Soilwork Appreciation

[gazinwales]

One my second listen to the new album, so far delighted at what I am hearing.

[TAC]

I'm digging this!

[wolfking]

Why haven't I gone out and picked this up yet?  Glad to hear positive things.

[wolfking]

Picked up a copy on CD today.  Just started my listen.

[wolfking]

Hmmm....I need another listen.

[gazinwales]

Has another listen today in my car, I'd give it a solid 8/10.
The two instrumentals I'd drop and a couple others, for 10 killer tunes.
The rest could be 'bonus' tracks or a limited edition disc.
That said it's still a banging album with lots of interesting twists.

[wolfking]

I've had 3 listens now and I'm not sure.  Not quite feeling it yet.  There's quite a few songs on here that are pretty bland, weak and quite forgettable.

The singles are all fantastic though.  Great catchy tunes.

[Polarbear]

"Övergivenheten" didn't blow me away on first listen, but this album is the definition of a grower!

I like it more every time I spin it. it's going to be a while, before I can attempt to rank it in their discography though.

[LithoJazzoSphere]

I listened to it within a day or two of it coming out, but I'm gonna need more listens and time to process it.  The singles were ok but didn't really connect with me, and only one song on the full album so far really resonated with me ("Vultures").  Even the middle portion of the solo for that song feels really stilted, but the chorus is pretty addictive, it has some nice riffs and blasts, and I love the chilled out dorian ending.  Overall the album feels like B-sides from the prior album mixed with NFO so far, but it does seem like the sort of album that will unfurl itself eventually.  Teleporting someone from '00 when they'd just released TCHM to hearing this would be a real mindfuck. 

Edit:  "Death, I Hear You Calling" is probably the second standout so far now that I'm skimming the album again a bit. 

[ProfessorPeart]

Got my first full listen in. Was surprised, is mostly what I can say so far. I agree this will need some more listens. Seems Speed is saving the brutal stuff for Act Of Denial because there was very little 'Death' here in terms of Melodic Death Metal. This album is kind of all over the place. Just need to get used to it.

[wolfking]

I've had a few spins now and it's definitely a grower.  A lot of the tunes I thought were weak and while some lack memorable melodies, each is opening up quite nicely.  Slyvain only getting one solo is a joke, but I guess he doesn't write anything.  That's one thing this whole thing lacks, memorable guitar work.  They are a different band now and not focused on that aspect but a few more rippers would have beefed things up a bit. 

[LithoJazzoSphere]

It's kind of like a version of what they went through in the mid-00s around the time of FNF.  They were tired of being a "guitar solo band" and de-emphasized them for awhile.  But they eventually came back. 

[Grappler]

Damn.

[Polarbear]

Just read from both Soilwork and TNFO Instagram pages, that David Andersson has passed away!

What an awful loss for both bands! Primary songwriter for both bands during the last 10+ years. Guy who is responsible for some of my favorite music of the last decade. Going to blast Soilwork and TNFO all night for his memory.

Brings the lyrical themes of the latest Soilwork album into new focus.

R.I.P Dave.

[devieira73]

Unbelievable... really sad... I truly love his music both on Soilwork and TNFO. What a loss...
The strangest thing is that he was passing throught all of this and being super productive at same time in the last 10 years.

[nick_z]

Oh wow 

[gazinwales]

Saw the news via both bands FB page and I had to read it twice, couldn't believe my eyes.

[Grappler]

Saw the news via both bands FB page and I had to read it twice, couldn't believe my eyes.

Neither could I - it's just awful.  Listening to a song like Death I Hear You Calling just gives me the chills today.

[LithoJazzoSphere]

Wow, this is terrible.  As much as I liked Peter and Ola, and never would have thought they could be properly replaced, it was quite serendipitous that arguably SW's best album with TLI happened with David and Sylvain revitalizing the band. 

[wolfking]

OMG.  I must admit, when I purchased the new album and was flicking through the booklet, when I saw the pic of David, I actually thought to myself, "Jeez, he doesn't look well/happy at all."   

What a tragic turn of events.  His songwriting was what brought Soilwork back to life and into a brand new era.  The Ride Majestic has become one of my all time favs, a perfect album with incredible songwriting.  This is just tragic.

[wolfking]

Unbelievable... really sad... I truly love his music both on Soilwork and TNFO. What a loss...
The strangest thing is that he was passing throught all of this and being super productive at same time in the last 10 years.

And high quality too.

[wolfking]

Damn, just read David was a doctor also.  What a tragic loss. 

[wolfking]

I've had 3 listens now and I'm not sure.  Not quite feeling it yet.  There's quite a few songs on here that are pretty bland, weak and quite forgettable.

The singles are all fantastic though.  Great catchy tunes.

I kind of have the opposite opinion on the album now, I think the whole thing is fantastic.  Put it back in the car due to the tragic news yesterday but it keeps opening up.  The songs I thought were bland, weak and forgettable, now I think are mature, creative and very interesting and have great replay value.  Reminds me of the Ride Majestic the way that album took a long time to open up but became brilliant.  It won't beat that album, but it's better than Verkligheten.  Not sure how it rates against Atlantic yet though.

This passing though is hitting me harder than one has for a while, not sure why. 

[Glasser]

I'm so disturbed over this. Alcohol and mental illness was the cause and it crushes me knowing he was a sufferer. The "Invisible Monster" has taken another life. 

[wolfking]

Yeah it's shocking it got that bad that he had no control and he's no longer here.  Such a smart guy but what a demon to take to the grave.

[gazinwales]

It seems a lot of extremely talented musicians have their demons, DA will be sorely missed by all.
Totally forgot about the band's November AU tour, looking forward to finally seeing them in the flesh.

[wolfking]

It seems a lot of extremely talented musicians have their demons, DA will be sorely missed by all.
Totally forgot about the band's November AU tour, looking forward to finally seeing them in the flesh.

Yeah, looking forward to it too mate.  Should be a cracking show.

[Polarbear]

https://youtu.be/FTQ5akx7syQ

Has anybody heard this?

This is a song from the "Metal: Hellsinger" video game, and Björn is providing vocals for this one!
Damn that was intense, that could almost be a Soilwork song! A ****ing fantastic Soilwork song!

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

That whole soundtrack from the game and the game itself is amazing!

[wolfking]

Saw these guys last night.  It was a wonderful show.  I'll be honest though, I hated the setlist.  I like new Soilwork but the amount of new stuff didn't sit well with me.  Only Bastard Chain, Nerve and Stabbing the Drama in the way of old stuff.  I think it needed more balance.

Must say though, Bjorn was incredible.  His vocals were on point and he's a great front man.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

Saw these guys last night.  It was a wonderful show.  I'll be honest though, I hated the setlist.  I like new Soilwork but the amount of new stuff didn't sit well with me.  Only Bastard Chain, Nerve and Stabbing the Drama in the way of old stuff.  I think it needed more balance.

Must say though, Bjorn was incredible.  His vocals were on point and he's a great front man.

That's disappointing to have so few old songs. How long was the setlist?

[wolfking]

Saw these guys last night.  It was a wonderful show.  I'll be honest though, I hated the setlist.  I like new Soilwork but the amount of new stuff didn't sit well with me.  Only Bastard Chain, Nerve and Stabbing the Drama in the way of old stuff.  I think it needed more balance.

Must say though, Bjorn was incredible.  His vocals were on point and he's a great front man.

That's disappointing to have so few old songs. How long was the setlist?

Lucky to be an hour and a half.  16 songs I think.  After those 3 songs I think 5 from the new one, 3 from Verkilighten, 3 from TLI, 1 from Ride and 1 from Atlantic.  Ending the main set with Death Diviner and closing the show with Stalfagel was fucking strange.

[LithoJazzoSphere]

Nothing at all from NBC?  Yikes. 

[wolfking]

This was the set from the night before;

Övergivenheten
This Momentary Bliss
Stabbing the Drama
The Living Infinite I
Is It in Your Darkness
Electric Again
The Living Infinite II
Bastard Chain
The Nurturing Glance
The Ride Majestic
Harvest Spine
Death Diviner


Encore:
Nerve
Arrival
Valleys of Gloam
Stålfågel

Only difference is they swapped VOG and TRM, but VOG came mid set.  I almost didn't go due to this setlist as I was on 13 days in a row for work but glad I did.  It was funny, a lot of people around me seemed to really take to the new stuff.  The reactions were somewhat similar to the likes of Bastard Chain.  It was weird.  If I just got say two more, like a Follow the Hollw and Rejection Role, it would have made all the difference.

[LithoJazzoSphere]

The Live in the Heart of Helsinki DVD/CD had a pretty stellar setlist, including at least a song from every album.  They seem to have totally ignored the first two albums these days.  I guess the connection with the Night Flight Orchestra has drawn in a lot of fans who wouldn't care for their harsh-only material.