***The eternal return—we are doomed to repeat our own history; the horrors of humankind resurface time and time again. This is our legacy, one of destruction, callousness, and self-aggrandizement in the face of our species' worst accomplishments. At the precipice of chaos, destruction, and hopelessness is New York-based black metal band WOE, whose new album—the band's first proper album since 2017's Hope Attrition—shows multi-instrumentalist CHRIS GRIGG at his most rejuvenated and feral. Legacies of Frailty is the result of a few choice things. Helming the project by himself in near-isolation, Grigg methodically and near-completely took over the recording, his first solo album since 2007's A Spell for the Death of Man. Though this seems like a brash move, having had a full band since 2010, Grigg's control of the songwriting process has been a consistent element in Woe's existence. Taking a darker, faster, and even more aggressive approach this time around, Legacies of Frailty's concept mirrors Grigg's performance and songwriting. Co-produced by Grigg and longtime collaborator GRZEISEK CZAPLA, this album's immensity is augmented by a fitting, just-clear-enough mix and master to give Woe a sharp sonic edge.
CD $10.50
10/13/2023
LP $19.35
10/13/2023
***NOW AVAILABLE ON CD!!! "After nearly a four-year hiatus, Philadelphia / Brooklyn-based black metal band WOE are back with Hope Attrition, their brand new LP on a brand new label (Vendetta). 2013’s Withdrawal served up a batch of songs that blended traditional black metal, thrash and a dash of hardcore for good measure; fast melodic guitar riffing with high-pitched screams alternated with clean vocals, similar to what can be found on later Emperor records such as Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk or Prometheus: The Discipline of Fire and Demise. There are also moments of emotional introspection and subtlety on Withdrawal (see: 'All Bridges Burned'). Hope Attrition offers a more aggressive aspect of Woe’s multifaceted approach. There's more brutality, more caveman knuckle-dragging than on any of their earlier releases. Standout tracks are 'No Blood Has Honor,' 'The Din of the Mourning' and album closer 'Abject in Defeat.'"—Clrvynt
LP $15.00
03/24/2017
CD $10.50
03/31/2017
MC $7.00
03/24/2017
***"The realization strikes quickly; A Spell For The Death of Man is an atypical force. The haunting, oddly naked guitar that opens the record—perfectly painted in the 'Solitude' referenced in the track's title—is stark. Desolate. Profound, even. Mostly, it's real. A single guitar. Two minutes of truth or consequences. That's all that Woe needs to bury the seed. The seed grows. That solitary guitar morphs into a fiery wall of blasting, but halfway in, man... the violent revolution begins. WOE's manipulator, XOS, breaks the song open, driving it into a storm of dust with thick riffage and insane drumming. This is full-on, fuck-you hitting, turning the tide into a headbanging, jawbreaking tsunami of blackness. A Spell... is absolutely massive, wreaking havoc in a manner that few (if any) USBM bands have previous."—yourlastrites
LP $15.00
01/13/2017