måndag 1 Mar 2010, 9:16

I've wanted to write about Soilwork for a while now. I was going to review The Chainheart Machine, but what the hell, I'll do a top 10. After all, I haven't done one of these in like a year and half.

Enough bullshit, let's do it.

10.- Millionflame (The Chainheart Machine)

This is a great example of Soilwork's masterful style of mixing classic metal with thrash and gothenburg. The melodic riffs are reminiscent of Iron Maiden, and the bass breakdown followed by the guitar solo shows that they had a lot of great ideas for this album.

9.- Grand Failure Anthem (A Predator's Portrait)

Thrashy riff, crazy drumming, great chorus, this song has it all. I also really like the lyrics. No song has ever failed less than this one.

8.- Generation Speedkill (The Chainheart Machine)

Masterful riffs with Speed's vocals at their angriest, ever. Once again we have an Iron Maiden-like melodic riff in the chorus and a fantastic solo.

7.- Needlefeast (A Predator's Portrait)

Again, melodic riffing, but this time around it's even better, because there are two riffs going on at the same time, and it's just so well done. The chorus is fantastic too, Speed's clean vocals have never sounded better.

6.- Possessing The Angels (The Chainheart Machine)

This is the heaviest song Soilwork has ever done. It's so ballcrushing I feel like breaking my neck to this every time it plays. It's funny how such harsh thrashing gives way to one of the greatest guitar solos ever.

5.- Spirits of the Future Sun (The Chainheart Machine)

This is probably their most prog-ish song. Lovely intro that sets the mood for and epic song, and a wah-wah fest in the solo.

4.- Shadowchild (A Predator's Portrait)

The song that started it all; the very first track with clean vocals that they recorded. I'd be tempted to hate this song if it didn't kick so much ass. Simple, yet chrushing riff with a beautiful chorus and a guitar solo worthy of old Soilwork.

3.- The Chainheart Machine (The Chainheart Machine)

One of the finest examples of melodic death metal that you'll ever find. Everything about it is so outstanding I don't even know where to begin. The crazy vocals? The chorus? The weird yet awesome intro? You decide.

2.- A Predator's Portrait (A Predator's Portrait)

This track has, quite possibly, the greatest riffs in metal history. Peter Wichers is at his best, Henry Ranta goes nuts with the drums, and don't get me started on Mikael Åkerfeldt. Best clean vocals ever. Also, the lyrics remind me of Lestat The Vampire for some reason. Odd.

1.- Machinegun Majesty (The Chainheart Machine)

Holy shit. Holy fucking shit. This is the greatest metal song ever. It may not be the best Soilwork track from a technical standpoint, but the mood of the song just blows me away, and I think that the main reason is the way Speed delivers his vocals here. "We suffer, yes we suffer, in this pit of hell…" And my favourite, "Machinegun Majesty, come spill my blood." Throw that together with some crazy riffing and drumming, and the efect is intoxicating.
I'm not even bothering to comment on the solo. You guys know just how good it is.

As you may have noticed, I'm a big fan of Soilwork's early stuff. I firmly believe their post-NBC albums to be complete garbage, and it's sad to see such a great band flush themselves down the toilet never to come back again.

So now we're waiting for The Panic Broadcast. Will it be a glorious return to their harsh thrashing days? No. Will it be, at least, a commercial yet good album, like Natural Born Chaos?

We can only hope.

Honorable mentions: Follow The Hollow, Natural Born Chaos, Entering The Angel Diabolique, Black Star Deceiver, Steelbath Suicide, Asylum Dance.