Woods of Ypres
Woods 4: The Green Album


3.5
great

Review

by Tyler EMERITUS
March 30th, 2010 | 66 replies


Release Date: 2009 | Tracklist

Review Summary: The band's best yet...if you can tune out the lyrics.

David Gold could really use a hug. Of course hugs aren’t metal, but as far as I’m concerned, neither is crippling sadness. And listening to Woods IV: The Green Album, crippling sadness is everywhere. At points, Gold is contemplaying suicide; at others, he’s just wishing he never existed in the first place. “I Was Buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetary” actually ends with Gold eulogizing himself.

The catch is that as depressing as its lyrical content may be, The Green Album really nails the musical side of things. Gold especially.

Throughout their career, Woods of Ypres have always been burdened with the distinction of being known as sort of a Canadian Agalloch. The comparison is pretty valid, especially regarding previous albums, but it was never fair. On The Green Album the distinction blurs: the vocals, always the hitch that had pushed people away from their music in the past, have become the obvious highlight.

As their music takes on a gloomier edge, there’s a higher emphasis on the brooding pace of doom metal, but as Gold’s vocal approach has changed to a low, almost spoken baritone, there’s an undeniable nod to Type O’ Negative and Peter Steele. Musically, The Green Album is top notch, if a little (okay, a lot) long---at an hour and 18 minutes, and with every song plodding along at a soppy, wet crawl, the album can feel like it lasts an eternity.

The problem is the lyrics. They’re just…they’re awful. Bad enough to make one turn the album off entirely, if not burst into explicit laughter. Because Gold has adapted such an enunciated vocal style, and because harsh vocals are now used only to emphasize, it’s nary impossible to ignore lyrics as bad as, well, all of “Wet Leather”:

Life is just pain and piss; It's nothing that I will miss
Life is just pain and piss; It's just...temporary
Life is the madness of a drunken city night
With wet leather on your back and rain dripping off your spikes

PAIN! Life is just pain and piss. PISS! It's nothing that I will miss.
PAIN! Life is just pain and piss and everything is a scam

And so it goes.

Still, I really can’t help but recommend The Green Album. In spite of its lyrical guffaws (they’re every where and they’re really awful) it’s the perfect album for a rainy day. Gloomy as fuck but it wears it well, The Green Album might be their best yet. It’s certainly the funniest, if not intentionally.



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user ratings (168)
3.4
great


Comments:Add a Comment 
Tyler
Emeritus
March 30th 2010


7927 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

A very quick write up done out of necessity; it not only needed a review, but I'll take 15 minutes of distraction from a relatively pointless class.

ButcheredChildren
March 30th 2010


5590 Comments


more like a Shoutout than a review but still very cool. I love this band personally and this album was beautiful. One of the best local bands in my area (im from Ontario, Canada)

Crysis
Emeritus
March 30th 2010


17640 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

I was wondering how good this was, the tracks they posted on their myspace a while back were pretty decent. I'll check this out. Nice review.

bloozclooz
March 30th 2010


1770 Comments


lyrics seem more suited to Mr. Murderface's side project, also, how do you pronounce "Ypres"?

Tyler
Emeritus
March 30th 2010


7927 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Ee-pre.

bloozclooz
March 30th 2010


1770 Comments


mind-boggling

scotish
March 30th 2010


836 Comments


I've been to Ypres, and there ain't any woods there
*nods*

OceanOfWisdom
March 30th 2010


99 Comments


Vocals sound very Doomish...Good, yet very melancholic as stated. This WOULD be a good cd to listen to on a rainy day or something to that effect.

The lyrics ARE fairly cheesy, but his vocals kinda put them into context, so they arent quite so laughable. I just kinda wish he wouldnt enunciate so clearly...makes it sortof sound over-emphasised.

Still - getting this now - So I can save this for one of those aforementioned days...lol

ButcheredChildren
March 30th 2010


5590 Comments


@bloozclooz, its pronounced "Y"- pres with the Y said like the letter name and then pres pronounced as it sounds.

Just some history for all you non-canadians, the battle at Ypres was 1 of our most famous Canadian battles during WWII. I'm sure alot of you are like "wwhhhhaatttt??? the canadians were in WWII?" Yes we were.

bloozclooz
March 30th 2010


1770 Comments


just looked it up, apparently canada had a greater % of its pop. die in the conflict

Tyler
Emeritus
March 30th 2010


7927 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Wait, people don't actually know Canadians were in WWII? Or are you just trying to emphasize your point.

Crysis
Emeritus
March 31st 2010


17640 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

I sure hope that people know the Canadians were.

bloozclooz
March 31st 2010


1770 Comments


they just aren't as emphasized as much as USA, BRITAIN, and those others. i personally didn't know about canada's involvement until my 10th grade US history class, ironically enough

Tyler
Emeritus
March 31st 2010


7927 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

you're making my head hurt, stop.

bloozclooz
March 31st 2010


1770 Comments


you from canada lol? well at least you've got some killer metal bands.

Tyler
Emeritus
March 31st 2010


7927 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Listen to this first. It fits

BallsToTheWall
March 31st 2010


51592 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

Shards Of Love is a great song among others. The lyrics are dreadful I agree.

ThyCrossAwaits
March 31st 2010


4052 Comments


this is so hilarious...but catchy, which used in combination makes me continue to listen.

ButcheredChildren
March 31st 2010


5590 Comments


@Cocaine I am truly serious when I say alot of people don't know of Canada's involvement in WWII, and even for those that know we were there, the vast majority don't even know the extent of our involvement.

Mikesn
Emeritus
March 31st 2010


3707 Comments


ypres was world war 1



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