Giving Fiona Apple a run for her money, the sophomore effort from Texan drone riders True Widow drags on like it’s generously elongated title. From the opening bars of spaced kick to snare it’s obvious this is not a record that will rush to the finish, and that’s exactly where the beauty lies.

Emphasising on sludge guitars and deeply reverberating vocals, True Widow paint heavy compositions that seem to bury themselves in the pit of my stomach, slowly forcing my head into a stoner nod. As High as the Highest Heavens and from the Center to the Circumference of the Earth is certainly a progression from 2008’s self-titled debut. The sound is more focused, the production clearer and the guitar tones warm. The song construction seems more considered with enough space for each instrument and element to work its way through the shoegaze mist.

Echoing and haunting, at times it feels as though singer/guitarist Dan Phillips (formerly of Slowride) is holding back, and it makes for an agonizing listen. Each line, each beat feels like it could be the last, taunting and addictive. On ‘NH’ his words almost trail out into mumbled grunts before falling back and entwining with singer/bassist Nicole Estill’s lifting and melodic voice. Where vocals compliment, guitar and bass chug in crunching riffs, accentuated by the almost glisteningly clear and precise hits of drummer Timothy Starks.

The album closes in epic nine minute form after a short and well placed, although slightly baffling toned down interlude. Final track ‘Doomser’ looms into near nothing before screeching back with full force and slowly dissipating into a wail of clawing feedback reminding their fateful listener that True Widow aren’t a band quick to shy away.