SOILWORK — The Living Infinite (review)

SOILWORK — The Living Infinite album cover

Album · 2013 · Melodic Death Metal

4/5 · 2013-04-03
arcane-beautiful

Soilwork have been a band that I've enjoyed for the past few years on and off, now and then. They've always been a band that I would listen to to cheer me up. Now for a metal band...that's pretty odd.

Yes, if you look at it, Melodic Death Metal can actually be the perfect use for catharsis. Melding anger and joy together, it really is the perfect and oddest paradox there is.

I got into these guys whenever I first got into the genre. After enjoying In Flames for the past few years, I was suggested this was the band for me. So I bought Stabbing The Drama and...I enjoyed it. Same with the other 2 albums that where released after it. I just enjoyed them. Never really fell in love with them, like I did with other Melo death bands, but I still would listen to them now and then.

It's odd, because they do have some of the best formulas in the genre. For example, Speed has to be one of the best and most diverse vocalists in metal. Musically, these guys are always up to notch. Production wise, perfection.

I think the reason I'm not so over the top about them is because these guys have been playing it safe...which is always a good thing. They can always deliver what's expected and now and then suprise us. So all in all...Soilwork is Soilwork. Nothing will ever change them, they will always kick ass.

So what makes this album so special. Well...one thing is that its a double album (and also the first double melodic death metal album), so we are expecting a lot more material. But also, this may be their finest moment. And why...well the songwriting, while it may not have changed to a high degree, does sound better, which could be because of the new blood in the band. Instrumentally the guys have even improved, and keyboards can actually be heard now in these songs, which is a positive, because they've been so low in the mix, I always felt that Sven was basically just there to stand and look pretty.

This is just a fun album where Soilwork seem to be just doing what they want. And a band who's having fun will always make me smile.

CD 1

1. Spectrum Of Eternity – Soilwork always have a knack at grabbing people by the balls on an opening song. And this is probably one of their finest examples of doing so. One of my favourite openers to an album. 10/10

2. Memories Confined – A slower and more groove orientated song. Kind of like Lamb Of God with organs. 8/10

3. This Momentary Bliss – One of the albums most melodic and poppier moments. Some pretty impressive instrumental work throughout. 9/10

4. Tongue – One of the best songs on the album with one of the most kick ass chorus'. Some great vocals from Speed. The guitar solo in this song is incredibly beautiful, where for a moment, I thought Steve Vai had taken over as a lead guitarist. 10/10

5. The Living Infinite I – My favourite part of this duo. A great opener and it doesn't overcomplicate itself. Straight to the point and kick ass. 9/10

6. Let The First Wave Rise – One of the faster and more punk paced songs on the album. A head rush of a song with a killer chorus. 10/10

7. Vesta – Probably one of my most favourite Soilwork songs...ever. A very unusual yet addictive chorus. Some of these guys most proggier moments as well.10/10

8. Realm Of The Wasted -This is where the album started to go a little downhill in quality. Sounds like something that could have been left off of Sworn To A Great Divide. It does bode some nice rhythmic and arrangement wise twists and turns. 7/10

9. The Windswept Mercy – A song with a guest vocalist...and I didn't even notice it. In all fairness Speed is so diverse, I wouldn't be surprised if Justin Bieber wasn't secretly him in disguise. Pretty killer song with some nice vocals from both vocalists. 8/10

10. Whisper & Lights – An epic ender to this side of the album. A beautifuly arranged song with some epic twists and turns throughout. 10/10

CD 2

1. Entering Aeons – A nice atmopsheric instrumental. Cool intro to this side of the album. 7/10

2. Long Live The Misanthrope – A bit like Spectrum Of Eternity, where it is more of an opener to an album, with an epic twist. I do prefer Soilwork to open with a kick in the face, but a powerfull spit in the face also works at times as well. 9/10

3. Drowning With Silence – A pretty kick ass song with a really cool chorus. 9/10

4. Antidotes In Passing – One of the oddest songs on the album. More of a gothic rock meets metal moment with some impressive vocals from Speed. 10/10

5. Leech – Originally, the song has a rather punk meets thrash style, but the chorus is rather poppy. Odd, but kick ass nonetheless. 10/10

6. The Living Infinite II – This song starts off with a pretty epic opener and continues to have a rather epic feel throughout. I do prefer the first part slightly more, but still pretty killer nontheless. 8/10

7. Loyal Shadow – An instrumental prelude after the epicness of The Living Infinite. 7/10

8. Rise Above The Sentiment – There is a music video for this song, and it is pretty funny. Other than that, it's a pretty good song. Standard Soilwork really, with a nice catchy chorus. 8/10

9. Parasite Blues – This is another oddly arranged song. It starts off like a Soilwork regular, but as it goes on, it morphs into something rather different. Pretty impressive for these guys. 8/10

10. Owls Predict, Oracles Stand Guard – The oddest titled song (there's always one of these on a Soilwork album). For some odd reason, this song is probably one of my favourite moments, mainly because its so different to the rest of the album. The song also ends on one mammoth of a riff.

CONCLUSION: Having looked over the album again and comparing it with their previous 3 (the only ones I have), and I've come to the conclusion that this is their best album. A bit too long maybe, but overall, it has some of their most strongest songs. Now Soilwork will always be a band that I will only really like songs of now and then, and are perfect for background music...but this album is a very enjoyable album and it may be a double album, but its not too overbearing and is over pretty quickly, and even at the end, your still looking for more. Now for a double album...that's pretty impressive.

8.2/10