Moving into the single digits, we travel from the whimsical sands of the Middle East to the abrasive, wintry tundra of Scandinavia.
#9
Soilwork - The Panic Broadcast
Talking to Bjorn “Speed” Strid earlier this year he noted that the return of founding guitarist Peter Wichers re-invigorated the band; after a few repeat listens it becomes starkly apparent. The guitars are tighter – Wichers and Courdet attain a certain synergy with their leadwork. Under Wichers’ wise direction, the band have ceased to smash out sharp, to-the-point (and often forgettable) riffs, they now pen intricate, cohesive and enjoyable songs. Strid’s clean and death vocals are imbued with a passion and fire that exceeds expectations. Even the Todd MacFarlanesque cover and booklet has been given due care – it’s as if the band have poured their all into this batch of songs and want the rest of the world to know.
Most of the melodic death metal greats are struggling to repeat their past successes and have succumbed to commercialism, laziness or some kind of unfortunate amalgam of the two. Wichers’ time away from the band has done the whole a world of good. The record has the muscular vigor of youth discovering metal for the first time and the nuance of veteran metalheads teasing all they can from the genre and patiently adding to the canon. It’s a complete package – there’s almost no filler, there’s no placating to trends – it’s unashamedly and authentically Soilwork. Their brand is their mark of quality and it speaks for itself.
Most of the melodic death metal greats are struggling to repeat their past successes and have succumbed to commercialism, laziness or some kind of unfortunate amalgam of the two. Wichers’ time away from the band has done the whole a world of good. The record has the muscular vigor of youth discovering metal for the first time and the nuance of veteran metalheads teasing all they can from the genre and patiently adding to the canon. It’s a complete package – there’s almost no filler, there’s no placating to trends – it’s unashamedly and authentically Soilwork. Their brand is their mark of quality and it speaks for itself.
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