Blending drone and doom metal with more ethereal influences like Mazzy Star and Grouper, King Woman began as the project of Kristina Esfandiari before becoming a full-fledged band. Also known for her work with Whirr and Miserable, Esfandiari founded King Woman in 2009, but her duties with her other bands meant that the project's first single Degrida/Sick Bed -- which featured Tied to the Branches and Chasms' Jess Labrador as her backing band -- didn't appear until 2013. The following year's Dove/Fond Affections single was King Woman's final release as Esfandiari's solo project; by the time of 2015's Doubt EP, the band included drummer Joey Raygoza, bassist Peter Arensdorf, and guitarist Colin Gallagher. The band signed to Relapse Records in 2016, and released their debut album, Created in the Image of Suffering, in early 2017.