little more melodic and wandering in places. The bass line to "Coil" creates a more post punk tension, that they explode out of with a snarling aggression in the vocals. It is fair to say she is much more pissed this time around. The most drastic shift of dynamics might be found at the end of the morose journey you are taken on with "Entwined" . It starts off with sparse almost post rock sounding riff, then builds up in a grungy manner until they explode in the end with blast beats. Her vocals to have the haunting moan to them but the lyrics are easier to make out than on the first full length. 

There is a darker creepier feel to "Psychic Wound" that at first reminds me a little of Rasputina. This too builds , though more so with the vocals that rise into a scream. The condemning lyrics of "Ruse" are perhaps the heaviest thing about the song, and very real to any one who has been in a dysfunctional relationship. For a heavier album it ends on a very sedate note with "Paradise Lost" The melodies are sp fragile , that it takes a few listens to sink in. Not as compelling as the bulk of the album, but you can not blame them for exploring the entire sonic scope. It takes about two and a half minutes for the song to warm into something my ears latch onto as the minimalism is so thick. I will give this album a 9.5 as the last song is well as I just described it and while I can not fault them for it not something  I am going to wear out like the rest of this.