Soilwork Stabbing the Drama
Nuclear Blast Records NB1377-2 March 8th, 2005
By Jason Jordan
Grab your weapon of choice and lets head to dill_the_devils place! But, while were on the way, let me tell you about the new Soilwork album Stabbing the Drama. Essentially, the bands latest isnt radically different than Natural Born Chaos or Figure Number Five, except for the lack of competent songwriting; in other words, its a middle-of-the-road effort which fails to raise either of my eyebrows.
Actually, I thought Stabbing the Drama was going to be another fine notch for the Soilworkers until I stumbled past the fourth track. Stabbing the Drama is an ultra-catchy composition that isnt too far removed from their set formula. Good instrumentation, edgy verses, and melodic choruses all interweave to produce a smokin opener. One With the Flies really showcases the masterful use of synthesizers as well as amazing drumming. I used to think that Id miss Ranta, but I can honestly say that I dont in the least. Anyway, Weapon of Vanity and The Crest Fallen are solid numbers in which energy abounds. Speeds trademark vocalizations arent remarkable, though both the clean and distorted vox are strangely satisfying. If only they were as tear-inducing as the ones found on Extols upcoming The Blueprint Dives. The further I delved into Stabbing the Drama, the less I began to care. The songs started blending together to form a conglomeration of nu-tinged, boring muck. Somehow Soilwork just seem to lack substance these days. Songs such as Distance, Observation Slave, and Blind Eye Halo mightve worked better up front after The Crest Fallen ceases to be.
Thus, I have obviously lost faith in a quintet that I thought could do no wrong. The problem with that mantra is: no one band is ever immune from the we-arent-as-good-as-we-used-to-be bug. I know some of you UMers lost interest in these Swedes long ago, and I think I have too. So, should we politely knock on dills door or should we barge in Profanity style?
6.5/10
dill_the_devils Review of Soilwork Stabbing the Drama
Official Soilwork website
Official Nuclear Blast Records website
Nuclear Blast Records NB1377-2 March 8th, 2005
By Jason Jordan
Grab your weapon of choice and lets head to dill_the_devils place! But, while were on the way, let me tell you about the new Soilwork album Stabbing the Drama. Essentially, the bands latest isnt radically different than Natural Born Chaos or Figure Number Five, except for the lack of competent songwriting; in other words, its a middle-of-the-road effort which fails to raise either of my eyebrows.
Actually, I thought Stabbing the Drama was going to be another fine notch for the Soilworkers until I stumbled past the fourth track. Stabbing the Drama is an ultra-catchy composition that isnt too far removed from their set formula. Good instrumentation, edgy verses, and melodic choruses all interweave to produce a smokin opener. One With the Flies really showcases the masterful use of synthesizers as well as amazing drumming. I used to think that Id miss Ranta, but I can honestly say that I dont in the least. Anyway, Weapon of Vanity and The Crest Fallen are solid numbers in which energy abounds. Speeds trademark vocalizations arent remarkable, though both the clean and distorted vox are strangely satisfying. If only they were as tear-inducing as the ones found on Extols upcoming The Blueprint Dives. The further I delved into Stabbing the Drama, the less I began to care. The songs started blending together to form a conglomeration of nu-tinged, boring muck. Somehow Soilwork just seem to lack substance these days. Songs such as Distance, Observation Slave, and Blind Eye Halo mightve worked better up front after The Crest Fallen ceases to be.
Thus, I have obviously lost faith in a quintet that I thought could do no wrong. The problem with that mantra is: no one band is ever immune from the we-arent-as-good-as-we-used-to-be bug. I know some of you UMers lost interest in these Swedes long ago, and I think I have too. So, should we politely knock on dills door or should we barge in Profanity style?
6.5/10
dill_the_devils Review of Soilwork Stabbing the Drama
Official Soilwork website
Official Nuclear Blast Records website
) But overall, I've given up on this band - it's a damn waste of some great musicians (The Chainheart Machine is one of my favorite albums of all time, mainly due to the drumming and guitar solos) and it pisses me off that they've degenerated into this Mudvayne-sounding shit. "But we're just naturally developing as a band" - wow, and this development just HAPPENS to be into the same radio-friendly bullshit that In Flames has stooped to. 
