WINDHAND – ​Eternal Return

Relapse Records
By Chris Dick

Richmond, VA heavyweights ​WINDHAND​ mark their arrival on new album, ‘Eternal Return.’
Boosted by Garrett Morris’ consistently cool riffs—forged at the crossroads of Iommi’s
otherworldly import and Kurt Cobain’s spontaneous precocity—powered by Ryan Wolfe and
Parker Chandler’s groove-laden rhythms, and propelled by Dorthia Cottrell’s smoky yet wistful
vocals, ​WINDHAND’s​ new album is a two-step jump for Richmond’s finest purveyors of the
psycho-actively heavy. Adorned by Arik Roper’s (Sleep, High on Fire) impressive cover art,
‘Eternal Return’ not only looks the part of ​WINDHAND’s ​artistic growth but sounds the part.

For the new album, ‘Eternal Return,’ ​WINDHAND​ wrote throughout the winter. Out of the
songwriting sessions, “Halcyon,” “Grey Garden,” “Red Cloud,” and the monstrous “Eyeshine”
emerged as the heaviest tracks, while “Pilgrim’s Rest,” “Diablerie,” and “Feather” embodied the
more reflective side of ​WINDHAND​. The juxtaposition of heavy, psychedelic, and pensive is less
like Black Sabbath and Sleep and more like Soundgarden and Veruca Salt. But the namedrops
aren’t absolute so much as signals of ​WINDHAND’s​ ability to stretch beyond genre confines.
‘Eternal Return’ is a complete life-to-death journey.

Thematically, that’s exactly what ​WINDHAND​ were aiming for on ‘Eternal Return.’ As unplanned
things go, it’s an observation of as well as a reflection on life’s ups and downs, joys and
sorrows, beginnings and ends. Between ‘Grief’s Infernal Flower’ and ‘Eternal Return,’
WINDHAND​ welcomed new life, survived lineup changes, and mourned unexpected death. The
songs and song ordering are the direct result of those experiences. Where “Halcyon” is assured
in its opening of ‘Eternal Return,’ the closing track “Feather” is its funeral march.

For ‘Eternal Return,’ ​WINDHAND ​brought Endino back to the fold. Together, they spent two
weeks recording at Soundhouse Recording in Seattle. Described as “smooth” and “intense,” the
sessions with the famed producer were just what ​WINDHAND​ wanted. Endino also understood
the group’s artistic progression, chiefly the admiration of and blending in late ‘80s/early ‘90s
grunge. Out of it all, ​WINDHAND​ continued to refactor and refine their vision of heavy. A new
era of psychedelic heaviness is upon us with ​WINDHAND’s​ genre-blurring ‘Eternal Return.’
Sweet, fuzzed-out oblivion has never been closer…

WINDHAND are:
Dorthia Cottrell – Vocals
Garrett Morris – Guitar
Parker Chandler – Bass
Ryan Wolfe – Drums