True Widow

True Widow formed in Dallas, Texas, with Dan Phillips on vocals and guitar, John Nieratka on bass and vocals, and Timothy Starks on drums. Their name comes from the biblical story of Boaz and Ruth, which touches on themes of love and loss that surface in their music. They put out their first self-titled album in 2010, which included the track 'Boaz.'

Their sound pulls from doom metal's heavy, slow-moving riffs but mixes in elements of folk, psychedelic rock, and shoegaze, creating something hypnotic and ethereal rather than purely aggressive. Lyrically, they often dwell on grief, fragility, and broken connections, delivered with a quiet intensity that avoids melodrama. Songs like 'Duelist' and 'Fourth Teeth' carry that same weight, slow-burning and atmospheric, built on repetition and mood.

In 2015, drummer Timothy Starks was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that sidelined him temporarily. The band kept working and released 'IV' the following year. They've since put out 'Aviary' in 2019 and a split with Blood Sun in 2017, maintaining a steady, patient output without rushing records or chasing trends. Their pace feels deliberate, a reflection of the music itself.