Genesi[s]

Personnel: Hance Alligood, Doriano Magliano (vocals); Andrew Paiano, Kevin Hanson (guitar); Austin Thornton (drums).
Audio Mixer: Cameron Mizell.
Recording information: Chango Studios.
Metalcore band Woe, Is Me find their footing again on Genesi[s], their first album after a shakeup saw them bring four new members on board. For the most part, the band plays things close to the vest, focusing on tight playing and solid songwriting over more adventurous guitar heroics. While the album doesn't show a whole lot in the way of growth, it does represent a rebirth of a sort for the band, and while the album doesn't find them expanding their sound significantly, it does feel more like a steadying of the ship than damage control. Despite everything that's happened to the band, what's really important here is that Genesi[s] is a pretty solid album, and it's one that fans of the band's debut will be able to dig into for more of the emotion, aggression, and catharsis that brought them to Woe, Is Me in the first place. ~ Gregory Heaney