Swedish death metal veterans, Soilwork, released a new album this week, the scope and depth of which is not often attempted. The Living Infinite,
a 2-disc master-class in pure death metalosity with twenty songs
spanning 90 minutes, is ambitious by any measure and equally as risky.
Firmly entrenched the download era, it’s easy to just grab a few choice
songs (for only a few bucks) and get on your head-banging way.
Therefore, you might think settling into a lengthy adventure is just a
bit too challenging these days. You might also assume that an album of
such length will have plenty of filler, comprised mostly of stellar,
hard-hitting songs nestled between cozy interludes and extended artistic
passages. In this case, you’d be dead wrong.
What
Soilwork has done here is deliver a relentless barrage of heavy death
metal, tinged with progressive flourishes, taking their established
sound to unimagined heights. Vocalist 'Speed' Strid is in top form - his
howl is aggressive and powerful and his clean vocals cover an expansive
range. Equally as impressive is the intensive, dynamic, and punishing
instrumentation that surrounds some of the best vocal performances I’ve
heard in years. There is no filler on this record. Period. Every track, from dramatic
intros, catchy choruses, and blistering breakdowns, stands firmly on its
own merit. “Tongue” is a speedy, guitar fueled binge, pushed to the
limits by intense double-bass; In contrast, “Owls Predict Oracles
Stand Ground,” give a nod to doom/black metal inspiration with
deliberate riffs and Speed’s varied vocal approach. “Long Live The
Misanthrope” is a raucous stomp with deadly verses and an aggressively
melodic chorus. I could go on and on, but you need to experience this
album on your own, preferably with the volume all the way up - trust me,
the worlds needs to hear this record.
Video: "Rise Above The Sentiment"
