Soilwork - Sworn To A Great Divide review
| Band: | Soilwork |
| Album: | Sworn To A Great Divide |
| Style: | Gothenburg metal |
| Release date: | October 19, 2007 |
| A review by: | Baz Anderson |
Disc I [CD]
01. Sworn To A Great Divide
02. Exile
03. Breeding Thorns
04. Your Beloved Scapegoat
05. The Pittsburgh Syndrome
06. I, Vermin
07. Light Discovering Darkness
08. As The Sleeper Awakes
09. Silent Bullet
10. Sick Heart River
11. 20 More Miles
12. Martyr [limited edition & Japanese bonus]
13. Sovereign [Japanese bonus]
14. Overclocked [limited mail-order edition bonus]
Disc II [Limited & Mail-Order Edition DVD]
01. Follow The Hollow
02. Rejection Role
03. One With The Flies
04. Bastard Chain
05. Nerve
06. Stalemate
07. Millionflame
08. As We Speak
+ Exile [video]
+ Studio Reports "Not Quite Studio" & "The DevLab"
Soilwork are of the biggest names in the Gothenburg metal scene and nine years after their debut they bring to us album number seven, "Sworn To A Great Divide". While Soilwork have been around, many things have changed in the world of metal, and one of the most notable changes has been the immense rise in popularity of melodic death metal, or more specifically Gothenburg bands such as Soilwork, In Flames and Dark Tranquillity. Listening to "Sworn To A Great Divide" now, there are quite subtle contrasts comparing with the band at the beginning of the decade.
The key word with Soilwork now is "tightness", each song on the album has some tuneful guitar riff accompanied by precise drumming as if performed by a drum-machine, with Bjorn's doppelgänger-like clean and harsh vocals placed ever so predictably over the top. A band playing so tight together is usually a good sign, it shows the members in the band have musically gelled very well indeed as well as having impressive individual talents, but listening to "Sworn To A Great Divide" it seems as if being tight is the most important element, where in fact it starts to make the music sound very unnatural and machine-like. Soilwork do not break any new barriers with this album, they take no risks at all, if you are familiar with the music of the band then it will feel like you have heard all this before; a verse consisting of cool guitar work and semi-extreme vocals followed by a catchy, melodic chorus with Bjorn's clean singing and then back onto another verse, and so on usually comprises the Soilwork formula.
As I have already mentioned though, these are talented musicians and this is a nice sounding album. Nothing sloppy, everything is compact here into forty minutes of Gothenburg melodic death metal, of course the advantage Soilwork play to here is the thought that if their sound is not broken, then they shouldn't try and fix it. Tracks like the title track "Sworn To A Great Divide" and "Your Beloved Scapegoat" easily pass into your short-term memory, but then also are soon out of it. "The Pittsburgh Syndrome" is one of the highlights on the album picking the pace up to the next level, but this is just one very short highlight in among a field of mediocrity. Indeed, the main problem the modern Soilwork have is that their albums are so monotonous, and so as of course they will appeal to the vast amounts of followers the band have, they never attempt to reach out to new areas and bring in some different admirers.
Gothenburg metal has somewhat become the new nu metal, the new "in thing" in metal, and so this album is almost certain to be hailed as a masterpiece of metal in commercial magazines, but for the more broad thinking individuals this album will not be anything above "just good". Still, without sounding too negative the band do what they always have done, and produce a smooth, clean, solid album filled with catchy melodic choruses and songs very capable of inducing a little head bobbing. Like I say though, "Sworn To A Great Divide" brings nothing new to the table, so I think you already know if you will like this album or not.
Comments
Comments: 27
Visited by: 158 users
| Queen Of Hippies Account deleted |
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| Opium Account deleted |
Opium
Account deleted Written by [user id=18405] on 03.11.2007 at 20:37 How did I know you'd leave a remark here?  I haven't listened to the album either, however, it wouldn't surprise me if the remained the same since their previous effort. Also, you nailed it when you said that Gothenburg Metal has become the new Nu Metal 
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| Blood Work Account deleted |
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| Syk myspace/bonerama Posts: 1504  |
Written by [user id=4235] on 04.11.2007 at 12:17 Mate, don't go just by wikipedia, especially for genres which are for the most part a really opinionated thing. Personally I say gothenburg isn't death metal at all, only the vocals are influenced by it while the rest comes from heavy/thrash/other metal/other music. Looking at structures and the foundations of the compositions, yes, Arch are in a similar style to these guys. Difference in quality doesn't necessarily mean difference in genre. Also, one named subgenre can encompass a variety of different styles, eg. technical grindy metalcore, poppy metalcore, straight hardcore-based metalcore and so on
---- death ? thrash ? death/doom/prog ? Hail Zoldon! he's not the kind you have to [url=../bands/album.php?album_id=28982]wind up[/url] on Sundays
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| Passenger Lost To Apathy Posts: 1464  |
I gave Stabbing The Drama 4.5 in my review 2 years ago. I think I'd rate this album even lower. I used to love Soilwork. I don't know what to say. This may be the worst album I've heard all year.
---- You don't make up for your sins in church. You do it in the streets. You do it at home. The rest is bullshit and you know it ~ Mean Streets
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| dancingdecember Posts: 264  |
Written by Passenger on 04.11.2007 at 14:56 i congratulate you for being able to give low ratings coz no one seems to do so even if they say nothing good in review. and i really detest soilwork.the guys the music the sound the vocals..piece of horsecrap for me.the fact that they do nothing new and all eras of them are "influenced" mostly by in flames is just sickens me.why do you even exist if you always do the same thing and the thing that you do is already done by better bands in better ways that you do?a band must develope its unique atmosphere or sound.either it would be vocals or the way they play.otherwise its a joke.
---- i'm super, thanks for asking
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| Blood Work Account deleted |
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| Syk myspace/bonerama Posts: 1504 |
Written by [user id=4235] on 04.11.2007 at 17:14 I thought that was why these bands (see In Flames' styles section) are labelled as "nu gothenburg" - because of the prominence of the electronica influence and saccharine clean vocals, as opposed to the relative lack of these elements in Arch Enemy etc. Or you can call Arch "death gothenburg" or something while keeping the "death" away from those other bands
---- death ? thrash ? death/doom/prog ? Hail Zoldon! he's not the kind you have to [url=../bands/album.php?album_id=28982]wind up[/url] on Sundays
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| Unconsecrated Perpetual Ascent Posts: 868  |
I've been disliking Soilwork since "Stabbing The Drama", but this album is even worse. From now on, my interest for Soilwork is dead.
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| Spyroid Rosetta Stoned Posts: 1023  |
I liked many songs on Stabbing the Drama - the performance and production was great. Although it had a lot of flaws. I have only heard one song from Sworn... - Exile. Which is said to be the worst song, so I might give it another chance. After all, the guys are from my hometown. And the coverart is awesome! Great review btw Baz.
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| HardSide Posts: 381 |
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071  |
Written by HardSide on 05.11.2007 at 02:41 Devin Twonsend recorded Bjorn's vocals for this latest album SOilwork and porduced Natural Born Chaos, but ha dnothing to do with Steelbath Suicide
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996 
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071 |
Written by dancingdecember on 04.11.2007 at 17:00 So, you mean to say you hate the PEOPLE because of the music? Have you ever met them? Did they treat you like shit? Most probably not, so it is stupid to hate the people in the band just because you don't like the music they play.
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
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| Queen Of Hippies Account deleted |
Queen Of Hippies
Account deleted Written by dancingdecember on 04.11.2007 at 17:00 I disagree with all this. This review is about the new Soilwork. Listen to the first few albums, and you'll understand what is so special about them. You are denying all the good albums they have released with this post. (Also, would you mind leaving a space between your sentences? It's a bit difficult to read .)
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| Ronny_Giga Account deleted |
Ronny_Giga
Account deleted Written by [user id=18405] on 05.11.2007 at 10:28 Well, the first evolution of Soilwork's music for me was ok; well let's say gorgeous... but now i feel they're going back on time... The album Sworn to a Great Divide just as said on the review gives nothing new... I'm not expecting some change of their almost unique style, in fact I don't want it.. but a little more work on the songs, a little more work for the songs  won't be bad. Besides they had the album in a short time.my opinion! good review!!
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| Locke Account deleted |
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| Miss Norway Account deleted |
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| b0000mst1ck Posts: 547  |
i don't get why most people think this was soilwork's worst album to date. FN5 was their worst IMO. it was rushed big time and it's too generic to be anything decent. there's no variety and almost every song is the same tempo. i know kids that are 17-19 that can write more complex songs than soilwork did for that album. at least sworn to a great divide has more variety than FN5. take the song pittsburgh syndrome or as the sleeper awakes, then try to compare it to light discovering darkness or 20 more miles. polar opposites.
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| dancingdecember Posts: 264 |
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 05.11.2007 at 07:57 i meant the attitude actually,i dont give a fuck about their personality in their daily lives.no need to be get so sensitive and treat me like im some kinda psycho.relax,they just irritate me that's all.
---- i'm super, thanks for asking
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| dancingdecember Posts: 264 |
Written by [user id=18405] on 05.11.2007 at 10:28 why would you assume i didn't listen their old stuff?i stick to my opinion and i dont think if a band releases 1-2 good stuff then they should be considered "special",it's the consistent release of quality stuff that makes them special or something real innovative.and well,i couldn't manage to leave space,maybe it was the sentence's destiny to be big !! 
---- i'm super, thanks for asking
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| AnarChrist Posts: 253 |
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| Baz Anderson Staff Posts: 13254  |
haha. easy listening? modern rock? are you sure that is positive to what they try to be?
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| bodomroy Posts: 56  |
I've listened this album a few times and i really can't deal with it. It's really boring and predictable, it's a pitty soilwork is going downfall 
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| CyberWasted Account deleted |
CyberWasted
Account deleted
This is one god awful release. I understand bands can't keep churning the same sound out all the time but what in the hell has happened to this band. Bland, Bland, Bland!!! This once mighty metal band has fallen a seriously long way from their perch, releasing one of the worst albums in the last 10 years. Seriously makes me nauseated thinking about it. 0/10. 
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| BlankFile Posts: 706 |
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| MeloDeathViking Posts: 516  |
Written by BlankFile on 05.09.2008 at 01:43 I have to disagree with you. I consider myself a true fan, having all albums from both bands, and I do consider their earlier works their best, but I actually like Sworn to a Great Divide; as well as Come Clarity and A Sense of Purpose. I don't think being a "true fan" has anything to do with whether or not you like the new albums, it has to do with your tastes. "True fans" listen to the album and decide whether its a good album and don't just write it off based on the previous album (I'm not saying that's what you did). But like I said, it's definitely not impossible for someone who fell inlove with the early albums to still like the new albums. 
---- "I am not superstitious, but I'm a little 'stitious." - Michael Scott
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