Joel Violette on WOODS OF YPRES, David Gold, and ‘Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light’

I love ‘Grey Skies & Electric Light’. It was my favorite album as of the original interview on 2012Mar29, and is still frontrunner six weeks later. Death always weighs heavy with Woods of Ypres, and the loss of founder David Gold brings a bitter denouement, as the music still rings sweet stabs every time. Much of this perfection was honed because of Joel Violette himself, and we speak at length about the development of ‘Woods 5′, straighten out confusion behind the various release dates and track listings, explore many memories of David (including his myriad looks through the years), and touch on Joel’s other project, Thrawsunblat, which he describes as “raw black melodic folk metal with a Atlantic Canadian twist”. We bookend with some of the new album—beginning with “Lightning and Snow” and concluding with “Kiss My Ashes Goodbye”.

CATTLE DECAPITATION Live & Long Chat with Travis Ryan on ‘Mind Over Metal’

I rung up Travis Ryan and had a pretty standard set of questions—new album evolution, vocal experiments, tour stuff—but threw some curveballs. Misanthropic and eco-terrorizing though they may be, Travis was taken aback when I asked him about his own place in the world. Hear these answers, and SO much more on Cattle Decapitation, plus a little Murder Construct, and a touch of Soulfly as well.

Live : ULVER – ‘The Norwegian National Opera’

Rating: 5/5 … Most concert films are rarely interesting for anyone besides fans of the bands in question, hampered by uninspired versions of the songs, weak camera work, and shoddy atmosphere. Some break the mold—such as Deep Purple’s ‘Made In Japan’, Iron Maiden’s ‘Live After Death’ and Opeth’s anniversary concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Ulver now joins those ranks with their first live video, ‘The Norwegian National Opera’.

I’d Rather Be With Some Animals : SPIRIT ANIMAL, DOG SHREDDER, COP PROBLEM

Ever have something literally fall through the cracks? I received the latest Spirit Animal album for review, and after spinning a few times, it somehow slipped into a nether region of my desk, nearly forgotten for weeks until the album’s edge creeped out from under the corner of a precarious pile. Fortunately, I had animalistic designs on some early 2012 EPs, to follow later in this post.

First Strike : VULTURES OF CULT – “Power Dons”

I loved Vultures of Cult from the first time I heard their name. You rarely hear the ‘ult’ alliteration anywhere, and since I’m a sucker for both literary devices and local VT musicians who I’m friends with, they remain on my radar.

Blinded By Candlelight in Early 2012: SIGH, COC, ORANGE GOBLIN

You must choose at least one of these albums for your Best of 2012 list, or be deemed false in my eyes.