7/10

When Dehd released their highly-praised 2019 album 'Water', it was backed up with an interesting story behind it. Shortly before they began writing, bassist and vocalist Emily Kempf and guitarist Jason Balla ended their years-long romantic relationship, which then lent itself to the despondent and heartfelt approach that record ended up having. And after just a year to figure out how they wanted to continue as a band, they have now returned with their latest collection 'Flower Of Devotion', a release that has proven to be a cathartic exercise for all those in the trio.

Between this and their last album, Balla's mother sadly passed away and Kempf found herself in self-isolation, long before the COVID-19 pandemic really began to kick off. These two separate but connected state of minds for the band's lead songwriters has resulted in a far more solemn and low-key full-length than we originally would have anticipated. While the sound of the group, with their breezy harmonies and atmospheric aesthetic, remains largely intact, there is this consistent feel of eerie calmness than runs the length of this new LP as they try to work through their emotions on every single track available.

From the start, 'Flower Of Devotion' makes for a wonderfully enjoyable listen despite its sometimes heavy texture and brooding sensibilities. Skirting the peripheries of sounds like dream-pop, shoegaze and plain old indie-rock, the trio deliver a broad and engaging release with plenty of gems to discover throughout.