Soilwork - The Early Chapters
Listenable Records - 2004
By Philip Whitehouse
If you're one of the many Soilwork listeners who feel that the Gothenburg melodeath crew's quality control has been somewhat lacking since Chainheart Machine, this five track EP may be of some interest to you - a live track, a couple of covers and a previously unreleased track, all dating from the beginning of Soilwork's career. The covers are excellently done, the Mercyful Fate cover 'Egypt' in particular benefitting from a modernisation. Deep Purple's 'Burn' sounds pretty good too, although the keyboards seem to clash with the guitars somewhat.
Elsewhere, it's pretty much standard early Soilwork fare - fast paced, crunchy melodic death metal with plenty of fiddly riffs, pinched harmonics and blistering solos, all driven by the strangled growls of the manic vocalist. Sadly though, one can't get over the impression that a five-track EP of old material is hardly worth the asking price, and that perhaps Listenable are cashing in somewhat on Soilwork's recent high profile - albeit with good reason, since they are the label that picked up on their talent in the first place.
If you're a die-hard Soilwork fan, you'll enjoy this, but probably not enough to go out and buy it - save the readies for a decent full-length album instead.
6.5/10
Soilwork's Official website
Listenable Records website
Listenable Records - 2004
By Philip Whitehouse
If you're one of the many Soilwork listeners who feel that the Gothenburg melodeath crew's quality control has been somewhat lacking since Chainheart Machine, this five track EP may be of some interest to you - a live track, a couple of covers and a previously unreleased track, all dating from the beginning of Soilwork's career. The covers are excellently done, the Mercyful Fate cover 'Egypt' in particular benefitting from a modernisation. Deep Purple's 'Burn' sounds pretty good too, although the keyboards seem to clash with the guitars somewhat.
Elsewhere, it's pretty much standard early Soilwork fare - fast paced, crunchy melodic death metal with plenty of fiddly riffs, pinched harmonics and blistering solos, all driven by the strangled growls of the manic vocalist. Sadly though, one can't get over the impression that a five-track EP of old material is hardly worth the asking price, and that perhaps Listenable are cashing in somewhat on Soilwork's recent high profile - albeit with good reason, since they are the label that picked up on their talent in the first place.
If you're a die-hard Soilwork fan, you'll enjoy this, but probably not enough to go out and buy it - save the readies for a decent full-length album instead.
6.5/10
Soilwork's Official website
Listenable Records website
