ALBUM REVIEW: Wode – Uncrossing The Keys

UK gothic black/death/heavy metallers Wode return with their fourth album of obscure and exciting oddities. Set for release via 20 Buck Spin on October 3rd.

Marching drums and crisp guitars usher in the darkness with swelling melodies and an enchantingly timeless feeling. Gothic, heavy, extreme; whatever it may be it is starting strong. Their shadowy blend of instrumental mysticism is met by maliciously snarled vocals contorting into the abyss. Instantly one must admire the variations in the music that do not feel lazy, charging from one section to another with purpose. From the pounding fury to graven gloominess, it’s amazing how they string these quite different moods together while feeling coherent. I am also thoroughly pleased at the presence of the bass which sits very nicely in the mix and is allowed to punch through the wicked guitar work. Equally the drums feel sparse and don’t muddy things up, so the production is spot on for the vocals to rasp their tales upon. The artwork conveys the feeling and sound of the album very well; it’s metallic and dark but also something more. Mystery and intrigue are certainly key facets on this record both visually and sonically. As a fan of their prior works, I think this feels like a strong fourth step wherein they keep their vision alive but tread unfamiliar ground. Let’s hope this impression is just and the quality is retained!

Potent grooves and mystifying atmospherics flow majestically from these songs whose eldritch twists and turns never cease to bewilder. There are bits which feel very Swedish, from Dissection to Tribulation, but also moments where their British heavy metal DNA is unmistakable; especially in the melodies. There is also some definite Paradise Lost worship going on here too. Blackened dissonance and triumphant soaring coexists beautifully on this record which is as multifaceted as it is strong in its convictions. Nothing feels pretentious or pointless nor thrown in for the sake of it. Wode are just really excellent songwriters with a lot of ideas and influences and are clearly unashamed of this. The sombre post-punk moments can charge into evil blackened heavy metal with nothing feeling out of place. This ability to fit everything together into such a gloriously and profoundly engaging whole is superb. Genius, a funereal feast for the ears.

Each swing of the scythe is an arcane revelation that will have you entranced. There is not a moment that feels weak or short of a spectacle. From the soulfully delivered solos and cinematic organs to the core of total metal triumph; nobody faltered in the making of this gargantuan sounding album. Combining those moody moments with a feeling of grandeur to epic effect, the record builds to a wild climax and erupts in style before leaving you reflective. The natural reaction is to listen again because there is plenty to discover. “Uncrossing The Keys” is no surface-level throwaway that you listen to once and forget, it’s an album with a lot to offer as you scratch a bit further beneath the surface with each listen. I have found all Wode albums to be better with each listen even long after release and I have no doubt this will continue that trend. That said, even my first impressions were hugely positive so either way, it’s a victory.

A dark, brooding and powerful opus of underground obscurity. Blending heavy, black and death metal with gothic post-rock and more; Wode have offered their most complex and yet engaging effort to date. This is no pretentious think-fest, but a diverse and rewarding record of rocking and eerie music that is so easy to be hooked in by. It may be early days and moods can change, but I think this might be my favourite from the band so far. On a side note, their live show is absolutely phenomenal too. Total support to these Mancunian maniacs!