Welcome to an Infernal Visions and Rainbows in the Dark crossover! Infernal Visions is a column where I review an album and pull a tarot card, oracle, or rune called forth by said album, sharing my interpretation of the card and how I feel it relates to the music. Rainbows in the Dark features lighter, not-so-metal music. This week’s calling is dark folk album Devotion by The Keening and oracle card Witching Hour Tea.
The Call: The Keening – Devotion
Dark, moody landscapes with hints of doom, post-rock, and gothic mystery come to life with strings, piano, organ, flute, harp, hammered dulcimer, and more in The Keening’s sophomore release Devotion. Vocals by Rebecca Vernon (SubRosa) take the album to another level of wrenching emotional depth. The result is raw, heartfelt, powerful, and beautiful. Having a cozy, intimate, yet haunting feel to it, Devotion was released at the perfect time. With the feeling of warm flames crackling and dancing while foreboding shadows lurk where the light does not reach, The Keening creates perfect October soundtracks.
The title track is split into four movements. “Devotion I – Golden Thread” gently welcomes listeners with piano, strings, and harmonizing vocals. “Devotion II – Fitful Sleep” carries on this peaceful tone while adding drums and slowly expanding. The track eventually quiets back down and ends in a mesmerizing lullaby with reverberating vocals ringing out, flute, harp, strings. “Devotion III – The King” opens ambiently with eerie distant vocalization, a bell ringing, and cymbals rolling before amp feedback is heard and heavy slow riffs ensue. The marching doom instrumentation continues as strings are introduced and the track slowly evolves. Clarinet is eventually heard and other pieces are added creating something truly unique all while maintaining the doom metal background. “Devotion IV – O Mother” strips down with a piano solo intro before strings, vocals, drums, and flute are mixed in, creating one of the more gut wrenching songs on the album with repeating lyrics of “I’m hanging by a thread.”
Devotion ends with “The Murder of Anna Brown.” Here, Vernon’s vocals take on a different tone, feeling more powerful and impassioned as she tells the tale. The song is grounded in the beginning with an acoustic guitar melody but takes flight and soars as the chorus rings out.
Hearing something so passionately created by human talent in a world of AI is refreshing and inspiring. Pouring out real, unrestrained emotion through music is intensely powerful and it is a pleasure to listen to something so meaningful and creative. Having been a fan of Vernon’s work for some time, I was excited to see another release under The Keening. I believe this album is more free and vulnerable than the last and while I enjoy both, Devotion hits a bit harder. The contributing instrumentals by other artists I admire like Andrea Morgan (Exulansis) who provides violin and viola, amplifies the impact. The resonant sound and gripping emotion of Devotion will continue to surround and consume me, having a lasting impact.
The Card: Witching Hour Tea
I am excited to dive into another oracle deck. I discussed oracles and the difference between them and traditional tarot in this article. I picked up this deck at our local Renaissance Faire last summer. It definitely spoke to me thematically and I was also drawn to its beautiful artwork. The deck celebrates divine wild women from myths, folklore, popular culture, and history. It contains 36 cards and encourages journaling and meditation and connecting with your highest self through a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Witching Hour Tea is a card representing introspection. It asks for us to take time and solitude for honest reflection to dive into raw emotion and check-in on different aspects of our lives. Ask—in what ways have I grown? In what areas do I need to grow? How am I truly feeling in this moment? This card signals a time to be vulnerable with ourselves and take a moment of peace to look inward and do some exploration. It gives us an opportunity to simply feel, sit in our emotions, and reflect.
Devotion is dedicated to Vernon’s Dad who sadly passed in 2025. It was written in two vastly different environments—a cabin in a deserted Idaho ski resort and a senior living community where she was staying with her father before his passing. The duality of these places—one of quiet seclusion and isolation and another of bustling energy with harsh realities—made for a raw and emotional album. I wanted to use this deck for this release since it is the passion project of a very inspiring feminine figure and because this deck calls for self-reflection and spiritual growth. Introspection and taking time to honor our uninhibited emotions and reach catharsis through writing and creating feels perfectly The Keening.
Blessed be.
–Angela
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