Soilwork Album: “Panic Broadcast”

Ever since I first heard The Chainheart Machine ten years ago, I've been a die-hard Soilwork fan. Even with their weaker material (Figure Number Five through Sworn to a Great Divide), I still enjoyed it quite a bit with my personal soft spot for the band. I just assumed the band had moved on from their thrashier roots and got more involved with the current metalcore sound of sugary-sweet choruses and heavier verses. After losing the entire guitar section from Sworn to a Great Divide, and the news that Peter Wichers was returning, I found myself much more interested in what the band would be coming up with than with the last two outings.

As I mentioned with the title of the review, The Panic Broadcast almost feels like a 'greatest hits' collection of material. While this may be disappointing to some (certain songs are going to appeal more to newer/older fans), it feels like Soilwork has finally found their second wind. You have the surprisingly thrashy opener "Late for the Kill, Early for the Slaughter" (it almost feels like a Terror 2000 track) and "King of the Threshold", which are bound to appeal to fans of the band's first few albums. You also have songs like "Two Lives Worth of Reckoning", and "Deliverance is Mine" that capture more of a Natural Born Chaos feel with their blend of melody and aggression. Finally, you have some tracks like "The Akuma Afterglow" and "The Thrill" that will appeal more to the newer fan with the big choruses and groove.

What I feel is the strongest, and most appealing part of The Panic Broadcast is the re-focusing on riffing as opposed to Speed's vocals. No matter how big a fan you are, it is painfully obvious that the last few Soilwork albums have suffered from a lack of guitar wizardry and memorable riffage. Listening to the first few tracks on the album, particularly "Two Lives Worth of Reckoning" and "Deliverance is Mine", it feels like Peter Wichers is hungry again. Perhaps it's working off of new guitarist Sylvain Coudret (Scarve), but Soilwork is fully head-banging at full steam again (listen to "King of the Threshold" and tell me otherwise). Dirk Verbeuren finally feels comfortable as well, giving by far is best performance to date (got to love the blast-beat album opening!).

This is the first time since Natural Born Chaos that I find myself humming the guitarwork more than the choruses. Not that I have anything against Speed's vocal work, as he shines brighter in a few spots here than in the past. There isn't a super-sweet choruse on each song, which gives band some breathing room, as well and intensifies and strengthens their usage. The best example would be the ballad-esque "Let This River Flow", which has to have Speed's most emotive and powerful clean vocals to date (completely erasing the awkward memories of FNF's "Departure Plan"). He also employs a scream/sing hybrid on "King of the Threshold" and "Late for the Kill, Early for the Slaughter" that distinguishes itself effectively as something he should try more of in the future to eliminate a slow-down on more intense tracks in order to incorporate a poppy chorus.

All in all, this is Soilwork's best album in many years. In terms of sheer variety, there's something there for all fans of the band while maintaining a fresh sound. It's about time that Soilwork reminded us of why they are one of kings of melodic death metal!

Soilwork went downhill once they lost not only their original Keyboardist, but more importantly Henry Ranta(still a more expressive drummer than this guy), and Peter Wichers. It is much like any guitar/songwriting duo in history, but moreso for bands like Soilwork and their fellow genre starter Arch Enemy. AE went the same way once one brother went and came back.

With Peter Wichers back, you can hear *instantly* his influence. Riffs and progressions we were used to hearing even pre-Predator's Portait make a return and there is even a 200+ BPM track with drumming that hasn't been heard at that speed since as far back as Steelbath Suicide. It makes me feel as though Wichers and the rest of the original members decided here and now to make a more concerted effort to come full circle with their sound and they have come full circle.

We're still missing the more awe-inspiring chorus-matches-the-guitar-riff vocal melodies that put Soilwork in a different class, those started on A Predator's Portait(still their magnum opus), but we are getting more well rounded vocal melodies as well. Their last two, perhaps three, albums have seen Strid being somewhat corrupted by his other bands and their more Power Metal leanings. I don't mean to say he's become bad, but he used to write chorus' that had power behind them, likee something akin to Gregorian Chants or the classic stuff that Iron Maiden fans find so addicting where the melody is simply unforgettable and sticks in your mind. If I wanted rock singing ala Coheed and Cambria, I'd listen to them, but Soilwork's were always better and on a higher plain. On this album, we're definately getting back to that.

The guitarwork is above and beyond anything done in the last three albums. The solo's, again, don't live up to the absolutely historical stuff done on Predator's Portait or Chainheart Machine, but they are still again part of the focal point of each song. Nothing ticks me off more about any of the original Gothenberg bands evolutionary changes than when the things that made these bands who they were individually just disappear. The Great Divide wasn't quite as offensive in that fashion, but Stabbing the Drama had nothing. This album is about guitarwork again, FINALLY. Soilwork differentiated themselves through cleanly sung vocals and guitarwork that is more on the level of Paul Gilbert or Joe Satriani than something you'd get from a local underground metal group.

Almost every song on this album has a vibe that brings me back to Soilwork's past, but makes me think they decided to keep that one eye on the past and evolve in a more sensible way. I personally love this direction. I have to wonder where it will take this band though, because they stand on a very thin line between slipping backwards into their "new" self and what we have here.

At the very least, this longtime fan who has followed them since Steelbath's release almost 16 years ago is convinced that I need to keep them on my playlist for at least another couple of years and hope they continue to improve.

Soilwork is one impressive band. Eight studio albums, and not a bad one among the bunch. After a somewhat lackluster album with "Sworn to a Great Divide", I was worried that Soilwork's winning streak was over. This is not the case, and "The Panic Broadcast" turns out to be quite possibly their best work yet. Each song is a five star winner, with varied styles and tones that channel the best qualities of all their previous work. The production is solid, each instrument comes through loud and clear, the song writing is complex and interesting, and each song really takes on a life of it's own. If you like Soilwork or melodic death metal, or just good metal period, you owe it to yourself to get this album. Take a listen to some of the sample songs and you'll agree.

sacrilege... maybe.... i can't tell you how many times i've listened to this cd now.. it's soilwork but it's not but it is.. and this could be the best cd they have ever made...

like one of the first reviewers said... sounds like a best of cd but with all new songs...

and yes this is the cd we old timers have been waiting for since Natural Born Chaos...

which is the first cd that introduced me to soilwork... but i do have all of there cd's

and there are certain songs off of each cd that i love more then others.

but every song on this cd is amazing... you have fast thrashier songs that could be on steelbath suicide or chainheart machine...

you have songs that could fit with predators portrait of NBC or even Stabbing the drama....

they really put a lot of time and effort into this cd and it shows...

I can't believe i'm saying this but right now as it stands if the year ended today...

this would be my nomination for the CD of the year that's how amazingly good I truly believe this cd is..

Soilwork will never put out another Steel bath suicide or chainheart machine, predators portrait or Natural born chaos again... but i think they have found there niche/sound... this is amazing and i will never tire of this cd..

so just except this old timers, because i'm one of you... one thing in life is constant and that is change... soilwork have had there ups and downs... and they have finally found that spark again, and it shows this is grade A soilwork and if you have been turned off bye there last 2 or 3 cds , then take the leap and get this cd...

I promise you that you will enjoy every second of the cd...

When I saw another release coming from Soilwork i was expecting more of their direction that started with Sworn to a Great Divide. Which.. was an ok album but. Much too different.

Panic' suprised the hell out of me. Its a very addictive album. The guitar work is very technical, the "Speeds" lyrics and vocals have a great variety. The drum work is not left out like it has been in previous albums.

The Thrill has to be the best track on the album. It has an awesome intro, the verse is amazing. The Chorus is epic.

Two Lives Worth of Reckoning is an awesome track with an awesome intro and verse and great overall guitar work.

Night Comes Clean is a very tight sounding track. Awesome vocals. Very very catchy.

Let This River Flow has a great intro with acoustic guitars that progresses into your Soilwork Metal. Drums and Guitar work are kept tight together, and awesome melodies are used through the verse and a chorus of nicely done clean vocals.

other notable tracks are The Akuma Glow and Enter Dog of Pavlov.

Over all, most the songs find 5 stars on my itunes, no less than 4 stars. There's not a single song to skip. Its a surprising breathe of fresh air after 'Divide and 'Drama were only mildly impressive.