The Gothenburg Project 02.19.09: Soilwork Part 3
Posted by Matt Shoemaker on 02.19.2009
In a shortened column, this week I'm taking a look at a focal point in Soilwork's career, their Figure Number Five album, and taking a look at two incredible songs from the album.
I'm keeping the column down to one album this week, unfortunately. I'm going through a bit of rough time right now, personally, and I don't have the energy to do a full column at the moment. So this week's gonna be focused on Soilwork's Figure Number Five album.
In the Soilwork timeline, the band toured extensively in support of Natural Born Chaos, with such big names as Children of Bodom and Shadows Fall. The band also hit the studio once again, recording Figure Number Five. In June of 2003, drummer Henry Ranta left the band due to personal reasons, and was replaced with Richard Evensand. In support of the album, the band toured with In Flames, Unearth, and Chimera. After a tour with Chimaira, Bodom, and As I Lay Dying, Evensand left the band. Soilwork brought in Dirk Verbeuren from the French metal band Scarve, who started as a temporary replacement, but was soon brought in full time.
Let's get into the album, shall we?
Album Info
Recorded: December 2002- February 2003 Released: April 22, 2003 (EU), May 5, 2003 (USA, CA), Nuclear Blast Records Produced By: Soilwork
This album, much like In Flames' Reroute To Remain album, is the one the fans seemingly turned on. Many thought the band sold out to the more mainstream sound, with the inclusion of alternative metal on the album, and even the band has said that the album could have been better. Sven Karlsson, the keyboardist for the band, had an active songwriting duty on this album, which includes more usage of the keyboard, and lighter melodies. Strid has said that he liked the melodies on the album, but he felt that "it lacks in intensity, and could have been better composed".
While I do agree with those sentiments, I think the album is still pretty solid. The melodies are undeniably catchy, especially in the clean singing in the choruses of the songs. The alt-metal approach to the album is, in a way refreshing. While the album, like the band said, is not as intense, the different approach allows them to work with a new sound, and it works quite well. More focus is on the synth and the more ambient sounds of the album, as well as Bjorn's singing, which seems more powerful than ever before.
Musically, as a whole, the album is solid. Aside from a few generic riffs here and there, everything is pretty good. Not as good as Natural Born Chaos, but again, comparing that sound to this more mainstream song is like comparing apples and oranges. "Overload", one of my favorite tracks on the album, starts out with a small synth section, before the rest of the song comes in. Everything seems to explode when all the instruments fall together for the opening, and Bjorn's vocals are set to "in your face", although he switches nicely between the soaring, almost angelic vocals for the chorus.
"Light the Torch" starts out with a muted riff that seems to promise power, which is what the verses deliver, albeit switching in and out of a more mainstream, though very catchy riff with another example of wonderful clean vocals. "Distortion Sleep" is done in the same format, starting with an almost eerie organ sound, before jumping into a very catchy, head nodding riff. The verse riff and the drums complement each other perfectly, and the chorus tries to hold itself between clean vocals and screams, instead staying at an almost literal scream.
Overall, the criticism should be ignored for this album. Who cares if it's a mainstream, generic metal album, as some have called it? It still kicks some ass.
"Overload" Live
"Light the Torch"
And that's it for me for this week. I'll be back next week with the last two albums in this lineup. Till then, take care.
