Metal Reviews

You're welcome to comment on:


Click here to see the review.

If it is indeed as good as you say it is then I have to check this out. I was still hesitating before reading this, since IMO Sworn to a Great Divide was a bit of a disappointment. At first it was quite good but it got old really fast.
I also noted that you mentioned the music is more technical. Peter Wichers said in an interview that that was something he felt was lacking on the previous album and he wanted to do something about that. I never expected him to actually pull it off though.

It's still Soilwork doing their catchy thang, don't go in expecting Gorod or anything. But yes, this is a massive improvement in instrumentation and songwriting, and deserves a chance from everyone who'd written them off.

Even if we thought Chainheart Machine was only passable?

Haha, well in that case you're beyond redemption, I'm afraid.

I think this is just flat out boring. It has no balls to it at all. It just sounds flat. None of the songs really grab me. I enjoyed everything through Stabbing the Drama, but these past 2 have been pretty uninspired.

Still trying to decide if I'm going to go see them live on Monday. I haven't been able to go to many concerts while living in Arkansas, but now that I'm moving back to Phoenix I'll have plenty of opportunities. Don't really feel like wasting money on this though.

I'm sold. I'll have a listen.

Most likely count me out too then.

Are all the songs structures the pop song verse/chorus style they are so fond of playing?

Cool guitar playing on this but Strid's scream is sounding really really bad these days. Singing isn't too hot either, seems to jump between being way too rough and way too clean. Probably will give it a closer listen tomorrow or smth.

I listened to this all they way through last night, and I actually quite like it. I think Zad's score is about right.

I want this album.

I refuse to believe this is anywhere near an 85. I've read reviews on other sites that seem to read more as I'd see this album playing out. We'll see what happens, though.

And somehow Stabbing the Drama got a 79 as well. Jebus.

Just don't think about individual ratings and you'll better off for it. We all know Soilwork is essentially heavy pop music, and that bothers most of us not named Adveser.

If this is in the same quality ballpark as Natural Born Chaos, I will definitely like it.

This is decent I'll give you that. Nothing I'd listen to the hell a lot but I would put this on sometimes, when I'm occupied with something else and need an easy listen. Definitely some catchy tunes here. Not many though.

Not happenin'. I wish they'd put albums out still with that quality.

Soilwork's best work has come with Natural Born Chaos and after. The stuff before was great, but it had no identity. Despite their slight shift in direction, they now have their own unique identity.

Before Natural Born Chaos, they were just another melodeath band, doing the same thing countless other bands were doing. I'm glad they branched out, like In Flames did.

I haven't heard this one, though. But I'm sure I'll dig it.

I've no problems with them trying to explore a new sound but what they're doing just doesn't work for me. It's a shame. Used to really love these guys. Thankfully I got to see them coming off of Figure Number Five before they went entirely in this new direction, with In Flames too, actually, and that was a hell of a show.

I'm not like expecting them to go back to their roots but I'd like something different than this.

This is different, though. You must be able to hear a more melodic and technical style than they've used on the past couple of albums, surely? That plus great songwriting equals high score. I'm sorry it's not bona fide Prog Melodeath, but for a Soilwork album this is grand stuff and easily their best since NBC, as I said.

I mean I'd like something different than what they are doing.