WOODZ’s [Archive. 1] Is a Game-Changer
WOODZ is back with his full album [Archive. 1]. The album features seventeen outstanding tracks that cover a multitude of alternative rock genres, all produced by WOODZ. With two outstanding pre-releases, “Bloodline” and “Cinema”, WOODZ has been teasing his long-awaited return to the music industry. With impressive experimentation and heartfelt raw lyricism, his album testifies to WOODZ’s growth as an artist and performer.
Along with the album, WOODZ released a music video for ‘Human Extinction.’ It highlights the contrast in humanity, with an allusion to literal light and darkness. It follows the stories of two people who are battling depression, but eventually are influenced by the light and find better lives. WOODZ represents light, and he wears an all-white ensemble. He guides the two characters to finding help, whether it be through community aid or finding beauty within oneself. The final credits read “When the LIGHT reaches you NOTHING remains concealed Not even the DARKNESS you call your own.” Despite the pains of everyday life, people are guided from it, no matter how hard they cling to the familiarity of darkness that they’ve found comfort in. The song is hard-hitting with a gorgeous melody showcased through punchy guitar, steady bass, overbearing drums, and WOODZ’s signature distorted vocals. The guitar melody creates a feeling of chaos as it constantly changes right when you think you can predict the next note. The lyrics, “We won’t outlast. We are all the same. Can’t be free. Human extinction,” highlight how we all succumb to our own version of darkness, thus resulting in an overall human extinction. Overall, the song truly shows the unpredictability of life through its jarring melodies and lyrics.
“Dayfly” is a testament to freedom. WOODZ relates his life to one of a dayfly’s- extremely short but filled with energy. He sings about how life could end tomorrow, so he wants to live every day like it's his last. The more people judge his lifestyle and beat him down, the more he wants to continue to be free. He sings, “I am a dayfly, even if I burn to death, I must reach out my hand and see that place.” Even if freedom comes at the cost of his own life, it's a worthy sacrifice to truly live. The track leans more towards indie, creating a nice contrast from the overall rock-heavy tracklist.
“Bloodline” is WOODZ's tribute to the rock and roll that inspired him to create. With lyrical references to rock hits such as “Crazy train, purple rain back in black paradise,” WOODZ spotlights bands like AC/DC and Guns N’ Roses. He claims the rock and roll influences are in his bloodline through passionate vocals and intense electric guitar.
The track “Plastic” touches on WOODZ’s clashing thoughts regarding his fame. If one wants to be compensated for their art, they have to reach out to their community to find support. But in WOODZ’s case, the community has grown in a way he did not anticipate. Although he aimed to have his work appreciated on a larger scale, the pressure and anxiety that come with being watched plague his mental health. “Chasin' it too far, I thought I'd hold it and feel fine, But it bent me in ways I can't define.” These lyrics show how he has been bent like plastic, easily succumbing to the pressure of being watched. The lyrics for “Plastic” give us a raw look into the glorified life of a popular artist.
WOODZ touches on a myriad of topics within his album and impressively highlights mental health in a society that stigmatizes these issues. The album touches on the realities of depression and freedom, and how the two juxtapose one another, yet somehow create a symbiotic relationship at times. As feelings of depression leave one with adverse and apathetic feelings for their own life, they realize that nothing truly matters, therefore creating a feeling of freedom to do whatever they please. His lyrics are unabashedly raw and real, which suits his raw rock instrumentals. WOODZ is a breath of fresh air for Korean rock and indie. This album will be on heavy rotation for years to come, and I can’t wait to see what he does next.
Written by Taylor McKay