Continuing the Soilwork revisit...Natural Born Chaos is brilliant but, to me, Figure Number Five is where they truly embrace the fusion with the poppier melodies, and the results are astoundingly good. The heavy and the melodic blends so well, and everyone's performance is super. Strid is just incredible here. Probably a top 3 Soilwork record for me.
It's interesting how the perception at the time seemed to be that Soilwork and In Flames had become very similar bands (the mirrored "Trigger" and "Rejection Role" music videos lean into this), but Soilwork's material from then has aged better. We've seen Speed continue to improve his vocals and even have bands where he does nothing but cleans. Whereas Friden, despite taking lessons, has continued to disappoint. I still prefer Soilwork with speedier riffs and beats contrasting the melodic parts, so my favorites are The Living Infinite, A Predator's Portrait, Natural Born Chaos, and The Ride Majestic.
FNF has always been my fav. Although, it would be second now, TRM tales the crown these days.
It's funny, I like a lot of melodeath bands, and generally call myself a fan of melodeath, however Soilwork do absolutely nothing for me.
I first listened to them about 10 years ago. I've listened to Natural Born Chaos, Figure Number Five, Stabbing the Drama, The Panic Broadcast and Verkligheten (some of these I've revisited multiple times over the 10 years, others I've heard once or twice) but couldn't name a single song that really struck a chord with me. It was all fine but I guess I came to them later than so much other melodeath, and felt I'd heard it all before.
I just think they're not for me, but couldn't tell you what it is specifically.
Just finished up these beauties...
Topic: What album are you listening to? v.7 (Read 179184 times)
