Spearheading the Canadian black metal assault is the Ontario-rooted Woods of Ypres. Led by frontman David Gold (vocals, guitars), with invaluable assistance from bandmates Dan Hulse (bass, vocals) and Jessica Rose (keyboards), Woods of Ypres (pronounced E-pray) have persevered through lineup changes and personal hardships, but remain as determined as they were when they formed in 2002.
Woods of Ypres’s self-financed debut album Against the Seasons: Cold Winter Songs from the Dead Summer Heat (2002) was extolled for its passionate take on Ulver-esque black metal, a sound the Western hemisphere had rarely explored beforehand. In 2004, Gold and co. returned with Pursuit of the Sun & Allure of the Earth, which featured atypical black metal elements such as clean voice, acoustic guitar, and sun-centered lyrics to arrive at the apt classification Gold coined – summer black metal. Similar to the debut, their sophomore effort was met with critical acclaim, and also spawned comparisons to seasoned veterans like Agalloch, Novembers Doom, and Opeth. The following year saw a remixed, remastered re-release of Against the Seasons, with striking new artwork, on Gold’s own label Krankenhaus Records.
Anno 2007 marked the fifth anniversary of Woods of Ypres, and in January of 2008, they broke the silence with Woods III: The Deepest Roots and Darkest Blues. Revisiting many of the concepts that first appeared long ago on Against the Seasons, songs such as “The Northern Cold” and “Your Ontario Town Is a Burial Ground” point to familiar lyrical themes – the unforgiving harshness of an Ontario winter, and Gold’s conflicted thoughts about his birthplace. For now, summer and fall have ended, and winter is here to stay, but, as the band is quick to remind, only for a season. Offering an abundance of black/doom metal from an inventive Canadian unit, the 15-track, 73-minute Woods III will be heralded as the finest Woods of Ypres record to date, and rightfully so.
for sure, hope to see you guys out here in california soon, you can be damn sure that ill be at whatever show you play out here, but until then you guys take it easy in canada and keep up the great work :D
your music inspires me to do great things; it makes me thoughtful and appreciative of many things. i cant wait to hear woods III when i can finally afford it! keep up the great work, the world needs it :)
Thanks for the add it is truly appreciated,love the new album and your lyrics are something else,keep up the good work and hope to see you guys playing live soon.
Opeth was my favorate band for years, then about 2 yeaago rs i was introduced to u guys, and shit u guys and agalloch blew opeth out of the water in my eyes. Love the new album, its bad ass. Thats the kind of shit i want to play , though it is hard to find people with the same music taiste in my area. and i wont ripp anything off lol // cant touch a masterpeice
Even after the days of cold, drawn down, one can always return to this sound, bring back all that fires the senses, not always alone, amidst the crowds pressing in, flitting through to higher ground, nature's branched obscurities. Gratuity
Miss the last Autopsy Report Radio Show featuring Woods Of Ypres? Well fear not because you can listen to it RIGHT NOW at the Autopsy Report MySpace page. Alternatively you can go to Vicious Enterprises and download a higher bit rate version.
Thanks for the note...I've been a fan of you guys snce 2004 early 2005. I just didn't know that you changed into a new site. I haven't gotten your new album yet, but I soon will. Hope to see you in Copenhagen one day:)
The Autopsy Report Metal Radio Show week commencing 14th April 2008
Well slap me with a kipper, cut off my gonads and call me Shirley, it's time for another Autopsy Report. Tune in for more brutality, rockarama and general true KVLT-ness. The bit about cutting off my gonads was metaphorical by the way. If you come near them, I'll kill you. Tune in.
This week's playlist featuring Woods Of Ypres:
Sahg - Pyromancer Malicious Damage - Global Enslavement This Tortured Machine - Mea Culpa Southern Flame - Cloud of Smoke Jason Smith - Blood Will Flow Kilpatient MD - Sucker Punch Lioplurodon - The Invasion Plastic Joe - Fuck You Satan Woods Of Ypres - Iron Crudge Metallica - Fight Fire With Fire
Nice to see the page back up again, it was a shame that it got deleted in the first place. Congratulations on the magazine cover as well. Its about damn time, Woods deserves it!
Damn you guys are so sick...I'm glad my friend showed me you guys because since then I haven't been able to go for more than like a week without listening to you guys.
