King Woman announce their sophomore album »Morning Star«; stream video for the first single »Morning Star«

Oakland, California based ethereal-doom band King Woman fronted by Kristina Esfandiari (Dalmatian, Miserable, NGHTCRWLR, Sugar High, ex-Whirr) announce their sophomore album, »Celestial Blues«, which will be released on July 30th, 2021 via Relapse Records.

Watch a brand new music video for the first single »Morning Star«, directed by Muted Widows.

Tracklist:
01. Celestial Blues
02. Morning Star
03. Boghz
04. Golgotha
05. Coil
06. Entwined
07. Psychic Wound
08. Ruse
09. Paradise Lost

From Relapse Records:

King Woman, the outfit featuring songwriter, vocalist and “tour de force of gloom and woe” (Rolling Stone) Kris Esfandiari, return with their eagerly-awaited sophomore album, »Celestial Blues«.

Feeling compelled to reshape the biblical archetypes that once bound her, Esfandiari has created a theatrical tale of rebellion, tragedy, and triumph – a metaphor for her own personal experiences over the years – »Celestial Blues« was born.

Esfandiari sets a dramatic tone for the record with »Morning Star« echoing the primeval account of Lucifer’s fall from grace. Esfandiari smugly whispers: “you know it could have been you / so don’t you dare judge the things that I do” – the fallen archangel in deceitful persuasion. Esfandiari is accompanied by the beastly drumming of Joseph Raygoza and Peter Arendorf’s heavy-laden guitar flooding empty spaces with great fervor – masterfully stirring the listener with every sparse, emotional pluck.

King Woman once again takes us to church with hardcore gospel, »Coil«. “Five wounds you rape me / but I resurrect” declares Esfandiari in unhinged jubilation. Esfandiari desperately begs to be absolved in the crazed offerings of »Psychic Wound«, ultimately regaining a powerful reflection of herself after a provocative and tormenting dance with the Devil.

Photo by Nedda Afsari

»Celestial Blues« is at once a masterclass on crushing atmospheric doom, and at times a sobering take on the weightier sides of shoegaze. At the album’s core, a palpable tension can be felt. Acoustic guitars soar before descending into a darkness of riff-heavy distortion. Drums build upon these moments and explode into a cacophonous groove. Esfandiari’s voice remains at the forefront; her haunting melodies carry the music throughout. Somber moments lead to burning intensity and crescendo. This ebb and flow is constant. »Celestial Blues« grabs hold and never lets go.

Recorded in Oakland, California by Grammy-nominated engineer Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Amenra, Oathbreaker) »Celestial Blues« sees King Woman take a daring step forward as one of the genre’s luminaries, releasing one of the year’s most evocative records.

King Woman is:
Kristina Esfandiari – Vocals, Guitar
Peter Arensdorf – Guitar
Joseph Raygoza – Drums

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well