Woods of Ypres were a Canadian blackened doom metal band from Ontario.
Career
Woods of Ypres was formed in Windsor, Ontario in 2002 by David Gold, Aaron Palmer, and Brian McManus.
The band released their first EP, Against the Seasons: Cold Winter Songs from the Dead Summer Heat, in October 2002. In December, the band would move to Toronto to work on their first full-length album. Through Gold's record label, Krankenhaus Records, the band released their first full-length album, Pursuit of the Sun & Allure of the Earth on August 14, 2004. Their third album, Woods III: The Deepest Roots and Darkest Blues, was released on January 5, 2008.
After Gold returned from a work stint in South Korea, he moved the band to his hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario in 2008. They then began working on their fourth album, Woods IV: The Green Album the next year. The album was released on November 13th, 2009. On October 18, 2010, the band signed with Earache Records. Woods IV: The Green Album was reissued through Earache Records in March 2011 .
On June 9, 2011, the band played their last concert in Richmond, Virginia. On December 21, 2011, frontman David Gold was involved in a car accident near Barrie, Ontario and died. The band would release their fifth and last studio album, Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light on February 27, 2012 in Europe and on April 16, 2012 in North America. On April 20, 2013, the band won a Juno Award for Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year for Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light.
Band members
Final line-up
David Gold — Vocals, guitars, bass, drums, keyboards (2002–2011) (†) Joel Violette — Lead guitar, studio bass (2010–2011) Brendan Hayter — Bass (2011) Rae Amitay — Drums (2011)
Former
Brian McManus — guitar, vocals (2002) Aaron Palmer — bass, vocals (2002–2003) Robin Cross — vocals (2003) Dustin Black — guitars (2003) Colin Wysman — guitars (2003) Chris Jones — vocals (2003-2004) Mark Beshai — guitars (2003-2004) Steve Jones — guitars (2003–2004) Jordan Buryj — guitars (2003–2004) Connor Sharpe — bass (2003–2004) Jessica Rose — keyboards (2004–2007) Dan Hulse — bass guitar, vocals (2005–2007) Chris "Mezz" Mezzabotta — drums (2005–2007) Shawn Stoneman — guitars (2007) Evan Madden — drums (2008–2011) Lee Maines — guitars (2008) Brian Holmes — keyboards (2008) Steve Furgiuele — bass (2008–2009) Bryan Belleau — guitar (2008–2010) Shane Madden — bass (2009-2011)
Discography
Full length albums
Pursuit of the Sun & Allure of the Earth (2004) Woods III: The Deepest Roots and Darkest Blues (2008) Woods IV: The Green Album (2009) Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light (2012)
Extended plays
Against the Seasons: Cold Winter Songs from the Dead Summer Heat (2002)