Philadelphia-area black metal band Woe’s 2008 debut album A Spell for the Death of Man was an eloquent and grandiose display of exciting American black metal and was, truly, one of the highlights in the genre for that year.  Even more impressive was the fact that the album was wholly written and performed by one man, the inspiringly multi-talented Chris Grigg, going by the pseudonym “Xos”.  To this day, I don’t think I’ve heard a more successful single-member created album.  Quietly, Undramatically is a worthy follow-up that expands on the sounds and emotions of the debut while managing to be a bit more succinct in its delivery. Above all, the album is a perfect demonstration of the sophistication the genre of black metal can achieve when in the hands of talented, passionate people.

Quietly, Undramatically is an interesting album.  It’s of the type of quintessentially American black metal heard in bands throughout the country these days like Wolves in the Throne Room, Krallice, and even the latest Krieg album (on which Grigg played drums).  Whereas this type of black metal often dictates songs of greatly extended running time, Woe keep things a little more stripped down and to the point; a fact much appreciated by those of us with less than stellar attention spans.  Blast-fest “Without Logic”, one of the more intensely stirring tracks on the album also happens to be the shortest, coming in at under three minutes.  This variation of running times serves to emphasize the dramatic importance of the resoundingly emotive, 13 minute “Full Circle” which wraps up in a spectacularly deconstructive manner.  Elsewhere, a decidedly hard-rock influence permeates the title track and exceptional closer “Hatred is our Heart”.

Quietly, Undramatically was performed as a full band rather than by Grigg alone, and is absolutely one of the most well-produced extreme metal albums I’ve heard.  The mix is pristine, with uncharacteristically discernable bass work; a percussion-friendly job showcasing a particularly bold, inventive performance on the drums by Evan Madden.  I’m sure there are those that will argue against such a clean sound being used on a black metal album, but that’s simply not worth entertaining.  Quietly, Undramatically is without doubt an exceptionally enjoyable album of refined, multifaceted black metal.

TRACK LISTING

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*Comments:

1.  No Solitude
2.  The Road From Recovery
3.  Quietly, Undramatically
4.  A Treatise on Control
5.  Without Logic
6.  Full Circle
7.  Hatred is Our Heart

Total playing time: 43:10

Release Date: October 12, 2010
Label: Candlelight Records

Woe - Quietly, Undramatically

Reviewer: J. A. Burt

March 29, 2011