Soilwork coninutes to pump out new and great albums. They seem to get better and better which each CD. But with the loss of their lead guitarist, it makes one wonder what this Sweedish Death Metal band will come out with next. But all in all, if their new albums arent the greatest- which I doubt, me and im sure many people will have Figure Number Five to fall back on. I wont bore you so lets start with the review.
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Soilwork is:
Bjorn Strid (vocals)
Peter Wichers (guitarist #1)
Ola Frenning (ex-guitarist #2)
Ola FInk (bass)
Sven Karlsson (keyboards)
Richard Evensand (drums)
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The tracks:
1. Rejection Role
2. Overload
3. Figure Number Five
4. Strangler
5. Light The Torch
6. Departure Plan
7. Cranking The Sirens
8. Brickwalker
9. The Mindmaker
10. Distortion Sleep
11. Downfall 24
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The Review:
1 - "Rejection Role") This album kicks off with my favorite Soilwork song, "Rejection Role". With no delay the band jumps into a full assault of well put together drums, bass and guitars. Some cool voice effects are used in the verse and it goes to semi-screaming for the pre-chorus. The chorus is sung normally (and after repeating the above again) is followed by a amazing guitar solo started off by acoustics, then followed by a somewhat slow and melodic tone. 5/5.
2 - "Overload") "Overload" is started out with some beeping and other effects, then breaks into driving drums and giutars followed by Bjorns screamed verse with a fast paced giutar riff. After a pause background effects and more good drum/guitar-work is used for the chorus. The second chorus has a short second part to it that adds to the song's atmosphere. Almost all of Soilwork's songs have solos, this one is no exception except for the fact that its pretty short. After the solo, a short bridge is played with only Bjorn's vocals and some effects. All in all, a decent song. 4/5.
3 - "Figure Number Five") Next is the cd's title track is intro'd with a heavy- not to mention fast paced riff. The song keeps up its speed throughout the verse and chorus and finally slows down for the solo- but not by much. Some phaser keyboard effects are played in the background, then you get some what sounds like guitar syncronizing by Ola and Peter folowed by some catchy riffs. It ends abruptly, but is another pretty good song. 4/5
4 - "Strangler") A guitar riff fades in and like the previous two songs, has a decent speed going, but doesnt sound repeticious that much (except in the verse when it sounds a bit like "Cranking the Sirens"). There is a break from the screaming in the choruses, then comes the solo started out by Bjorn's singing in front of some drums and guitar and is wrapped up with a good bit of shredding, not a bad solo at all. 3.5/5
5 - "Light The Tourch") Effects followed by a single guitar riff then cymbols precede the full band second part of the intro which then leads to the guitar-less verse and the full band chorus. Repeat those a couple of times and your at the kick-ass solo. It starts with mainly guitars and some drums, its the full band, you hear Bjorn's voice singing "This pain will last forever... never go it alone, no body will ever answer, how could you be so cold?". Then comes the guitar riffing and driving and frantic bass drums with a full band assault smoothly leading into the last chorus. Once again, kick ass song. 5/5
6 - "Departure Plan") More of Soilwork's keyboardist effects starts "Departure Plan" off and lead into a slower, calmer almost "rock-ish" verse with feel if you will. Definately a lighter song for these guys, which is a nice break from the past five intence songs. The drums are somewhat muted and the guitars seems to have some kind of flanger (maybe?) effect to it in the verses. A short acoustic interlude starts off the second chorus which then leads us back to another solo! This one is almost like a blues solo, it has some keyboards in the back, and Ola soul-ing it up on the guitar, then the last chorus begins and ends. Not a bad song. 4/5
7 - "Cranking The Sirens") Another one of my personal favorites from Soilwork, "Cranking The Sirens" starts off somewhat similar to Rejection Role- as it goes right into the full band, then the palm muted guitars, drums and bass of then verse, followed by a quicker pre-chorus... then the chorus. The chorus is very smooth and kinda dark- to me, it sounds like Bjorn is singing about a man who is about to end his life. I think this because of the lyrics in the bridge:
"He believes in silence
He believes that this is the end
He can't hear the sirens cause
silence is the greatest sleep of them all."
A short riff is played after that and a pretty cool drum work leads into the last chorus. Great song. 5/5
8 - "Brickwalker") Heavy and loud best describe this song. It breaks right into a punding guitar riff for the intro (which reminds me a little of a Godsmack song), has a hard hitting verse and keeps it strong with the chorus. Another one of their famous solos is shredded through heavy background guitars and drums. Not my favorite song off the album, but this cd doesnt really have any 'bad' songs. 3.5/5
9) - "Mindmaker") A drum solo intro and another fast full band 2nd part of the intro. The verse has chopped up giutars and drums only untill about half way through it, when the 2nd giutar comes in, and the full band attack starts again. "Mindmaker's" chorus is pretty catchy with duel bass drums and good singing. Pretty good and fast solo, wrapped up with some solo guitar riffing. 3.8/5
10 - "Distortion Sleep") Probably my least favorite song on the CD- but still pretty good. Slightly distorted guitar work for the intro, this one is more upbeat then the previous songs. The pre-chorus and actual chorus are pretty catchy though, good all around work on these. As you have guessed, yes, there is another solo, im running out of ways to describe them, but heres my final effort... Ola's fast finger work compliments Peter's background riff. Last chorus starts, it ends, the song is faded out to a finish. 3.5/5
11 - "Downfall 24") This is the final song on the CD, it is started off with some cool effects from the keyboarist and the last full band intro is heard. It slides into the quickly paced verse and pre-chorus. The chorus is very similar to the intro and leads into the second verse before you know it. The last solo, some good finger work on this one, a 'heart beat' guitar riff starts is off with Ola's 'high string' playing, then Bjorn's vocals shortly followed by what is- in my opinion- one of the best solos on the CD. It sounds vaguely similar to Rejection Role's, but has own beat to it.
Final and Overall Review: †††† (4 crosses out of 4).
Well, all through, song by song review and analysis. You will notice that I did not go below a 3.5 rating for any song on this cd, it is not because of favoritism, but because Soilwork is a very tallented band who deserve a good rating. There are solos in every song on the CD, which is pretty difficult to find in todays metal- and even rock in bands. This is my first review and it was pretty late when I wrote it, so excuse the typos/gramatical errors. Please Rate!
