Woods of Ypres has long been one of my favorite Canadian metal bands, with its early roots in black and doom metal, the brainchild of David Gold displayed a truly unique musical evolution from album to album. Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light was one of the records I was most looking forward to this year, as I had been following it for quite some time in between Woods IV: The Green Album and numerous studio updates in 2010 and 2011 - and that day has finally arrived, although with a bittersweet arrival.
David Gold died on December 21, 2011, in a car accident near Barrie, just two short months before the release of Woods 5. Gold was a gifted and inspired musician, and a true Canadian talent who worked alongside a great number of talented artists both in Woods of Ypres, and in the community throughout his career.
David Gold was 31 years old.
Day 95
Band Origin: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
Genre: Doom Metal / Black Metal
Label: Earache Records
Running Time: 56 minutes
Release Date: February 15, 2012
Best Part: Gold and Violette manage to balance out the various elements that have made Woods of Ypres so great throughout the entire album.
Favorite Tracks: Adora Vivos, Traveling Alone, Lightning & Snow, Kiss My Ashes (Goodbye), and Career Suicide (Is Not Real Suicide)
Notes: A promo version of the album was released in late 2011, featuring a different track order from the final release.
Notes: A promo version of the album was released in late 2011, featuring a different track order from the final release.
Grade: 5.0
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Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light in way more than 20 words or less:
The fifth release by Woods of Ypres completes the full circle transition from primarily black metal, to the doom driven focus seen on the first half of Woods IV. A byproduct of three years of work, the collaboration of David Gold and Joel Violette is easily Woods of Ypres' most poignant release, and Gold's legacy.
The Band:
Woods of Ypres is a doom and black metal band from Ontario that was founded in 2002 by David Gold, Aaron Palmer and Brian McManus. The bands earliest releases were primarily black metal in focus with small elements of doom metal present. Over the years and with each passing release the bands focus would shift more towards a blackened doom style of approach. Following a number of lineup changes Gold would release Woods IV with the help of Bryan Bellau, and Shane and Evan Madden in 2008 which would be a significant change in pace from the three previous releases, a much darker and gloomier record. In 2010, Gold would move to Kuwait for work and the other members of the group had parted ways, which sparked many rumors of the band had called it quits. However he would go on later in the year to announce that the band had been signed to Earache Records after eight years under Gold's independent labels Krakenhaus Records and Practical Art Records. Together with longtime Woods of Ypres collaborator and personal friend Joel Violette of fellow Canadian melodic black metal band Thrawsunblat, Gold would go on to record the bands fifth full-length release, hire additional members and prepare for future touring. Following the sudden passing of Gold late in 2011 Violette commented that there was no definite fate for Woods of Ypres, but without any shadow of doubt that David was the voice, heart and soul of the band.
Woods of Ypres is a doom and black metal band from Ontario that was founded in 2002 by David Gold, Aaron Palmer and Brian McManus. The bands earliest releases were primarily black metal in focus with small elements of doom metal present. Over the years and with each passing release the bands focus would shift more towards a blackened doom style of approach. Following a number of lineup changes Gold would release Woods IV with the help of Bryan Bellau, and Shane and Evan Madden in 2008 which would be a significant change in pace from the three previous releases, a much darker and gloomier record. In 2010, Gold would move to Kuwait for work and the other members of the group had parted ways, which sparked many rumors of the band had called it quits. However he would go on later in the year to announce that the band had been signed to Earache Records after eight years under Gold's independent labels Krakenhaus Records and Practical Art Records. Together with longtime Woods of Ypres collaborator and personal friend Joel Violette of fellow Canadian melodic black metal band Thrawsunblat, Gold would go on to record the bands fifth full-length release, hire additional members and prepare for future touring. Following the sudden passing of Gold late in 2011 Violette commented that there was no definite fate for Woods of Ypres, but without any shadow of doubt that David was the voice, heart and soul of the band.
Jay's Take on Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light:
Joel Violette was not wrong when he said David Gold was the voice, heart and soul of Woods of Ypres. Gold's hard work and determination over the course of eight years was what helped push Woods to become a success. It's unfortunate that his passing would come at such a pivotal time, where his project was about to embark on the next big step of his musical journey. Gold and Violette spent the summer of 2011 together recording Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light in its entirety, not at all strangers to collaborating with each other on their individual projects Violette would take care of the lead guitar work, bass and piano, while Gold would provide rhythm guitar, drums and of course the vocals. Unlike Woods IV, which took a much slower building approach in the opening tracks, building up to more ferocious tracks over the course of the 80 minute long record, Woods V offers a blend of all the elements that have comprised Woods' previous releases. There are tracks which are gloomy, dark and carried forward ever so slowly by the deep commanding voice of Gold. Others are more melodic and energetic, while still tapping into the doom and gloom of the record, a good example being the track Lightning & Snow. The more high paced sections which lean towards the more black metal influenced portions of Woods of Ypres are less frequent but not at all absent from the record. In particular the track Adora Vivos does well to balance both the dark atmospheric gloom and high paced energy into what can best be described as the very core of what Woods of Ypres is about.
I could spend another 20 minutes going into details about why this album is a real triumph, but the music can speak clearly enough for itself. While David Gold's death truly is untimely given the circumstances with Woods of Ypres finally shifting from independent to professional status after eight years of hard work, Woods V will forever remain David Gold's legacy, and a true showcase of his talent.
A great tribute to David Gold was written by Rae Amitay who signed on to play drums with Woods after the recording of Woods V and quickly became a good friend to David. The tribute also features words from Joel Violette, former band mates and close friends of Gold, and is definitely worth a read. You can see the whole article here.
Samples of the Day:
My three favorite tracks from Woods V: Lightning & Snow, Kiss My Ashes (Goodbye), and the track Adora Vivos.
There is no destination, there is only the journey.
R.I.P. David Gold, 1980-2011.
- J
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