Woes are set to release their debut album Awful Truth, a hotly-anticipated, 10 track long record due on Friday 28 June on UNFD. The music video for ‘Money Shoe’ was released 1 May, defining Woes’ unique sound – a blend of pop-punk, hip hop and R&B.
Vocalist DJ divulges how ‘Money Shoe’ defines their sound:
“I think it’s the most honest and complete representation of what we want to sound like, it has elements of pop-punk, hip hop, prog-metal, R&B and flows between them super naturally. The song is about being broke and wanting to use music to provide a better life for your loved ones. We approached it with a perspective that matches up more closely with what you would expect from a rapper rather than a pop-punk band, which gave us some real stand-out lyrics to go along with the music.”
‘Money Shoe’ follows previous single ‘Suburbs’, another track set to feature on Awful Truth. The album was produced by Seb Barlow (Neck Deep, ESTR, Roam) and also debuts Luke Bovill, an additional guitarist to the now four-piece band.
The Awful Truth album has an unmatched fluidity from track-to-track, taking the listener on an emotional journey. Tracks such as ‘Fake Friends’ and ‘Ugly’, which begin with a mellow, stripped back beat, combined with punchy pop-punk realness in the chorus, to more typical tracks of the pop-punk genre like song ‘Awful Truth’ or ‘Gone Forever’ really effectively represent the breadth of stylisation on the album. Though following a distinct pop-punk genre predominantly, each song narrates its own message of Woes’ story, while incorporating key elements of the hip-hop and R&B genres.
The story behind the track list for Awful Truth focuses on the band’s rocky journey of crafting the album itself. It tackles relationships back home, to money troubles. All the highs and lows – the ‘duality of that experience’ DJ even states.
Personal highlights from Awful Truth include ‘Mess’ and ‘Ugly’. The lyrics to ‘Mess’ are particularly gripping and easy to chant along to at a gig. One could imagine ‘Mess’ was made for mosh-pit madness, especially when the chorus eventually kicks in. The pace builds to a thrilling climax and the guitar really carries this track. ‘Ugly’ stands out for all the right reasons, this was made to close the album, taking its place as track 10 out of 10. The heavy drumbeat carries the listener along a steady current, before thrusting them into the rapids of the grungy and almost emo-reminiscent hook. The story conveyed through the lyrics feels like an appropriate fizz of torn emotions to wrap-up this creative concoction of well-produced tracks.
Awful Truth follows last year’s acclaimed Self Help EP, which catapulted the four-piece into the eyes of coveted UK rock press (KKKK – Kerrang!, “Bold” – Rock Sound, 9/10 –Discovered.) This landed the band a packed touring schedule, with highlights including supporting Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, State Champs and Seaway and appearing at 2000 Trees, Download UK and Slam Dunk.
With new music ready to showcase, Woes are raring to hit the road again. They’re currently on the road with Millencollin and are set to headline across the UK in June. They will support Trash Boat across the UK in September.
TRACK LISTING
- ‘Boy’
- ‘Fake Friends’
- ‘Fancy’
- ‘Money Shoe’
- ‘Awful Truth’
- ‘Suburbs’
- ‘Mess’
- ‘Cross’
- ‘Gone Forever’
- ‘Ugly’