When I heard Woe Is Me, I had to do a double take when I found out they were on Rise Records. Nothing against the Rise family, but when three or four of your artists sound almost exactly the same...yknow? Anyway, Woe Is Me still has alot of electronica elements like many of their Rise brethren, but the technicality, competent lyrics, talented singing and overall sound set them apart from the roster.
This album plays like a book reads; every song leads in to the other, and feeds off of the one before it. Its a seamless experience, and right from the getgo the production quality jumps out at you and doesn't let go (courtesy of Chango studios, based in Orlando.). The first few bars of music on this album include some basic chug patterns, quick drum fills and a pretty intense breakdown to give you a feel for the rest of the album. This song (On Veiled Men) dissolves right into (&)Delinquents, which wastes no time in introducing you to the advanced drumming and incredible vocal abilities of clean singer Tyler C. Definitely an album that grabs you from the get-go.
Now, as for overall sound? It's had to peg these guys. The guitarists can do the usual de-tuned chugging that comes with the metal territory these days, but can also move into huge, melodic choruses and smooth tapping licks. The drummer and bassist make one hell of a rhythm section, moving between driving beats and staccato patterns. The tandem vocalist team reminds me of the Aaron-Spencer era of Underoath, in that the startlingly opposed vocal styles play off of each other to perfection. But the real draw for me here (and the thing that makes Woe is Me so different from the rest of the scene) isn't the keyboardist, but the way he uses the effects at his disposal. Ben (keys, vocals) and Austin (drums, programming) keep the computer-driven components of the album in the mix at all times without repeating themselves or overdoing it. This synth-heavy kind of style is seen in excess; but to do it so well? Thats definitely a rare sight.
I still have not been able to really process this whole album; I got about 6 other albums at the same time as this one, but it's fast becoming the most-played item in my library. Turn up the bass in your speakers, stretch in preparation for all the air-drumming thats about to happen, and spread the word about this brutal, techy, keyboard-laden monster of an album.
Tracklisting:
- On Veiled Men
- (&) Delinquents
- Mannequin Religion
- Keep Your Enemies Close
- Hell, or High Water
- For the Likes of You
- I
- Our Number(s)
- If Not, For Ourselves
- Desolate (The Conductor)
