"Dorthia Cottrell – S/T"

This is the second of six blog posts in a series of female artists or female-fronted bands that will be published under 2024. Metalheads can be vesatile and turn into full-blown goths. One good example is Dorthia Cottrell, best known as lead singer for the doom metal band Windhand. Dorthia Cottrell also has an acoustic solo career showcasing her sensitive and delicate side. The step from metal to dark country isn't far. In fact, there's only a thin line that separates them. In my line of work with this website I'm forced to wade through a quagmire of pretentious made up statements and labels to make the music seem more interesting. However, a review in Echoes and Dust caught my attention: "On her self-titled debut, Dorthia Cottrell is not merely another doomed soul moonlighting in morose country, but a fully fledged songwriter whose outstanding solo work has genuine crossover potential, and, if nurtured, may even eclipse her main band." She has made two albums. Her debut album was released in 2015. It's a dark album with a set of moody, low-key songs accompanied by acoustic and steel guitars. The best songs are "Cemetery Song", "Gold", "Orphan Bird", "Vessel", "Moth" and, last but not least, a cover of Townes Van Zandt's "Rake". The arrangements are spooky, atmospheric and semi-acoustic. This is so much better, than all the copiers, fakers, imitators, impersonaters and imposters out there. The cd copy is hard to find, but you can listen to the album on Bandcamp.