Numbers (Woe, Is Me album)


Number is the debut album by American metalcore band, Woe, Is Me, released on August 30, 2010 through Rise Records and its imprint division, Velocity. A re-release of the record was released on July 16, 2012 with Andrew Paiano and Hance Alligood due to the departure of Tim Sherrill and Tyler Carter. It was the only album to feature the original line-up after conflicts within the band. Number was produced by Cameron Mizell in his Orlando, Florida hometown.

Release and deluxe reissue

Upon the release of Number, it charted at number 16 on Billboards Top Heatseekers chart, selling 1,700 copies in its first week. Two songs were released before the album itself: " Delinquents" on July 29, 2010, and "Mannequin Religion" on August 20, 2010. The demo versions of three songs, "Hell, or High Water", "If Not, for Ourselves", and "I." had also been previously released. It is the last album to feature lead guitarist Tim Sherrill, given his departure from the band during the following year, as well as vocalist Tyler Carter, given his departure from the band in August 2011. A re-issue of the album released July 17, 2012 featuring new vocalist Hance Alligood and former vocalist Michael Bohn as current vocalist. Doriano Magliano was yet to join the band at the time of its recording.

Reception

The album gained mixed to positive reception from critics, with Lexington Music Press saying that it "certainly gets better and better as it plays through and tries more out with its formula." However, they said that the during the first half of the album, "several songs share the same basic formula, keeping them from reaching the potential heights they could." The apparent stand out song was "Hell, or High Water", as they said it included "stand out and memorable moments, such as the hauntingly beautiful bridge." The review closed positively, saying that Number was "quite an explosive debut that will surely help Woe, Is Me rise the ranks quickly."
Max Grundström of Corezine also gave the album a highly praising review, saying that he was "expecting Woe, Is Me to be another run-of-the-mill, whiny post-hardcore band", but that his "mind was blown when started listening to the intro." He said that they "mix catchy verses and bridges with bone crushing breakdowns, and even though it’s often encountered in modern metalcore/post-hardcore, Woe, Is Me succeed in keeping it fresh." He essentially closes the review with: "In a sea with similar acts Woe, Is Me somewhat drift with the other debris, but still manages to stay afloat."
Ryan Gardner, a writer at AbsolutePunk, gave the album a mostly positive review, saying that "Number effectively combines elements found in bands such as labelmates In Fear and Faith and even Emarosa in the clean singing department; the clean vocals are spot on, the screams well placed, and the musicianship is definitely there." He used tracks " Delinquents" and "Keep Your Enemies Close" to state that "Michael Bohn can surely scream", and said that he believed "I" "switches back and forth from Woe, Is Me's heaviest material to their most melodic, featuring some of the best lyrics on Number." He closed the review with

Track listing

Personnel

;Woe, Is Me line-up on standard issue
;Woe, Is Me line-up on re-issue
;Additional musicians
;Production