Two Tales of Woe: 20 Years of Brotherhood!

IED
Nov 28
5 min read

For two decades, Two Tales of Woe has stood as an unyielding pillar of Dublin's heavy music community. They are survivors, veterans of countless storms, who have carved their legacy not with commercial ambition, but with a sheer, stubborn dedication to crafting brutally honest, cathartic sludge-doom metal.

Now, after 20 years of evolution and resilience, the band's strongest-ever lineup is launching into its next chapter with a brand new two-track digital release: the aptly titled EP, 'Two Tales', is OUT NOW!

The New Chapter: 'Two Tales' EP

The new two-track digital-only release, 'Two Tales', brings the band full-circle, nodding to their foundational mission. Recorded with Michael Richards at Trackmix Studios, the EP showcases the unique, dual nature of their long-running sonic journey.

The tracks are:

"Grinding Down"
"Sleeping with Swords"

The band is excited by the dynamic nature of the release, noting, "The two songs... have very different yet familiar flavours. One song in particular harks back to our earlier sound, which has been a pleasant surprise." It is a two-song statement that perfectly encapsulates the current band's philosophy: constantly evolving while staying true to the heavy, groove-laden DNA they started with.

The name, 'Two Tales of Woe', was originally a literal mission statement: release two EPs and call it a day. That plan was gloriously scuttled when founding member and vocalist Carl King was rejected from his main band at the time, turning the side-project into a permanent entity.

"All we wanted to do," Carl recalls of the start, "was go in and drink beer, and then we'd have jams and play music that was tuned down low."

What followed was a masterclass in evolution. From the "real, eerie, epic, low-tuned riffs" of their earliest days to incorporating elements of Southern rock and, eventually, a darker, more mature sound, the band’s identity has remained intact thanks to one simple rule: "Play whatever you want, once it still kind of has the identity of Two Tales of Woe," as Carl has always maintained.

The Two Tales of Woe of today is built on a definitive, five-man brotherhood. Vocalist Carl King (founder), guitarist Dan Walsh (joined 2011), guitarist Ed Brophy (joined 2019), bassist Gordo Casey (joined 2022), and drummer Matthew McKenna (joined 2022) are universally described as the most solid and collaborative lineup yet. There is a palpable sense of chemistry and mutual respect that radiates from their conversation, forged in a shared history. As Carl puts it, the band is his necessity: "This is my therapy. I don't write music for anyone else... it's basically all the negative shit that we live with coming out in those lyrics. When I can sing to some amazing music that the lads write, that makes my pain go away, essentially." It is this profound sense of personal catharsis, shared by all members, that fuels their crushing live shows and their current creative output.

Let's meet the individual artists who collectively forge a sound built on decades of passion, pain, and perseverance.

Carl King – The Voice, The Founder

Every story has a beginning, and for Two Tales of Woe, that beginning is Carl King. As the sole remaining original member from its inception in 2004, Carl is the band’s anchor and its historian. He speaks of the band’s origins not as a quest for glory, but as a necessary creative outlet. His influences aren't other melodic singers, but icons of raw expression like Henry Rollins for performance and Jim Morrison for lyrical delivery. His instrument isn't a guitar or a drum; it's the very pain he channels into his lyrics.

Dan Walsh – The Riff-Lord, The Veteran

Having joined in 2011, guitarist Dan Walsh is the longest-serving member next to Carl, a bridge between the band’s past and its powerful present. His playing is steeped in the DNA of metal’s most iconic groove-masters – Dimebag Darrell and Kirk Windstein are key inspirations. To conjure his signature sound, Dan relies on a setup built for pure power and low-end dominance: colossal 15-76 gauge strings and a Randall V2 head paired with an Orange cabinet. For Dan, the gear serves one purpose: to translate his internal groove into an external, cathartic force. "It's a vocabulary of no words," he muses. "It is a process of healing old wounds."

Ed Brophy – The Architect, The Teacher

A professional guitar teacher by day, Ed Brophy joined the fold around 2019, bringing with him a thoughtful and architectural approach to songwriting. His musical awakening wasn't just nu-metal; it was seeing Steve Cropper and Matt Murphy in The Blues Brothers. Ed’s collaborative writing process is a cornerstone of the current lineup's chemistry. His gear is meticulously chosen to complement the band's down-tuned sound (A-standard tuning), using Ernie Ball baritone strings and an esoteric, "fucking fantastic" AMT Stonehead amp.

Gordo Casey – The Foundation, The Fan

Every band needs a story that feels like it was pulled from a rock and roll fantasy, and for Woe, that story belongs to bassist Gordo Casey. Before he joined in 2022, he was a genuine fan, having snuck into a local metal venue at 16 just to see Two Tales of Woe. His roots are in the low end, a fate sealed when he asked for a guitar for Christmas and received a bass. Gordo is a left-handed player, and his rig is built for grit: a Fender Bronco bass tuned to A-D-G-C, and the secret to his sound, a Big Muff Pi pedal for "really hairy, dirty distortion."

Matthew McKenna - The Engine, The Catalyst

The final pillar of the current lineup is drummer Matthew "Matty" McKenna, who joined in the summer of 2022 and immediately solidified the band's chemistry. His story is one of rediscovery; after a pandemic-induced hiatus, a call from Carl pulled him back in. Influenced by the percussive titans of Metallica, Mastodon, Fear Factory, and Meshuggah, Matty provides the powerful and nuanced engine that drives the band. While his kit is "mostly standard," he emphasizes, "Chemistry with the people you're playing with is possibly the most important thing... otherwise, it could be a band full of virtuosos and it sounds like a fucking car crash."

In Two Tales of Woe, there are no car crashes. There is only a perfectly tuned, five-man engine of heavy, satisfying, and brutally honest music. This five-man engine, perfectly tuned and bristling with confidence, proves that after 20 years, Two Tales of Woe is not just surviving, it's thriving. The new EP, 'Two Tales,' is a powerful statement and a promise that the best and heaviest material is yet to come.

Two Tales of Woe's new two-track digital release, 'Two Tales', is OUT NOW.

Stream the new songs, share them, and make sure to follow the band at the links below to keep up with news and upcoming gigs.