Canadian blackened doom metallers WOODS OF YPRES have recently finished recording their forthcoming new album, Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light, at Beach Road Studios in Ontario, Canada, with producer Siegfried Meier.

Frontman David Gold took some time to discuss a new era for the band as they prepare for their first new album since signing to Earache Records:

"W4: The Green Album was the first true Woods Of Ypres album, the three before it were prequels, W5: Grey Skies & Electric Light is the sequel and Woods 4.5: You Were the Light was the preview before the sequel. However, unlike the movies, this W5 sequel is the best one yet! Drawing inspiration and influence from some of our favourite albums, the best of the Woods Of Ypres sound was created, selected, refined and perfected into our best self-contained, stand-alone songs to date, while still maintaining the flow of an ongoing concept as a WoY album should, however, with less art, less expressionism and more of what you want when you want it.

"W5 is a tighter, more effective Woods Of Ypres for a broader audience of listeners young and old, new and loyal. A satisfying 'press play and drive' kind of album drawing the best from old Woods, current Woods and the Woods yet to come on what will be a milestone album, our sixth in less than 10 years and nearing the 10th anniversary of the founding of the band. We've never sounded better and we'd never been fully satisfied with any recording, until now.

"10 songs, just as much about modern life as death, existence, society, the forest, the city, hurt and love. Story wise, picking up where Woods 4 and 4.5 left off, sound wise evoking the feelings of Woods I: Against the Seasons - Cold Winter Songs from the Dead Summer Heat and Woods III: Deepest Roots & Darkest Blues with modern and futuristic tweaks. There is black metal, there is doom, there are ballads, there is pop, guitar solos, double bass, blasts, techno, dark humour, irony, reality, harmonies, uplifting hope to get you through the moment and crushing, irreversible sadness. I count a total of 7 genres in 10 songs. It's a new Woods Of Ypres album and I can't wait wait for you to hear it!"

The new album is due for release in 2012. Further details to follow.