Windhand: Grief's Infernal Flower

Windhand recently finished a tour with Monolord, the perfect team-up. I'm not sure what Windhand's plans are now that the tour is finished, but I hope they make a Utah stop sometime soon. Ever since I heard "Orchard" for the first time, I've ranked Windhand high on my list of favorite bands but I've never seen them live.

The band's last album, Soma, made it to the top of my "best of" list for 2013. I still listen to that album regularly; I especially love the tracks "Orchard" and "Evergreen," songs that show off the band not only at its doomiest, but also at its saddest. The band's latest effort begins just as strongly as did Soma with "Two Urns," a song that demonstrates the band's marked ability to create sad, sweet, and haunting melodies framed within hard-driving rhythms.

The best thing about Windhand is the warmth and depth of the guitars, the way they groove and crush. As played by Asechiah Bogdan and Garrett Morris, the guitars are consistently larger than life, powerful and moody, helping establish the band's signature version of doom metal. Coming in just below the guitars, Dorthia Cottrell's voice brings its sad, hypnotic, earnest, and haunting presence. Her voice—deep authoritative, and inviting—takes audiences by the hand and guides them through dark passages. Ryan Wolfe's drumming and Parker Chandler's bass playing, no less powerful, add to the overall wave of beautiful, yet crushing, doom metal sound.

Given my love of Soma, I worried that Grief's Infernal Flower might feel like a step down or a slump from the power and energy of what came before. There was no need to worry; the band opens things up with the aforementioned "Two Urns," a strong song that was also the subject of an internet contest (I think it was to post a cool music video concept). From there, things continue going with all the strength and power this band can muster. I enjoyed all the tracks on this album, but I'd definitely suggest that fans check out at the very least the first 5 tracks for a good sense of what this band does best. I especially enjoyed the melodic and layered vocals on "Tanngrisnir." Be sure to check out the two 15 minute tracks, "Hesperus" and "Kingfisher." This is a solid new release, a worthy successor to Soma and a definite sign that Windhand is a powerful force within doom metal circles.

Some listeners may complain that Windhand sticks to a formula and that their brand of doom is ultimately too hard to distinguish from other similar bands. Put another way, what makes Windhand so special? My response is simple: Windhand creates doom metal that understands how to bob and sway with the rhythms of doom metal while also remembering the importance of sound. Just listen to the way the guitars on this album use distortion to create an endless wall of fuzz and groove. If that weren't enough, Cottrell's vocals provide a melodic and haunting depth to the already crushing sound of the music. When I listen, I just want to close my eyes, relax, and let the sweet sound carry me away.

Track Listing:
1. Two Urns
2. Forest Clouds
3. Crypt Key
4. Tanngrisnir
5. Sparrow
6. Hyperion
7. Hesperus
8. Kingfisher
9. Aition

Added: November 25th 2015
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Band Facebook Page
Hits: 1895
Language: english

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