Review Summary: Soilwork's latest consummation is a sight to behold.
I wasn't very familiar with Soilwork prior to hearing this album, but I knew they had what so many of their contemporaries lacked - consistency. Frontman of 20 years Bjorn Strid brings everything but the kitchen sink to the table; pleasant cleans and vicious uncleans that really drive this brutal attack of a Swedish metal suit. Guitarists David Anderson and Sylvain Coudret do more than just abuse the occasional chug. The masterful instrumentation can be heard through and through, and seeing as the name Soilwork means "from the ground up", it is quite evident that their latest album is their best to date.
This powerfully energetic eleven-track effort opens with its eponymous track, and the darker and brooding tone is existent within seconds. ("From the deepest of waters to a burning sky/I've been dragged through golden aisles of everyday malice") "Death in General" opens with an excellent solo from Anderson, which leads into crooning cleans from Strid. Standard "death" metal conventions take a back seat to a mature, consummate and hard hitter of an album that breaks down all the walls that have ever held this group back before. And especially for a genre that rarely utilizes clean vocals and guitar solos as frequently as Soilwork does, while still incorporating the nuances that their contemporaries encompass, it's easy to see why these guys are such a wanted commodity.
"Enemies of Fidelity" is another track that epitomizes the overall darker vibe of the album. A clandestine riff opens the track and progresses with Strid's vocals that represent a candid and introspective lyrical approach. ("Meant to soar/I tend to rival as you make amends/To the core/You know we were meant to be something more.") A delicate and intricate approach to penning these eleven tracks really effectuates the standard of this record, as Soilwork practically goes for broke, rather than succumbing to generic death metal fare.
I must know; who can't find the appeal in the grandiose and progressive identity of "The Phantom?" Here, Anderson tries a bit of chugging, though it's a short-lived affair as his masterful riffs immediately resurface to back up Strid and his cohorts to create what is arguably the album of the year. "Shining Lights" throws a bit of alternative metal into the mix with an opening solo from Anderson, followed by chugs, and then another riff. His riff library is quite extensive and this makes him one of the genre's best guitarists, and in that same light, Strid is one the genre's best and most skilled vocalists. Able to do many things and do them well, Soilwork indeed has laid the ground work for the future of the genre. Aforementioned, standard death metal conventions are almost nonexistent here, and after this outstanding effort, their contemporaries and peers will kiss the ground they walk on.
Long story short, ladies and gentlemen, there have been a lot of albums this year that simply wasted the time I gave to listen to them, but this album is forty nine minutes of my life I wish I could have back.
