UMUR "Stabbing the Drama" is the 6th full-length studio album by Swedish metal act Soilwork. The album was released through Nuclear Blast Records in February 2005. It´s the successor to "Figure Number Five" from 2003 and features one lineup change since the predecessor as drummer Henry Ranta has been replaced by Belgian drummer Dirk Verbeuren.

Stylistically "Stabbing the Drama" marks a slight change in musical direction as it features quite a few chugging start/stop type rhythm guitar riffs, a more polished vers/chorus songwriting formula (the polish amplified by the use of keyboards), and a generally more heavy groove laden playing style. So the album features a strong metalcore influence, although it´s still in some ways a melodic death metal release (the album generally features few harmony leads though). The change in style came gradually over the course of the last couple of albums, but on "Stabbing the Drama" the change was complete. Most tracks on the album feature a similar style (the style described above) but "Blind Eye Halo" stands out from the remaining tracks for being fast-paced and aggressive. Other than being different it´s not a particularly standout track though.

I´d mention tracks like the title track and maybe "Distance" as some of the highlights, but "Stabbing the Drama" is overall a consistent quality release. The songwriting is solid, the musicianship is on a high level on all posts, and the sound production is clear, polished, and powerful. The icing on the cake is as always lead vocalist Björn Strid, who performs both aggressive shouting raw vocals and clean vocals with conviction and great passion.

So upon conclusion "Stabbing the Drama" is a good quality release, but when that is said, it is one of the least remarkable releases in the band´s discography and the metalcore influences/elements of the sound sometimes come off a little generic, and if I should be a little provocative in my critique, I could accuse Soilwork of jumping on the very successful contemporary metalcore bandwagon by using those elements, but on the other hand, it was maybe just time to try something new. A 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.

UMUR "Underworld" is an EP release by Swedish metal act Soilwork. The EP was released through Nuclear Blast in June 2019. It´s the follow-up release to the band´s 11th full-length studio album "Verkligheten" from 2019, and the EP features 4 tracks recorded during the sessions for "Verkligheten (2019)" which didn´t make it unto the album (or maybe a seperate session afterwards, because it looks like bassist Taylor Nordberg who plays on the album isn´t credited here). All 4 tracks were however included on the limited special edition of "Verkligheten (2019)". So to those who already own the special edition of the full-length album, "Underworld" is a redundant release.

Stylistically the 4 tracks on the 19:50 minutes long EP are in the signature melodic death/heavy metal style of Soilwork, so there are not many surprises here. If you enjoy the last couple of Soilwork albums, the material featured here will probably also please your ears. Both "Summerburned and Winterblown" and "Needless and Kin" are high quality Soilwork tracks, but the two other tracks on the EP are slightly less interesting and of a more standard quality for the band. That doesn´t mean they are bad quality tracks, just that they aren´t up to par with the best material Soilwork are able to produce.

"Underworld" features a clear, powerful, and detailed sounding production job, which suits the material perfectly and paired with the predominantly strong songwriting and skilled musicianship, it´s another high quality release by Soilwork. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

UMUR "Övergivenheten" is the twelfth full-length studio album by Swedish melodic death metal act Soilwork. The album was released through Nuclear Blast in August 2022. It´s the successor to "Verkligheten" from 2019 although the two full-length studio albums are bridged by the 2020 "A Whisp of the Atlantic" EP. There´s been one lineup change since "Verkligheten" (2019) as bassist Taylor Nordberg has been replaced by Rasmus Ehrnborn (guitarist David Andersson recorded the bass on "A Whisp of the Atlantic" (2020).

If anyone had hopes that the progressive songwriting of "A Whisp of the Atlantic" (2020) would be continued on "Övergivenheten", they will be left disappointed (although closing track "On the Wings of a Goddess Through Flaming Sheets of Rain" does feature a slightly more adventurous songwriting approach than the remaining tracks on the album). Instead Soilwork have opted for the most melodic, accessible, and at times even mainstream oritented songwriting of their career. Of course there are still elements of death metal here and there, and lead vocalist Björn "Speed" Strid can still scream out his lungs and occassionally deliver a death metal growl, but he sings a lot of clean vocals here, and arguably a few more than usual. It´s not so much the vocal part of the music which has changed though, but more the overall songwriting approach. Sometimes to a point where it sounds like Soilwork are in the process of preparing to enter the Eurovision contest. That´s how catchy, melodic, and polished some of these tracks are. It´s sometimes to a point where it´s sounds like it´s leftover material written for Strid and Andersson´s AOR rock band The Night Flight Orchestra, put through the melodic death metal grinder.

Any Soilwork album deserves to be listened to and only judged after several listens, because they are usually deceivingly accessible and polished, but underneath that polish there are layers of sophisticated harmonies, melodies, choir arrangements, and just a generally high level songwriting approach. "Övergivenheten" is no different from it´s direct predecessors in that respect. Soilwork have maybe gone a little too much overboard with the glitter and polish on this one, considering that two of them already have The Night Flight Orchestra to explore more accessible and melodic musical territories, and I do miss a little more raw power and aggression, but on the other hand it´s impossible not to be floored by how catchy these songs are.

"Övergivenheten" features a well sounding production job, although my ears don´t always agree with the drum production. It´s a purely subjective observation though, and nothing which affects my rating too much. The musicianship is on a high level on all posts and if you think you can enjoy and album´s worth of the most accessible and mainstream oriented version of Soilwork, "Övergivenheten" will give you just that in a high quality fashion. A 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is deserved.

Kev Rowland I have long been a fan of Soilwork, and was very much looking forward to this album, but the untimely death of guitarist David Andersson (who was also in The Night Flight Orchestra) less than a month after its release has obviously cast a shadow. Mental illness is a terrible thing – if you are a sufferer (as am I) – then find the help you need and remember, the world is a better place with you in it. Björn “Speed” Strid must have problems working out what band he is in at times, and where certain material should go, as there are some songs contained on this which might well have fitted on the last NFO album, while there are others which are solid Soilwork.

Over the last 20 years they have moved a long way from the melodic death they started with, and are now in a much more commercial area, but the move has been organic and there are still elements of their old styles combined within which makes this an incredibly enjoyable album for both old fans and new. The album title can be translated to ‘The Abandonment’ which describes the overall album theme of being surrounded by the thought of being abandoned or even abandoning others. It deals with darker thoughts that have shaped the band itself and affected their development process, and I am sure the actions of David have since caused a great deal of soul searching and sorrow for everyone involved. However, in many ways this is a culmination of two years of Covid restrictions and all that meant, combined with the continued artistic development of both this band and NFO, with the result being yet again a stunning piece of work.

I was late to this band, but their last three albums are all excellent additions to any metal collection, and this their latest commercial offering combined with melodic death stylings is the same again. They understand the need for contrast and drop in a simple piano piece here, or acoustic guitar, all of which means that when they bring the storm it rains even heavier. Yet another essential release.

UMUR "Figure Number Five" is the 5th full-length studio album by Swedish melodic death metal act Soilwork. The album was released through Nuclear Blast Records in April 2003. It´s the successor to "Natural Born Chaos" from 2002 and features the same six-piece lineup, who recorded the predecessor. "Figure Number Five" would be the last Soilwork to feature drummer Henry Ranta.

While "Figure Number Five" is still overall a melodic death metal album, Soilwork continue the increase of the use of keyboards and melody and they reach a new point of maturity of that sound on this album. Many of the themes and ideas of "Figure Number Five" were already tested on the two preceding studio albums, but the band have streamlined their songwriting and the accessibility of their material to a point where it´s sometimes difficult to know if you are listening to a death metal album or a melodic heavy metal release. Some tracks feature incredibly melodic vocal lines and choir work, while others like the title track are actually pretty hard edged death metal tracks. The start/stop riff style and some of the vocal phrasing points in a "core" direction, but it´s leanings and not dominant stylistic elements.

"Figure Number Five" features a clear, heavy, and detailed sound production, which suits the music well and the musicianship is on a high level too. Björn "Speed" Strid is a skilled vocalist with a varied repetoire of singing styles ranging from death metal growling, to aggressive raw vocals, to powerful and melodic clean vocals. It´s not a surprise that his vocal performance is strong on "Figure Number Five", but he definitely reaches a new level of excellence here, compared to the preceding releases by the band.

Not all tracks are equally remarkable but there are several standout tracks on the album and the remaining tracks aren´t of a bad quality or anything like that. "Figure Number Five" is both a stylistically and quality wise consistent release. The development of sound that was initiated on "A Predator's Portrait (2001)" with more keyboard, clean vocals, and focus on melody and further developed upon on "Natural Born Chaos (2002)", now feels like it has reached it´s natural conclusion. A 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is deserved.