#stonergaze

Nicole Estill

Cloakroom

True Widow 

'AVVELGERE'

Relapse

I once heard True Widow's music described as "perfect hangover" music, but I'd liken their brand of heavy noir-slowcore-groove to the type of music used to soundtrack a damage-being-done montage. There's a lived in quality to their output and it appears equally based on hard Texan roots and narco haze. Modern biker rock, for the hip-set. 

Subscribing to a minimalist bent, True Widow maximize their presence, never sounding anything less than huge. The group draw you in, lay a hypnotic groove and never deviate, making for a structured yet no less intriguing ride. The front and center rhythm section of Nicole Estill (bass) & Slim TX (drums) lay the foundation for DH Phillips' voice and guitar to connect the dots.

'AVVELGERE' finds True Widow continuing their ascent by doubling down on heavy groove, warm guitar tones, and smoky vocals.

True widow are dialed in on tracks like the sludgy opener "Black Shredder" and the groove stomping "Theurgist” the former displaying a slightly meaner tone while the latter leaning on a heavy riff. 

Any time bassist Nicole Estill enters the fray, an added depth of warmth is invoked, which benefits tracks like "The Trapper and the Trapped.” She continuously offers up a light juxtaposition to the overall brutality, as heard on the gonzo "Sante" which bristles with energy ridding big riffs and a constant cymbal riding.  

The heavy SlowCore of "F.W.T.S:L.T.M." finds Phillips stretching out the vocal melody over a lurching arrangement, while at just a few BPMs more, is the beautifully languid "Entheogen." 

To sonically oppose the crunch and groove of standouts like “O.O.T.P.V.” is the lone moment of reprieve, which comes in the form of "To All That He Elong" with its acoustic lead and thunder-drums.