Courtesy: Metal Blade Records
The self-titled debut record from Wovenwar is a triumphant return for the now former members of As I Lay Dying. The former band recently disbanded after the arrest of its front man Tim Lambesis for a murder-for-hire plot against his now ex-wife. The fallout from the band’s breakout and Lambesis’ arrest was far reaching for fans of AILD. Now thanks to the upcoming release of Wovenwar audiences will find that AILD is gone and from its ashes is a whole new band with a whole new sound. It is a band and sound that while unlike that of AILD is even better than that of that band. The sound on this record is one that promises a hopeful future ahead for Wovenwar. The melodic hard rock sound churned out right off the top in ‘All Rise’ is a clear indicator of this. The straight forward, driving energy of ‘The Mason’ makes for another wonderful addition to this record with its straight forward, driving energy. And or those hoping that the band that was AILD hadn’t lost its full on metal edge, ‘Matter of Time’ will assure them that they most definitely have not. These songs are but a few examples of what makes Wovenwar a welcome new birth for the members of AILD. And it is even more welcome for audiences that have waited with baited breath for this record.
When it was announced that the members of AILD had formed a new band and were hard at work on said band’s debut release, anticipation immediately built for that release. Both the band’s members and audiences alike needed a fresh start what with the black eye brought on by Tim Lambesis’ arrest. Right off the top of the album, the band lives up to all of that anticipation thanks to ‘All Rise.’ This melodic hard rock was the perfect way to open the album. Its pounding drums and shredding guitars are a bridge to what was once AILD while the more melodic vocal style of front man Shane Blay displays the band’s different direction. He sings in this song what may well be a reference to Lambesis’ arrest as he sings, “Who stands the storm and faces/The horrors that darkness breeds/Who will take the life they’re given/And cast light for all to see/Who stands the storm if not the brave/What’s built from cowards that we praise/Who stands the storm if not the brave.” It’s very possible that this could be in reference to comments made by Lambesis regarding his eventually changing views on faith that apparently led to his fate. That argument is made even stronger in the song’s opening verse as Blay sings in the song’s opening verse, “Oh You feel the hunter’s gaze/A shadow even in the dark of night/scheming your early grave/He’s going to leave you dead or dying/Draining all the blood he craves/You never thought you’d be meat for the market/What’d you expect when you sold your name?” One can’t help but wonder if this was directed at Lambesis’ ex-wife considering what is known about their relationship now. It would definitely be interesting to hear the story behind this one. Regardless it makes for a fitting introduction for Wovenwar on its debut album.
‘All Rise’ is a fitting opener for Wovenwar on its debut album. Just as impressive as an example of what audiences can expect from this album is the song ‘The Mason.’ The full on almost speed metal style sound combined with the song’s melodic metal sound makes it stylistically one of the album’s most intriguing moments. Blay shows in this song that he can do more than just sing, too as he screams and sings, “And I/I have caved in/Again but/I’m building from the wreckage.” It’s honestly nice to hear an album that is essentially a metalcore album without so much screaming and growling. Blay is a vocal powerhouse throughout the record. Audiences will agree as they listen to him make his way through the song’s chorus, singing, “We bend, we break, we’re forced to heal/The toll it takes in time revealed/The trial awakes and then creates or tears us down/We bend, we break, we learn to heal/Failings I claim for mason hands to shape/So strike away the grip of past mistakes.” He seems to be saying that things happen, but we have to learn to put the past behind us. As always, that is merely the interpretation of this one critic. It could very well be incorrect. Regardless of wrong or right, one must agree to the depth of these lyrics. That depth and the song’s straight forward, full throttle musical side together make it one more example of just how much Wovenwar has to offer audiences.
‘All Rise’ and ‘The Mason’ are both excellent examples of what audiences have to look forward to on Wovenwar’s upcoming self-titled debut record. They both exhibit both the band’s sound from its previous life as AILD while also exhibiting an obvious musical and lyrical growth at the same time. There is still at least one more example of that growth on the album’s penultimate piece, ‘A Matter of Time.’ This full-throttle piece presents almost a death metal style sound as Blay sings, “We fight to conceal this truth/But it’s all a matter of time/Time/The years wasted/Persuaded to smile/When it feels so wrong inside/How could we let ourselves/Continue this routine/The artificial beat/Of a heart that’s long since ceased.” One can’t help but wonder from what perspective this was written. It comes across as someone suffering from depression and what such person must feel. If that is indeed the case, then it could serve as a starting point for a discussion on such a topic that is all too often swept under the rug. As with the previously noted songs, it would be interesting to learn the story behind its creation. Regardless, it makes for one more great addition to an album that audiences will agree deserves a spot on any critic’s list of the year’s best new hard rock and metal albums.
Wovenwar will be available Tuesday, August 5th in stores and online. While fans wait for the album to drop, they can hear these songs and more at all of the band’s current live dates including its show tonight at the Minglewood Hall in Memphis, Tennessee. Its current U.S. tour wraps up August 9th at the famed Roxy in Los Angeles, CA. After that, the band will take some time to rest up before kkicking off the European leg of its tour August 15th at the Pukkelpop Festival in Hasselt, Belgium. Audiences can see the band’s current tour itinerary and keep up with the latest news from the band online now at http://www.facebook.com/wovenwar, http://www.wovenwar.com and http://twitter.com/wovenwar. To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.
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