Metal Mondays with Corey Spetifore

Track Review: Wovenwar, "The Mason"

By Corey Spetifore

Before the fires of “All Rise” had a chance to fade away, Wovenwar has unleashed another inferno with the release of their second single, “The Mason.” Weighing in at just over 4 minutes long, the supergroup’s latest track is a delightfully relentless and creative piece of work, carrying a deeper, darker tone than the aforementioned single yet already demonstrating similarities in overall sound and musical content, which is on a fast track to becoming a signature sound for this group of fine musicians.

More or less, this song is a battle cry telling an all-too familiar tale of defeat, loss, and despair, and the reality of overcoming these personal demons. Wovenwar immediately attacks with suspenseful ferocity, displaying a grooving, arpeggiated riffing of all instruments that gives way to a resounding chord progression highlighted by the lead guitar’s artfully applied licks. Similar to “All Rise,” “The Mason” briefly backs off for the entrance of the vocal line, and reloads for the next round of ammunition to be fired in the pre-chorus. “And I, I have caved in,” chants Blay, “but I’m building from the wreckage,” lyrics which – intended or not – subtly and respectfully salute the remains of As I Lay Dying from which Blay’s fellow musicians have risen after the shocking conviction of ex-vocalist Tim Lambesis. The chorus borrows the same riff as found in the intro but also houses a second vocal line accompanying a steady, even-measured lead vocal. What makes this track stand out, however, is the amount of numerous small details tucked away here and there as the song progresses. The second pre-chorus is capped off by an articulate descending rhythm guitar and bass which slides effortlessly into the second chorus, which is not only longer than the first but also contains a more exacerbated lead melody. This continually building sense of emotion is further developed through a texturized bridge of 32^nd-note strumming and finally released in a cut-time, head-banging breakdown, accompanied by no more than two screamed syllables, adding to the effect of desperation the song aims for. The final chorus again switches up its lead melody as preparation for an otherwise unexpected and modulated outro, leaving the listener in awe of the uncanny combination of near-mathematical songwriting and elements of spontaneity. With adept musicality and finesse, “The Mason” has laid the ideal foundation for Wovenwar’s self-titled LP, dropping August 3^rd, 2014.