''Eternal Return'' is the fourth studio album by

doom metal Doom metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other heavy metal genres.K. Kahn-Harris, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'' ...

band

Windhand Windhand is an American doom metal band formed in Richmond, Virginia, in 2008. Currently signed to Relapse Records, Windhand released their most recent album, ''Eternal Return (Windhand album), Eternal Return'', in October 2018. History Windh ...

. It was released on 5 October 2018 by

Relapse Records Relapse Records is an American independent record label based in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Matthew F. Jacobson in 1990. The label features many grindcore, death metal, metalcore and sludge metal artists. History The ...

. The album was produced by

Jack Endino Jack Endino (born Michael M. Giacondino; 1964) is an American producer and musician based in Seattle, Washington. Long associated with Seattle label Sub Pop and the grunge movement, Endino worked on seminal albums from bands including Mudhoney, ...

and is the band's first without founding guitarist Asechiah Bogdan.

Critical reception

The album has received generally favorable reviews. ''

Pitchfork A pitchfork or hay fork is an agricultural tool used to pitch loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. It has a long handle and usually two to five thin tines designed to efficiently move such materials. The term is also applie ...

'' noted the band's new sense of experimentation with

grunge Grunge (sometimes referred to as the Seattle sound) is an alternative rock Music genre, genre and subculture that emerged during the in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington, particularly in Seattle and Music of Olympia, Washington, O ...

and

psychedelic Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary mental states (known as psychedelic experiences or "trips") and a perceived "expansion of consciousness". Also referred to as classic halluci ...

sounds and a compelling performance by singer

Dorthia Cottrell Dorthia Cottrell (born March 11, 1986) is an American singer for the doom metal band Windhand. She also has an acoustic solo career. In 2024, her second solo album, ''Death Folk Country'', was included on the shortlist for the third annual New ...

, adding that "Cottrell’s often been great on Windhand’s quiet songs, but she’s never sounded like such a convincing rock bandleader." ''Metal Injection'' noted that the band has finally found its own style, saying "Windhand returns (eternally) to lift the fog, clear the mist, and define their own obscurities through a fantastic album that properly carves out their identity." ''The Obelisk'' also noticed the

influence, stating "Windhand aren’t simply donning a flannel and tucking their jeans into their Doc Martens — they’re taking the influence of grunge and working it into their own sonic context, just as they’ve always done with their influences," while ''Spectrum Culture'' also noted new strength in Cottrell's vocals.

Track listing

Personnel

– vocals *Garrett Morris – guitar *Parker Chandler – bass *Ryan Wolfe – drums

Charts

References

{{Authority control 2018 albums Windhand albums Relapse Records albums Albums produced by Jack Endino