apanthropy

Wode
Uncrossing the Keys
20 Buck Spin
To Be Released: 10/3/25

Rating: 80/100

“Wode have fashioned an ironclad record with ‘Uncrossing the Keys‘, establishing themselves as Autumn’s forerunners in melodic black metal. The masterfully executed use of lead melodies allows ‘Uncrossing the Keys‘ to not necessarily hide behind high tempos or odd production qualities that many modern black metal records otherwise would.“

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1 – Two Crossed Keys
2 – Under Lanternlight
3 – Saturn Shadow
4 – Transmutation
5 – Prisoner of the Moon
6 – Fiery End
7 – Lash of the Tyrant
8 – Phantom
9 – Dashed on the Rocks
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Black metal has evolved into many different forms throughout its history, taking unlimited shapes, with no extremes left unexplored. The English four-piece Wode embody a mystical occult approach to mid-tempo black metal, leaning heavily into elaborate single-note melodies and harmonizations, providing sinew to more compact, aggressive chord sequences. At times, occult heavy metal, at other times, feverish black metal, like a blend of the early Czech and Greek scenes, fusing Master’s Hammer, Rotting Christ, Medieval Demon, Root, and others together into a pale specter of audio contamination.

Uncrossing the Keys is the fourth and newest full-length from Wode, set to be released on October 3rd through 20 Buck Spin. With nine new tracks, clocking in at nearly 43 minutes of diabolic liturgies, Wode explore an expanse of melodic phrases and heavy metal-tinged black metal execution.

‘Two Crossed Keys’ opens the record with galloping drums and a stark, engaging, and well-crafted single-note melody. Rhythm guitars grind through heavily tense passages, cutting back to the intro riff to resolve, forming a perfect circle of ritualistic sensations. Bridge sections captivate with layered melodies and dense audio detail, lead work flashes throughout like lightning in the summer night sky.

Stripped down riffs and prominent melodies propel ‘Under Lanternlight,’ a traditional heavy metal-minded composition fused with modern black metal. Driving rhythms dominate verses, melodic lines intersect throughout, and the tasteful construction of the song produces many hooks.

The use of driving rhythms and simple but dominant lead melodies feels like a distinctively English approach to songwriting, going as far back as the early days of NWOBHM. Expansive mid-tempo tracks such as ‘Saturn Shadow,’ ‘Transmutation,’ and ‘Prisoner of the Moon’ allow the band to explore that concept to the fullest, with melodic leanings found in nearly every verse, chorus, and bridge. The interaction between rhythm and lead is authentic and almost relaxed feeling, these are musicians that have a great chemistry with one another.

Heavy hitters such as ‘Fiery End’ and ‘Dashed on the Rocks’ are the sonic equivalent of a wolf baring its teeth, the hard charging nature of the tracks show every facet from the melodic to the dissonant, passive to aggressive. ‘Dashed on the Rocks’ in particular is a nasty piece of blasting black metal fury that gives a proper end to Uncrossing the Keys. Easily reaching some of the fastest tempos on the record, it churns and writhes but still retains the melodic quality present throughout the other tracks. A vicious and fitting end to a record that explores a lot of melodic territory, its contrast is sharp and deliberate, an unpredicted final frontal attack.

The production on Uncrossing the Keys really brings the guitar interaction between rhythm and lead to the forefront. The relationship between the driving rhythms and the melodic flourishes are coupled with a fairly neutral drum presence in terms of volume, the extended fills and pattern alterations off the kit are crisp, abundant, and superb sounding. Vocals are powerful and frontal, at times more savage sounding thanks to multiple tracks stacked on top of each other.

Wode have fashioned an ironclad record with Uncrossing the Keys, establishing themselves as Autumn’s forerunners in melodic black metal. The masterfully executed use of lead melodies allows Uncrossing the Keys to not necessarily hide behind high tempos or odd production qualities that many modern black metal records otherwise would. Simplistic and engaging riff work is laden with emotion and hooks, compositions focused on traditional heavy metal are tastefully laid out, and the gauntlet of ritualistic fury from song to song is sure to please any fan of modern black metal.

Label: 20 Buck Spin
Band: Wode

AJK