Woods of Ypres - Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light - Album Review

Divinity in composition - 98%


Before beginning with the review, I’d quote, “A moment of silence, but not one moment more…
The dead are to be forgotten ... We are here to be adored”
Gold is not to be forgotten, but to be adored after making such a solid album.


The album is a sequel as a journey divided into chapters, discussing loss, death, hope, love and many other aspects of life. And for those who are familiar with Gold’s personal life, they’d find the lyrics so attached to his own personal experiences in his love life and relationships (E.g. Silver, Modern Life Architecture)
The lyrics are a whole entity of deepness, sadness and philosophy which was well written in a way that penetrates one’s inner being.


Musically it is variant and fulfilling; clean vocals took over growling in a wide range, using different instruments made the atmosphere gloomy provoking a dark doomish touch.
Keyboards, piano, flute, cello and guitars are used along with chants or doomish riffs through out the album and play a majour role, in some songs it came out as mellow and slow as “Alternate Ending” and “Finality”, and in others it appeared rather heavy and more of an upbeat and this is clear in “Travelling Alone”.


With regards to inspiration in the album there is a clear influence of “H.I.M” in the song “Death Is Not an Exit” especially that to me this song is the most uplifting song here; Katatonia, Type O Negative and Paradise lost had a share of effect as well, taking into consideration a well earned applause for (John Fryer) here.


The most interesting song for me has to be “Adora Vivos-Latin for: Worship the Living” as it’s awkwardly different and yet so cohesive. It has the deepest lyrics I have ever read and for me it’s just a mix of flavors for whatever is craved in a song.
and what is puzzling about this song, “Career Suicide” and “Kiss My Ashes” is that they relate to Gold’s recent death before releasing the album.
These songs are deep, cohesive, philosophical and concentrate on the band’s own individuality and originality with mixed notes, various keys and instruments, all leading to a wider way to preserve the album musically and spiritually.


Instrumental wise it is a brilliant album, particularly in the use of drumming and guitars as they vary and create a parallel darker atmosphere that indicates the band’s previous Black Metal side, but where clean vocals take over.


Great album all together and the best way to describe it is by using David Gold’s own words, “less art, less expressionism and more of what you want when you want it”