Windhand – “Grief’s Infernal Flower”

Released in September 2015 via Relapse Records, Grief’s Infernal Flower stands as a defining monument in modern doom metal, capturing Windhand at the absolute peak of their psychedelic, sludge-heavy songwriting. For this third studio effort, the Richmond, Virginia outfit traveled to Seattle to work with legendary producer Jack Endino, famed for tracking quintessential grunge records by Nirvana and Soundgarden. This collaboration proved inspired; Jack Endino masterfully balanced the band’s colossal wall of low-end distortion with an airy, haunting clarity that allowed vocalist Dorthia Cottrell’s somber, melodic performance to soar. Musically, the album sits at a fascinating crossroads, drawing from the heavy, hypnotic blues of Black Sabbath and the drone-heavy textures of Electric Wizard, while channeling the melancholic, acoustic folk undercurrents of mid-90s grunge. Epic-length centerpieces like Hesperus and Kingfisher showcase their mastery of long-form, monolithic repetition, while shorter pieces like Crypt Key and the acoustic-driven Sparrow anchor the record with indelible, haunting hooks.

Track Listing:

1. Two Urns 8:11
2. Forest Clouds 9:11
3. Crypt Key 5:39
4. Tanngrisnir 5:36
5. Sparrow 4:46
6. Hyperion 5:29
7. Hesperus 14:26
8. Kingfisher 14:19
9. Aition 3:32