WOODS OF YPRES: 'We Are Stronger Than Ever'

Earache Records has announced the signing of the Canadian cult metal act WOODS OF YPRES.

Formed in 2002, WOODS OF YPRES has earned critical acclaim for its ever-evolving, envelope-pushing mix of blackened doom metal. Most often compared to bands such as AGALLOCH and TYPE O NEGATIVE, WOODS OF YPRES toe a thin line between the catchy, the artistic and the extreme to create an unmistakable signature sound.

With this signing comes controversy. As many may know, WOODS OF YPRES had previously announced that they were disbanding so why would Earache sign a defunct act? Truth is, the band never really broke up to begin with. Let frontman David Gold explain his side of things:

"After eight long years of pushing forward, recording five albums and going on multiple tours as an independent band, we are very proud to announce that we have finally signed WOODS OF YPRES to Earache Records.

"To address the rumors (some that we ran with and some that we started ourselves),WOODS OF YPRES never actually broke up/disbanded/quit/ended, at all. Allow me to explain.

"We just released the massive 'W4: The Green Album' late last year (not even a year ago yet!),toured North America this past summer and then in August, we recorded our fifth album, 'Woods 5: You Were the Light'.

"We've always been gluttons for pain and punishment in this band, and we've put ourselves through some hellishly busy years while keeping this band alive (not even considering all the side projects the guys and I have done during the same time!). Being the black and 'true doom' artists that we are, we simply couldn't resist the urge to take advantage of the opportunity to experiment with the drama and reaction to the news that we finally, unexpectedly and mysteriously decided to give up after all this time, after all that momentum, after coming this far.

"Putting an end to WOODS OF YPRES, after all it's been through, would be the saddest and most unfair thing we could ever do to this band and our supporters. I also think it was important for us, the band, to imagine and realize how it would feel, if it were true, if we did decide to finally call it quits when things were just starting to happen. Offering the news of our demise was also the most satisfying false sense of temporary satisfaction we could possibly give to our many haters who've been hoping that we'd finally quit for years, of whose lost spirits we can now continue to crush with the announcement of our signing to the mighty Earache Records!

"So WOODS OF YPRES never broke up, and we are, in fact, finally, stronger than ever. However, at the end of August of this year, I did move to Kuwait for work. I am here now, in the desert, working. When I come home (maybe sooner than expected),we will finally have the opportunity for a fresh start for a new era of the band and a redefinition of the WOODS OF YPRES sound!

"'W5' is the end of our 'indy' career and also the start of our 'pro' career with Earache.

"The opportunity to write and record 'W6' in collaboration with Earache is the most exciting opportunity this band has ever had and I can already say that it will be our finest work. In the meantime, we intend to tour, hard, everywhere! Contact your local promoters and tell them to bring us to town!

"This band will never quit. All the best is still yet to come.

"On behalf of the band, Evan, Shane and Joel, thank you for all your kind wishes of congratulations now, and especially for all your support and encouragement throughout these last eight years!"

"Woods 5" and reissues of WOODS OF YPRES's entire catalog will be out on Earache Records in 2011.

WOODS OF YPRES is:

David Gold - Vocals/Guitar
Evan Madden - Drums
Shane Madden - Bass
Joel Violette - Lead Guitar