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Woods Of Desolation - As The Stars



7.7 | 97 votes |
Release date: 14 February 2014
Style: Atmospheric black metal

Owners:

90 have it
20 want it


01. Like Falling Leaves
02. Unfold
03. And If All The Stars Faded Away
04. This Autumn Light
05. Anamnesis
06. Withering Field
07. Ad Infinitum

Additional info
Artwork by Lucas Ruggieri.

Formats
  • CD (Gold-printed digipak, limited to 1881 copies).
  • 66 purple vinyl.
  • 99 purple vinyl.
  • 333 clear/black smoky vinyl.

  • Guest review by
    Hallford9000
    Rating:
    7.9
    Woods Of Desolation grabbed my attention with its name, promising a bleak, atmospheric and utterly black sound, the one I loved since I unknowingly dived into the world of black metal, a dozen years ago.

    I discovered this band only recently, some would say to my regret, but I say no! And if you perhaps like your metal to be black and haven't heard anything from this band, take a crucial step and listen to this album before their previous one, Torn Beyond Reason. The reason I say this, is because TBR is a masterpiece and, if regarding the fine nuances of black metal, a completely different direction and execution. Your subsequent reception of As The Stars may be heavily muffled as having expectations often does and as it happened after it was released.

    Read more ››
    published 13.12.2014 | Comments (0)

    Found in 26 lists
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    Comments

    Comments: 27   [ 3 ignored ]   Visited by: 401 users
    17.11.2013 - 14:00
    Rating: 9
    Cronomaster

    Nice Might be interesting, even without Tim Yatras...
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    15.01.2014 - 11:48
    Rating: 8
    Ab.Victor
    عرص
    Leaked
    ----
    Stab me with hate
    Enforce my fate
    Pain's my belonging
    To death I am longing
    The death I desire
    The dead I admire
    See no more illusion
    Just thy persecution

    So finish your work
    Stab me with fork
    Torture with knife
    End useless life
    Slit all my wrists
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    15.01.2014 - 14:58
    Paz

    Written by Ab.Victor on 15.01.2014 at 11:48

    Leaked

    I'll spin it asap. Thanks!

    We'll see what these personnel changes have brought...
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    16.01.2014 - 03:13
    Rating: 8
    Chobo_jokeR

    I'd say its a continuation of their last effort. I really enjoyed their last album, and I'd say the same for this album.
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    26.01.2014 - 18:12
    Rating: 8
    Reaper_Redeemer

    Nice work and a bit weaker than the excellent, previous one. Also, you can see a small change on musical direction. It's closer to Agalloch and Alcest now, with more melodic elements.
    Highlights (i dont like this term or to choosing tracks but in this album there is some notable work):
    01. Like Falling Leaves
    04. This Autumn Light
    05. Anamnesis (omg what a song...)
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    28.01.2014 - 17:24
    basquetal

    Written by Reaper_Redeemer on 26.01.2014 at 18:12

    Nice work and a bit weaker than the excellent, previous one. Also, you can see a small change on musical direction. It's closer to Agalloch and Alcest now, with more melodic elements.
    Highlights (i dont like this term or to choosing tracks but in this album there is some notable work):
    01. Like Falling Leaves
    04. This Autumn Light
    05. Anamnesis (omg what a song...)


    I agreed with you and I also think that Anamnesis and This Autumn Light are amazing songs.
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    03.02.2014 - 13:49
    Rating: 8
    Hallford9000

    It's indeed a very good album. As good as ambient black can get.
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    21.02.2014 - 03:20
    Rating: 6
    tea[m]ster
    Au Pays Natal
    Where has this band been all my life ??
    ----
    rekt
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    12.03.2014 - 16:02
    Rating: 8
    Skl3ros

    ^ same. First time I've taken the time to listen to this band and wow. This album is stunning.
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    14.03.2014 - 22:09
    Rating: 9
    InnerSelf
    proofread free
    This is marvelous, the album is consistent, free of the meanderings that usually come with the Shoegaze/Post BM tag and right to the point. The last two songs are majestic.
    ----
    He who is not bold enough
    to be stared at from across the abyss
    is not bold enough
    to stare into it himself.
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    15.03.2014 - 20:59
    Rating: 6
    Boxcar Willy
    yr a kook
    To all who have not heard this band, the previous album is a lot better.
    ----
    14:22 - Marcel Hubregtse
    I do your mum

    DESTROY DRUM TRIGGERS
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    15.03.2014 - 22:22
    no one
    Account deleted
    Written by Boxcar Willy on 15.03.2014 at 20:59

    To all who have not heard this band, the previous album is a lot better.


    i wouldn't say that

    There is more variation in this album, both albums have different atmospheres the last one more depressive, but both albums are really good

    i actually like "towards the depths" a lot too
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    18.03.2014 - 21:08
    Rating: 9
    InnerSelf
    proofread free
    I like this more than Torn Beyond Reason, I'm actually in love with this record atm. I'm enjoying that that Brave Murder Day-ish 5th track quite a bit too
    ----
    He who is not bold enough
    to be stared at from across the abyss
    is not bold enough
    to stare into it himself.
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    29.03.2014 - 11:26
    Rating: 8
    Masonics

    I echo Innerself statement, best mature record to date from WOD. Also enjoy the slightly murkier production this time around. Unfold is probably their most epic song to date along with darker days from TBR.
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    13.04.2014 - 21:04
    Rating: 8
    Erik M.

    Great stuff. I'm just getting into this band, but I've heard Torn Beyond Reason as well. So far it's hard to pick a favourite as I like both a lot. Will work my way through their whole discography.

    Oh, and the artwork is awesome. That's something that has to be said.
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    14.04.2014 - 01:39
    no one
    Account deleted
    Written by Erik M. on 13.04.2014 at 21:04

    Great stuff. I'm just getting into this band, but I've heard Torn Beyond Reason as well. So far it's hard to pick a favourite as I like both a lot. Will work my way through their whole discography.

    Oh, and the artwork is awesome. That's something that has to be said.


    the stuff before Torn Beyond Reason is a fair bit different, he obviously didn't have the money back then for a decent recording, i still like it though
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    14.04.2014 - 04:42
    Rating: 6
    Boxcar Willy
    yr a kook
    You're all mad, TBR trumps this in every category.

    ----
    14:22 - Marcel Hubregtse
    I do your mum

    DESTROY DRUM TRIGGERS
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    14.04.2014 - 04:56
    Rating: 7
    Troy Killjoy
    perfunctionist
    Written by Boxcar Willy on 14.04.2014 at 04:42
    You're all mad, TBR trumps this in every category.

    Agreed. I was expecting to love this the minute I heard it but it has the same problem as modern Drudkh or Old Man's Key or whatever else (having trouble thinking of names at the moment). Definitely a drop compared to its predecessor.
    ----
    "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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    14.04.2014 - 05:07
    no one
    Account deleted
    Written by Troy Killjoy on 14.04.2014 at 04:56

    I was expecting to love this the minute I heard it


    so was i, but it actually took me a few more listens than T.B.R
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    14.04.2014 - 05:11
    Rating: 7
    Troy Killjoy
    perfunctionist
    Written by Guest on 14.04.2014 at 05:07
    so was i, but it actually took me a few more listens than T.B.R

    There's just too much filler for me. I know I like the first track and one of them closer to the end was notably stronger in terms of atmosphere than the rest, but everything outside of that just seemed... wishy-washy? It was forgettable the first time I heard it and didn't have a lasting impression on me over the following two-and-a-half attempts either. I don't hate it or think it's terrible, it just sounds really average.
    ----
    "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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    14.04.2014 - 07:01
    no one
    Account deleted
    Written by Troy Killjoy on 14.04.2014 at 05:11

    Written by Guest on 14.04.2014 at 05:07
    so was i, but it actually took me a few more listens than T.B.R

    There's just too much filler for me. I know I like the first track and one of them closer to the end was notably stronger in terms of atmosphere than the rest, but everything outside of that just seemed... wishy-washy? It was forgettable the first time I heard it and didn't have a lasting impression on me over the following two-and-a-half attempts either. I don't hate it or think it's terrible, it just sounds really average.

    could say the same thing about torn beyond reason, the first two songs and the last are really good, but the ones in between sounded very similar and felt like fill ins. Though i like both albums, if he took his time and put the best songs from both albums into one....would maybe be the first album i would have ever given a 10!
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    04.05.2014 - 09:31
    Rating: 9
    InnerSelf
    proofread free
    I often find myself humming the tremolo melodies from a bunch of songs from this album, it definitely left a instant big impression on me after the first listen and I still play it every couple of days.
    ----
    He who is not bold enough
    to be stared at from across the abyss
    is not bold enough
    to stare into it himself.
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    07.05.2014 - 11:11
    Rating: 8
    M C Vice
    ex-polydactyl
    It's too short. Album and most songs.
    ----
    "Another day, another Doug."
    "I'll fight you on one condition. That you lower your nipples."
    " 'Tis a lie! Thy backside is whole and ungobbled, thou ungrateful whelp!"
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    01.02.2015 - 11:28
    Rating: 6
    tea[m]ster
    Au Pays Natal
    Written by Guest on 01.02.2015 at 05:48

    Hmmmm not much here to grab on to.

    After further playthroughs I might have overreacted at first...Its decent but nothing spectacular. Did you give Deadwood a try? Might be a better choice.
    ----
    rekt
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    01.02.2015 - 19:27
    no one
    Account deleted
    And ill admit towards the depths is a lot better...will have to try this deadwood too by the sounds.
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    02.02.2015 - 09:31
    no one
    Account deleted
    This deadwood is pretty good so far, don't think i would say it was more engaging than WOD, but that's why we're different.
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    03.02.2015 - 18:15
    Rating: 7
    flightoficarus
    Stamp Tramp
    Guitars are absolutely mournful. If nothing else, this gives me feels, which is more than I can say about most of this genre.
    ----
    Daily underground metal recommendations at Metal Trenches.
    Watch metal content on the Metal Trenches YouTube Channel.
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