In Spades

Released in 2017 on Sub Pop, In Spades represents a peak in The Afghan Whigs' second act. Following their 2014 comeback Do to the Beast, this album finds the band - led by the singular vision of Greg Dulli - moving away from straightforward rock toward a more 'spectral' and 'gothic' sound. Recorded at Van Gogh Studios in Los Angeles, the album is notable for being the final recording to feature guitarist Dave Rosser before his passing, lending an unintended but palpable weight to its themes of mortality and the afterlife. Sonically, it integrates soul and R&B elements more fluidly than their 90s output, using brass and strings not as window dressing but as core structural components. Critics, including those at AllMusic, praised the album for its cohesive atmosphere and Dulli's continued ability to channel noir-ish desperation into anthemic songwriting. It stands as one of the most sonically adventurous entries in their discography, favoring dense, psychedelic textures over the leaner grunge-soul of their early years.