Soilwork march on. 11 albums, umpteen singles, a few split albums and now a 4th EP is a pretty good haul for around 24 years of toil. The band’s line-up looks the same as for the last album “Verkligheten” (2019), not that that makes much difference in my experience, as Soilwork haven’t left their groove-laden metalcore style in a while. The joy lies normally in the nuances.
The publicity describes this 36 minute work as “pretentious”, which I suspected was the wrong word. Let the music speak. Indeed, contrary to the usual hell-for-leather assault, the opening title track is measured and atmospheric. Yes, I am writing about Soilwork. Strid growls and harmonises, so no change there, but the groove is deeper. Layers of punchy instrumental make this a power-packed adventure. A 16 minute Soilwork song is a rarity but the band don’t waste a moment. The atmosphere is tense and epic. The songsmanship is powerful. There are trumpets and a symphonic touch but above all Soilwork prove, as if we needed reminding, they know how to construct a melodic metal song with layers and colours and catchy choruses. I repeat what I said above: the joy lies in the nuances. I’d replace the word “pretentious” with “dramatic” and “inventive”. I lost the story in the song but it’s a great song whose structure and development are a delight.
“Feverish” has a strong anthemic element. Its theme deals with individual rage against the limitations of organisations, and should we want to join in with the chorus to reflect our own rage. It’s a classically constructed Soilwork song – melodic, instrument-heavy and chorally strong. It was no surprise when I checked and saw this was a previously released single. So too is “Desperado”. The drumming is harder as we fly into Stridland. There are so many Soilwork songs like this but it’s ok. “Desperado” is a ball of catchy energy. “Death Diviner” was also released a single. The riff line has a US rock vibe, but this is Soilwork and it all leads to an expansive chorus before we dig the groove some more. Seamlessly the sounds merge and we rise to the heavens. So, from this luxurious track we go to “The Nothingness and the Devil”. Again, there is a distinctive classic hard rock riff, with driving drums and an ever developing epic soundscape. The song closes with a lush and warm passage
Expect something different here. Soilwork don’t throw away their ace card trademark metalcore sound, nor the epic passages and catchy choruses, but the aggression is controlled. I welcomed it. The opening 16 minute title song is a new adventure. Soilwork inject mature layers in the song structure to tell a story. The other songs match a familiar sound with subtle shades. I found “A Whisp of the Atlantic” both epic and, in common with a theme of the album, liberating.
(9/10 Andrew Doherty)
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