Four albums in, Wode are still proving why they remain one of the most exciting bands in the UK’s extreme metal underground. Keeping the momentum going from 2021’s Burn in Many Mirrors, which brought a leap in exposure and pushed their sound into broader view, was always going to be a challenge. Uncrossing the Keys shows the Mancunians have not only met that challenge, but embraced it with relish, sharpening everything that made them stand out in the first place.
This is an album dripping in atmosphere, but not in the usual black metal sense. There are no symphonics, no shimmering expanses, no wide-open, ethereal vistas. Wode are not an atmospheric black metal band, and this is not an atmospheric black metal album. The atmosphere here is something far more sinister and claustrophobic. Where others conjure vast mountain ranges, frozen forests, and desolate cosmic panoramas, Wode give us the city, its shadows, its grime, its menace. The sound here is the seedy underbelly of a sprawling metropolis, a sense of being stalked through alleyways and backstreets, the hiss of neon and the stench of decay thick in the air. It’s urban rot made flesh, and it suits them perfectly.
The riffs bite hard, sharp and purposeful, delivered with a precision that makes every moment feel urgent. There’s a swing to their attack that keeps the record exhilarating even at its most violent, a kind of devilish groove underpinning the ferocity. The melodies are just as striking: not grandiose, not overly ornamented, but crisp, cutting, and memorable, the kind that burrow into your head long after the record has finished. And then there are the drums – furious and relentless, but played with feel, driving everything forward with a swagger that keeps the chaos controlled.
It’s in the pacing, too, where Uncrossing the Keys shows its craft. Wode know when to let a riff breathe, when to push the tempo into overdrive, and when to sit back into that menacing sway that gives their sound its character. The result is an album that’s dynamic without ever feeling disjointed, a record that keeps pulling you deeper into its world of smoke and shadows. It has a real traditional heavy metal sensibility to it as well, the rolling, galloping rhythms intertwined with twin-guitar attacks in places giving the music a sense of life and fire beyond pure extremity.
Now, it has to be said, this isn’t a flawless or groundbreaking record. Wode aren’t reinventing the wheel here, and Uncrossing the Keys doesn’t necessarily offer anything startlingly new. But what it does, it does to a very high standard. The execution, the songwriting, and the atmosphere are all dialed in, and the result is an album that feels purposeful, sharp, and confident. It’s less about breaking barriers, more about refining their craft and stamping their identity onto every track.
The strength of Uncrossing the Keys lies in its consistency and atmosphere. Wode aren’t interested in throwing in experiments that don’t fit or padding things out—they stick to their strengths and deliver them with conviction. The more interesting passages are given space to shine, while the whole thing remains lean and impactful. That balance—tight yet expressive—is what makes the record such a satisfying listen.
The U.K.’s extreme scene has arguably never been stronger, and Wode are absolutely one of its shining lights. Uncrossing the Keys doesn’t need to be a mind-blowing reinvention to make its mark. It’s a record built on craft, energy, and an atmosphere that’s entirely their own. A really good, thoroughly enjoyable listen from a band who continue to carve out their place in the underground with confidence and style.