Has Sweden lost its edge?

[Wolff]

Let me explain: In Flames have been crap lately, Clayman was utter shit. Dark Tranquillitya rather bland Haven after the incredibly horrible Projector. Katatonia seem to have gone sour with Last Deal after the landmark Tonight's Decision. Opeth have gone progressively worse since Orchid/Morningrise. Any other bands worth mentioning (bar power/black metal)?

 

[MacMoney]

Well, The Crown has gotten better with their newest release and Crowned in Terror doesn't sound too bad either. But I know what you mean. They certainly aren't as good as they used to be (swedish metal bands).

(Dan Swanö although keeps on rocking!)

 

[Sadistik]

Well, what happened was every teenager with a guitar now realized there was money to be made if they were a)Swedish b)metal, so now there is an overabundance of bands playing mediocre music. Personally, my sights have moved to finnish BM and USBM, as well as prog/power (i.e Evergrey, Labyrinth)

 

[bleed for me]

Originally posted by Wolff
Let me explain: In Flames have been crap lately, Clayman was utter shit. Dark Tranquillitya rather bland Haven after the incredibly horrible Projector. Katatonia seem to have gone sour with Last Deal after the landmark Tonight's Decision. Opeth have gone progressively worse since Orchid/Morningrise. Any other bands worth mentioning (bar power/black metal)?

i hafta disagree with you on allcounts....in flames still rock...haven wasn't very good but projector was one of their best...last fair deal is great, tonights decision was still better but it doesn't mean that they're getting worse....and opeth, i think they're getting better...their songs aren't as well written as orchid/morningrise but they are still masterpieces and are more enjoayable. someone will proabbaly mention soilwork but i think they rule and so does a predator's portrait

 

[Sadistik]

Any other bands worth mentioning (bar power/black metal)?

Actually, now that I think of it, Skyfire is quite promising. I just hope in the future they realize that the "cool metal production" sound just doesn't work, as they need to have the clearest prod. possible to make their music come out. Anyways, Timeless Departure is a great album...

 

[dune_666]

Originally posted by bleed for me

and opeth, i think they're getting better...their songs aren't as well written as orchid/morningrise but they are still masterpieces and are more enjoayable.

I'm intrigued by this statement. How is that you think their songs are not as well written now? If anything, I feel that their transitioning is much better and they have a much more subtle and refined way of returning to themes. To me, the songs on Orchid and Morningrise, Orchid in particular, lack cohesion. They are essentially a bunch of great melodies and riffs strung together, but not necesarilly belonging together; one riff ends, another begins.

Post Morningrise though, particularly on BWP, I find the transitions to be amazing. They blend from distorted to clean to acoustic in a much less abrupt way, and the mood of the music (major, minor, dissonant) changes seamlessly.

Just interested in hearing your perspective...

 

[tintin]

I think the problem with Swedish metal is that the melodic death metal that many of these bands play has no room for experimentation. (Opeth not included).

The Norwegian scene has gone all over the map since the early 90s, with bands like Ulver, Enslaved, Emperor, Dodheimsgard, Solefald, 3rd and the Mortal, etc. going in completely unexpected directions. Their music was more accessible to incorporating acoustics, folk themes, electronic sounds, varied vocal styles. Even Immortal's music has grown in their last two albums, although they're sticking to the same death/black sound.

Swedish and American death metal sounds pretty generic to me. I don't hear a big difference in style between early In Flames, DT, EOS, Hypocrisy and the newer bands like Soilwork, Darkane, and The Haunted. Of course there are Swedish metal bands that do something different, like Dissection, Katatonia, Vintersorg and Otyg, lots other, but the "Gothenburg" sound peaked years ago.

Personally, I don't look to Sweden for interesting metal anymore. This might rile some feathers, but to me American metal like Soilent Green, Agalloch, maudlin of the Well, Krieg, Neurosis, and others, is way more exciting today than Swedish metal.

 

[Demonspell]

There are still great bands coming out of Sweden such as Andromeda, Evergrey, Pain Of Salvation, etc. , even if the Gothenburg scene has long since reached maturity and is now in its eventual decline.

 

[Brutalizer]

The swedish metal scene is BIG and many bands are good, no doubt!
But there are too many melodic death metal bands: In Flames, Gardenian,
Sins Of Omission and whatever they are called! They all sound the same...it's sooo damn boring!

I'm tired of this melodic Gothenburg "tralala"-metal! hehe
Dark Tranquillity are good though! They have somehow their own style.
The Crown rulezzz, but they aren't really a melodic death metal band, but they have melodies too!

Sorry if i offened anyone, these are just my opinions!

Over & out!

 

[spikes77]

yeah the crown still kick ass...And if your into lighter stuff swano will always come through.....as somone said.

 

[Useful Idiot]

Meshuggah still rules, though many of the people here don't quite like them much. I can't wait for their next album.

 

[Wolff]

Originally posted by dune_666
I'm intrigued by this statement. How is that you think their songs are not as well written now? If anything, I feel that their transitioning is much better and they have a much more subtle and refined way of returning to themes. To me, the songs on Orchid and Morningrise, Orchid in particular, lack cohesion. They are essentially a bunch of great melodies and riffs strung together, but not necesarilly belonging together; one riff ends, another begins.

Post Morningrise though, particularly on BWP, I find the transitions to be amazing. They blend from distorted to clean to acoustic in a much less abrupt way, and the mood of the music (major, minor, dissonant) changes seamlessly.

Just interested in hearing your perspective...

I'll venture into answering this since Orchid is my fave:

This album with its intensely melodic riffs, exquisite acoustic interludes, excellent vocals comes very close to perfection. I never tire of it as it has no dull moments. I always discover something new, uncovering a nuance here, and a subtlety there. The riffs are layered on top of each other, the guitars intertwine and truly drive the music. Furthermore, Farfalla and Nordin add a lot of value in their unorthodox approach. The bass lines, and the heavily jazz oriented drums truly stand out (and are sorely missed in MAYH onwards).

As far as the latest work... it bored me rather quickly. Repetition and song structures consisting of repeating sections-- that thing you miscall coherence-- doesn't hold my interest for long. Another thing I have major beef are the lack of memorable riffs. Mikael relies on his distorted/clean tradeoff patterns that in no way draw attention away from the dull riffs themselves.

My 2.

 

[tenebrose]

I think you're making a mistake in categorising all metal from Sweden in one single (rather big, might I add) file. You completely fail to acknowledge that Swedish metal is more than Göteborg death metal.

The Swedish metal scene is, as said before, quite large. It includes all genres of metal and you can't base your judgement on a few bands which are deteriorating. Yes, GDM has peaked... and I don't see why it ever did, really, but GDM is not representative for the Swedish metal scene. At least down here in Skåne, what I see is that the people who listen to GDM are mostly non-metal heads, and people starting to get into metal. It's the people who think HammerFall are for girls and would rather be "cool".

Sort of like what's happening with Paradise Lost... they used to be a fine band, but now, when you go to one of their shows, it's the people in baggy pants and 14 year old would-be-goths who stand in the pit and act like morons. All the old fans stand along the walls and look disappointed.

 

[E V I L]

Originally posted by Wolff


Furthermore, Farfalla and Nordin add a lot of value in their unorthodox approach. The bass lines, and the heavily jazz oriented drums truly stand out (and are sorely missed in MAYH onwards).

I couldn't agree more. Lately, I have really begun digging Ander's work on Morningrise. It truly unites the album and makes it the masterpiece that it is. Farfalla- another pity; the likes of his bass work will not be heard again.

As far as the latest work... it bored me rather quickly. Repetition and song structures consisting of repeating sections-- that thing you miscall coherence-- doesn't hold my interest for long. Another thing I have major beef are the lack of memorable riffs. Mikael relies on his distorted/clean tradeoff patterns that in no way draw attention away from the dull riffs themselves.

This is a misperception, an error. It also almost borders on plagiarism as it's the kind of thing that Armeggeddon's Child could have written. Dune hits the nail on the head dead on about "seamlessness," dissonance and mood. Only the weird thing about Opeth is that, again, very strangely, what makes an album's strength is often concomittantly its weakness, and vice versa. BP has what Orchid lacks. Conversely, Orchid has what BP lacks. Strange. The end result should be an appreciation for the entire Opethian oeuvre (EVIL said "oeuvre") that distills to one of an equipollent love for each album.

I have my fav, but I don't denounce any.

 

[RETIREDTrapped]

Soilwork - a predators portrait.

Terrible. Where did 'DEMON IN VEINS!!' go? huh?

Soilwork = In Flames II = Formula rock = Crap

BlackWater Park isn't great either. Still Life was their 'Masterpiece'.

 

[bleed for me]

Originally posted by tintin
I think the problem with Swedish metal is that the melodic death metal that many of these bands play has no room for experimentation. (Opeth not included).

The Norwegian scene has gone all over the map since the early 90s, with bands like Ulver, Enslaved, Emperor, Dodheimsgard, Solefald, 3rd and the Mortal, etc. going in completely unexpected directions. Their music was more accessible to incorporating acoustics, folk themes, electronic sounds, varied vocal styles. Even Immortal's music has grown in their last two albums, although they're sticking to the same death/black sound.

Swedish and American death metal sounds pretty generic to me. I don't hear a big difference in style between early In Flames, DT, EOS, Hypocrisy and the newer bands like Soilwork, Darkane, and The Haunted. Of course there are Swedish metal bands that do something different, like Dissection, Katatonia, Vintersorg and Otyg, lots other, but the "Gothenburg" sound peaked years ago.

Personally, I don't look to Sweden for interesting metal anymore. This might rile some feathers, but to me American metal like Soilent Green, Agalloch, maudlin of the Well, Krieg, Neurosis, and others, is way more exciting today than Swedish metal.

people aren't always looking for different things all the time (i'm nto talking about myself). People who are a fan of a band like their music for what it is and aren't always looking for anything different, just more quality songs

 

[bleed for me]

Originally posted by E V I L


This is a misperception, an error. It also almost borders on plagiarism as it's the kind of thing that Armeggeddon's Child could have written. Dune hits the nail on the head dead on about "seamlessness," dissonance and mood. Only the weird thing about Opeth is that, again, very strangely, what makes an album's strength is often concomittantly its weakness, and vice versa. BP has what Orchid lacks. Conversely, Orchid has what BP lacks. Strange. The end result should be an appreciation for the entire Opethian oeuvre (EVIL said "oeuvre") that distills to one of an equipollent love for each album.

well said...this is one of the best posts i've seen in a long time

 

[Wolff]

Originally posted by E V I L


This is a misperception, an error. It also almost borders on plagiarism as it's the kind of thing that Armeggeddon's Child could have written. Dune hits the nail on the head dead on about "seamlessness," dissonance and mood. Only the weird thing about Opeth is that, again, very strangely, what makes an album's strength is often concomittantly its weakness, and vice versa. BP has what Orchid lacks. Conversely, Orchid has what BP lacks. Strange. The end result should be an appreciation for the entire Opethian oeuvre (EVIL said "oeuvre") that distills to one of an equipollent love for each album.

I have my fav, but I don't denounce any.

Incidentally, I've expressed that opinion way before the ilks of AC started winding this board up. BWP in particular does get uninteresting; most of the tracks on it seem to wander aimlessly with uninspired roffs. I find it pointless to argue about transitions, coherence et al when fundamentally the music on the whole does so little to me relative to its illustrious predecessors.

My 2.

 

[Downfall]

Originally posted by tenebrose
I think you're making a mistake in categorising all metal from Sweden in one single (rather big, might I add) file. You completely fail to acknowledge that Swedish metal is more than Göteborg death metal.

The Swedish metal scene is, as said before, quite large. It includes all genres of metal and you can't base your judgement on a few bands which are deteriorating. Yes, GDM has peaked... and I don't see why it ever did, really, but GDM is not representative for the Swedish metal scene. At least down here in Skåne, what I see is that the people who listen to GDM are mostly non-metal heads, and people starting to get into metal. It's the people who think HammerFall are for girls and would rather be "cool".

Sort of like what's happening with Paradise Lost... they used to be a fine band, but now, when you go to one of their shows, it's the people in baggy pants and 14 year old would-be-goths who stand in the pit and act like morons. All the old fans stand along the walls and look disappointed.

Well said. I think it is the same thing as in Finland. The metal scene is far larger that you think, because not so many bands get their records out in the USA...

I have to disagree with the Paradise Lost thing though. Although they are not as good as before, I really enjoyed the show. Holmes' singing voice has has reached definition "amazing"...

 

[Wolff]

Originally posted by tenebrose
I think you're making a mistake in categorising all metal from Sweden in one single (rather big, might I add) file. You completely fail to acknowledge that Swedish metal is more than Göteborg death metal.

And you're completely failing to mention any other relevant bands you deem worthy of representing the high standards of Swedish metal these days. I posed the original thread in a provocative way to initiate some debate, not to claim my authoritative knowledge (or lack thereof) on the subject.