Relapse Records has announced the signing of Bay Area-based King Woman.

Formed in 2009 by Kristina Esfandiari, King Woman began as a solo project then later developed into a full band. Over the course of the last seven years, King Woman have crafted a sound thoroughly their own - a sound that harnesses the elastic textures and temporality of drone and doom metal alongside the strength and evocative power of artists like Mazzy Star, Royal Thunder Grouper, and many more.

The band's debut EP Doubt (released on leading SF avant-garde imprint The Flenser in 2014) paired weighty subject matter such as religious abuse with cathartic, brooding, and hypnotic songwriting with a transcendental feel. With Esfandiari's lush and dramatic vocals, King Woman go far beyond mere stoner metal. The band's compositions call to mind rich, detailed imagery and powerful atmospheres that elevate their music beyond classification. King Woman’s mystical sound resonated strongly enough to catch the attention of Relapse Records, who signed King Woman in 2016.

King Woman recently recorded their debut full-length, Created In the Image Of Suffering, with engineer Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Whirr, Wreck & Reference) at the Atomic Garden. The album will see a release via Relapse in the spring of 2017.

Vocalist Kristina Esfandiari commented on the signing: "It feels surreal to release our first full-length through such a respectable label with a vast roster we respect so much."

Stay tuned for more news on King Woman and stream the band's EP Doubt, below: