Swedish melodic death metal act Soilwork unleashed their 11th album via Nuclear Blast Records, yet another intense delivery of riffs and melodies. Despite the line up changes in the past couple of years, the sound created by Soilwork in their new melodic record titled Verkligheten is unhindered. David Anderesson gave us an insight of the recording process, the writing process among other details in that took place in during the creation of this record.

The introduction has a country feel to it, with melody and a slower tempo, kicking right into the second titled track “Arrival”. This track kicks you in the throat immediately. There is no doubt there are plenty of Scandinavian roots in this song alone, with Bjorn “Speed” Strid releasing his magnificent vocals in both formats clean and growling; he definitely adds the speed and tones that set the mood of this killer track. There is a new face behind the drums and that is Bastian Thusgaard, he delivered a decapitating session with plenty of percussions, blasts and rhythm. The track titled “Bleeder Despoiler” has a magnificent bridge on minute 2:40 leading to the conclusion of the song, its a vortex of riffs and screaming vocals. The fourth track made its debut in video format as a single prior to the album release, “Full Moon Shoals”, has a more rock and roll feel, yet keeping Soilwork on their creative side and ability to create unprecedented tunes. Somewhere past halfway mark, it picks up with a change of tempo from all aspects, the drums, guitars and vocals all take you on a downward spiral rollercoaster.

You can not think of Soilwork and not expect a melancholic track, and “The Nurturing Glance” has that feel with the simple lyrics saying “What if it’s to late to suffer, what if its to late to die…” the band will alway grab you and turn your mood around to a darker realm without saying such dark words, simply by phrasing an idea and adding those phenomenal guitar riffs. There are plenty more tracks on the album which deserve your attention, and “When The Universe Spoke” is one of them, with a soft melody broken by furious drumming and lethal guitar riff this track will be a favorite. This twelve track masterpiece will have you wrecking havoc from minute one until it’s conclusion. Soil work will kick off their tour with Amorphis, Jinjer and Nailed to Obscurity, make sure to check out our interview with David Andersson right below and get your copy of this melodic death metal record now.

By: Jose Barrientos

Pre-Order Available Here: nuclearblast.com/soilwork-verkligheten

SOILWORK will embark on an extensive European co-headlining run with label-mates AMORPHISand NAILED TO OBSCURITY as well as JINJER from January 11 through to February 16.

SOILWORK / AMORPHIS
+ JINJER + NAILED TO OBSCURITY

11.01. D Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle 2 !!!SOLD OUT!!!
12.01. NL Nijmegen – Doornroosje !!!SOLD OUT!!!
13.01. D Hamburg – Markthalle !!!SOLD OUT!!!
14.01. DK Copenhagen – Amager Bio !!!!SOLD OUT!!!
15.01. S Stockholm – Fryshuset
16.01. N Oslo – Rockefeller Music Hall
18.01. D Hannover – Capitol
19.01. D Leipzig – Hellraiser !!!SOLD OUT!!!
20.01. PL Krakow – Klub Kwadrat
22.01. RO Bucharest – Arenele Romane
23.01. BG Sofia – Universiada Hall
25.01. H Budapest – Barba Negra Music Club
26.01. A Vienna – Ottakringer Brauerei !!!SOLD OUT!!!
27.01. CZ Zlín – Masters of Rock Café
28.01. SK Bratislava – Majestic Music Club
29.01. D Berlin – Kesselhaus !!!SOLD OUT!!!
30.01. D Munich – Backstage (Werk)
01.02. D Geiselwind – MusicHall
02.02. D Cologne – Essigfabrik !!!SOLD OUT!!!
03.02. B Antwerp – Trix Muziekcentrum
04.02. UK London – Electric Ballroom
06.02. F Paris – Cabaret Sauvage
07.02. F Toulouse – Le Bikini
08.02. E Madrid – Mon
09.02. E Barcelona – Salamandra
10.02. F Lyon – Le Transbordeur
12.02. I Trezzo sull’Adda (MI) – Live Music Club
13.02. D Wiesbaden – Schlachthof
14.02. D Saarbrücken – Garage
15.02. D Stuttgart – LKA Longhorn
16.02. CH Pratteln – Z7

SOILWORK is:
Björn “Speed” Strid – vocals
David Andersson – guitars
Sven Karlsson – keyboards
Sylvain Coudret – guitars
Bastian Thusgaard – drums