Woe: Withdrawal

I really like the idea that Woe started out as Chris Grigg's one-man project and has expanded over time to include not only other musicians, but also other contributors to the songwriting process. I haven't heard his other music, but I do know that it's been critically praised and that it represents a certain high water mark in American black metal. To me, though, the willingness to stretch, to let others share in the writing process, means that Griggs is interested in genuine growth, a desire to keep his playing and writing vibrant and interesting. Lots of people write their own music and many do it well, but there's something admirable about making music with others, opening oneself up to the vulnerability of criticism and change that makes a big difference.

On the whole, this is a good record with many good songs. It isn't revolutionary or ground breaking, but it's solid in all the right ways. I've heard lots of black metal albums over the years and sometimes get tired of the repetitive sounds and emotions they typically represent. This album suffers from some of those qualities, but it doesn't sink under their weight as so many others tend to. The vocals are a little too low in the mix. Normally, I like the way vocals can blend with the music, but I thought they were a little too muddy and distant here. Still, the good outweighs the bad here on several fronts. I was especially fond of the title track "Withdrawal," mostly because of the way the guitar tracks used plenty of sustain to blend the chords together nicely. I also thought the lead guitar on that track sounded great, bringing in a melodic quality missing from the other songs. I also recommend "Ceaseless Jaws," a strong track with the briefest of soft interludes. It's also one of the tracks not written by Grigg and so gives listeners a chance to see what may have drew him to the song in the first place. Other highlights include "All Bridges Burned," particularly its acoustic opening, and "Exhausted," easily the toughest, hardest-driving track on the album. Woe is a strong band, one to keep an eye on.

Track Listing:
1. This is the End of the Story
2. Carried by Waves to Remorseless Shores of the Truth
3. All Bridges Burned
4. Ceaseless Jaws
5. Song of My Undoing
6. Exhausted
7. Withdrawal

Added: April 30th 2013
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 2163
Language: english

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