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Swallow the Sun - Emerald Forest and the Blackbird is my pick so far for album of the year.

Taken as, say, a canadian agalloch with goofy lyrics, this isn't half bad. Of course, they don't really resemble their early output and should have changed their name.

Are you trying to say that this particular album in any way resembles something Agalloch would release? If so I would have to disagree with you 100%. There is a level of uniqueness and attention to detail in Agalloch's music that this doesn't even BEGIN to approach.

They both have incredibly monotonous vocals that drown out any redeeming qualities of the music for me, so I can follow GeneralDiomedes.

Well my point was more that there are huge differences between the styles of music in general. One is whiny gothic metal (at least on this particular album), the other is a mixture of black and folk metal. Agalloch is also a bit less vocal-centric, they definitely have a lot of extended instrumental sections in their songs, so I don't see that much in the way of similarities.

Well everyone is entitled to thier opinion but dude did you listen to this album more than once or twice? I couldn't disagree with this review more. Not just a bit of it but all of it just screams I listened to this album once. I'm new here so I could be wrong but dont you guys get to pick what you want to review? Why would you pick something to review from a genre you obviously do not like?

Has woods sound changed? absolutely. David gold was the only constant member of this band. The first album was a black metal album. The second was a black doom album. The third and fourth albums gradually became more doom oriented. After every album band members were changed. This fifth album is probably more doom rock than anything else. There is a touch in a song or three of black metal vocals.

The vocals and the lyrics are the best part of this album. The reviewer thinks otherwise but don't be swayed. This album is David golds masterpiece. The first song "lightning and snow" will grab you right away. After a little intro David gold's rasp kicks in in a whirlwind of anger and angst. The rasp continues threw the verse till David's clean vocals kick in and the song is off to the races.

Second song "death is not an exit" is cleanly sung all the way threw and features lyrics that deal with the nature of life and Death and how you need to enjoy the time you have because it's all you got. Great song great lyrics. Lyrics from this song were my quote for awhile.

Third song "keeper of the ledger" this song rips. Another song with both black and clean vocals. Great song with a beautiful piano interlude. Again the song has excellent lyrics but if you don't actually listen to the album more than once or twice they will not sink their teeth into you.

Fourth song "traveling alone" this song was the song that got me hooked on the album. It's about a man who goes to a foreign country and meets a religious man. It's about seeing why people with a over abundance of good in their life have a much easier time believing in a god while people without abundance are bitter and believe in nothing. (I'm really dumbing down the song. There is so much meaning here)

Fifth song "adora vivos" another great song. This song is filled with meaning although I will admit the chorus takes some getting used to. This about loving the living while they are still alive and not mourning the dead. All in all actually a uplifting song.

Sixth song "silver". This song is the only song that doesn't fit the theme of the album. This is about losing a girl to another guy basically coming in second place and being left behind alone. Hence the title silver. What can I say this is another great song. But like all things that are great you have to give them time to set in.

Seventh song "career suicide". This is the closest woods comes to the tongue in cheek humor that type o negative was known for. Good song not the best on the album but good.

Eighth song "modern life architecture". This is a crushingly doomy song about when life throws you a curve ball and when everything you have worked to build falls apart but you have to try again. Awesome song. Just awesome. Full of meaning.

Ninth song "kiss my ashes (goodbye)". This 11 minute epic is easily one of the best songs on the album. It's about not wanting to be mourned when you die. And how you want to be loved in life not in death. This song has the best solo on the album. Around the 9:10 mark the solo kicks in. Great song. Epic song.

Tenth song "finality". Beautiful song. Opens with a piano intro. This is also about death and the ones you will leave behind and the loneliness that you and they will feel. Just a beautiful song with some excellent cello work.

Eleventh song "alternate ending". This may be the most prophetic song on the album considering how David died. Another beautiful song filled with meaning.

Overall this album is filled with meaning despite what the reviewer says. There is meaning and great lyrics oozing out of this album. I will say that a casual listen isn't going to do this album justice in the beginning. I had to listen to it probably five times for it to start to sink in and even then certain songs took longer to sink in. I will promise anyone who cares this: If you put the time in to this album you will be rewarded. The album is definitely a grower.

And to the reviewer: dude listen to albums more before putting pen to paper. I'm sure you guys gotta knock reviews out but Jesus as a fan of the album your review sounded horrible. It really sounds like you listened to the album twice and said fuck it let me bang out a review. There were no song descriptions except the three songs you mentioned. As a fan of this band your dismissive review was extremely insulting. If you don't like something that's fine but you still have write a sufficient review. It sounded like you jumped on this album to review because you knew you were going to trash it. Why review it then? Ehhhh whatever.

I'm no reviewer I've never actually written a review. Also I am not one to bitch about reviews even when something I like gets trashed but this wasn't even a review. I just felt another opinion had to be given on this great album.

For anyone that's interested in this album. Is it metal? I'll let you decide. Does it matter if it's metal if it's good music? It shouldn't?

My score is 90/100. This is in my top five overall albums of the year.

Even though that's what you just did lol. I didn't mind Woods of Ypres after liking 3, but I hated IV.

I know. Woods 4 was a mess. A few good songs though.

4 was a mess in your book? Hmm, maybe I need to look into this 5 then to see what it's all about...

4 was the most clunky out of the bunch. The songs are so different and odd that the album as a whole doesn't work. 4 was David Gold trying to find the sound he perfected on 5. Don't get me wrong 4 has some jems mixed in the album. The other songs aren't filler but they are like experimentation. Like I've said before even though the sound of 2 is totally different than 5 after 5 2 is the most complete album.

Also if you liked the 1st album you should check out "the northern Ontario black metal preservation society". It's the singer from the first album and David Golds project. They would send songs to each other and one song David would sing and the other guy would drum and vice versa. Decent black metal. Not excellent but decent.

Also if you do get woods 5 just give it a chance. It's easy to listen to a album once or twice and dismiss it as shit but I promise you if you give it the time it needs to set in the rewards are many.

Yes.



You're entitled to your opinion, but on this point I assure you that you are wrong. I'm slightly disappointed by this because I thought I did a decent job explaining my opinions on this album. Maybe you should read it again.



I do like both Gothic and Doom metal very much. Clearly you haven't read many of my reviews, and I am not convinced that you read this review very closely either. Also, as I pointed out in the review, I enjoyed some of Woods earlier work. In fact that's the only reason I chose to review it in the first place. I never pick up an album that I assume I'm going to hate right off the bat.



That is a very, very bold statement to make. If I listened to this album a hundred times (in all I gave it at least 7-8 listens, as I do for almost every album I review) I'm pretty sure I would still give it the same rating. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Music is subjective dude, accept it.



When I review an album, even if it's not from a genre I particularly enjoy or am familiar with (which, again, is certainly not the case here), I never set out to trash it. I just found barely any redeeming qualities about this particular album. It's nothing against the genre or the band, I just found it to be one of the most dull and uninspired things I've heard this year. I'm not going to argue the points you brough up in your "review" because it would be futile. We obviously hear and find meaning in different things when we listen to it. I thought I explained why I have the opinion that I do pretty well in my review. Once again, it's subjective.

For the record snake, I have no problem with you thinking the complete opposite about this album, which is why I'm taking the time to respond to this criticism at all. That's one of the amazing things about music, two people can listen to the same thing and feel two completely different ways about it. The only problem I have is when people think that their opinions should be universal, that everyone should find the same kind of value in the same things, which is basically what you are telling me. When you're talking about music, or any form of art for that matter, that is simply not the case.

Khelek. You are absolutely entitled to your opinion. I would of been fine with a 60-70. When I saw 30 and read the review I kinda flipped out because I hold this album in very high regard. I definately jumped the gun and and reacted poorly. I'm not ashamed to admit it. So I apologize if I was disrespectful in any way. I'm not normally like that.

And I don't think my opinion is the right one I just felt it necessary to give a different opinion on what many people feel is a great album.

Anyway I apolagize for taking this too far and disrespecting your review skills. I have read some of your reviews and your a good reviewer. Like I said I was just taken back by the complete distaste for this album which you are entitled to.

So again I apolagize.

Nah man, I'm not offended at all, I welcome different opinions on every review I write. It just disappoints me that you felt I didn't give this album a fair shot. I've listened to a lot of gothic and doom metal, and I really did try to find something to like about this, but it just wasn't there for me. If you enjoy it that's awesome, at least the band's efforts were not a complete failure.

EDIT: However, I suggest you pick up the new Katatonia album and give that a listen. That is an album in a similar genre that I would feel comfortable giving a score of 85-95 to. If you come back and tell me that this album can hold a candle to it, I would be very surprised.