Initially leaping to fame as the ice cool bass slinger in JJ72, Hilary Woods earned even more praise for a brace of haunting and hypnotic EPs over the past few years. After spending much of 2017 writing and laying down songs on an old eight-track recorder in an abandoned flat, then fleshing out her creations in Berlin with co-producer/former Altar Of Plagues man James Kelly, Woods releases her debut full length – an absorbing collection of skeletal slow burners. Aiming to examine the allure of isolation and the complexities of desire, fans of Chelsea Wolfe’s dark threnodies will find much to love on Colt. Ghostly lullaby ‘Take Him In’ is a simple yet stunning effort; the magnetic funeral march ‘Limbs’ is chilling and thrilling, thanks to some dark and ominous synths and delicate harp; and ‘Black Rainbow’ is a seductive take on ‘50s torch songs that shows off Woods’ atmospheric croon. A slow burner, Colt is the sound of an artist firing on all creative cylinders. OUT JUNE 8

Rating: 8/10