BEST NEWS EVER: PETER WICHERS BACK IN SOILWORK!
Friday, September 19th, 2008 at 8:50am by Vince Neilstein
A press release arrived last night after the gates of the MetalSucks Mansion had been shuttered announcing pretty much the best news ever: founding guitarist Peter Wichers has rejoined Soilwork. Wichers had departed to pursue a career in producing, working on such records as the Nuclear Blast all-star Out of the Dark compilation and Warrel Dane of Nevermore’s solo record Praises to the War Machine.
This news is particularly refreshing because without Wichers, Soilwork had been lumbering along as an imitation of its former self. Wichers was always the primary writer and creative force behind Soilwork until his departure in late 2005, so his return should come as welcome news to any fans who thought 2007’s Sworn to a Great Divide was lackluster effort (presently company excluded — I thought Sworn was a passable if even decent effort, but that it lacked that special touch). To make matters worse, second guitarist Ola Frenning quit earlier this year, removing any guitar links to the band’s glory days. With Wichers’ return, his replacement Daniel Antonsson has been let go and drummer Dirk Vervueren’s bandmate in Scarve, Sylvain Coudret, has been tapped for second guitar.
This great news comes just in time for the band’s massive North American headline tour with Darkane, Warbringer and Swallow the Sun! YES! Full list of tour dates after the jump.
Jan. 30 – Rochester, NY – Penny Arcade
Jan. 31 – Detroit, MI – Harpo’s
Feb. 2 – Nashville, TN – Muse
Feb. 3 – Jacksonville, FL – Jack Rabbits
Feb. 4 – St Petersburg, FL – Garage
Feb. 5 – Ft Lauderdale, FL – Culture Room
Feb. 6 – Orlando, FL – Backbooth
Feb. 8 – Charleston, SC – Music Farm
Feb. 9 – Charlotte, NC – Amos Southend
Feb. 10 – West Springfield, VA – Jaxx
Feb. 11 – Philadelphia, NJ – Trocadero
Feb. 12 – Worcester, MA- Palladium
Feb. 13 – Poughkeepsie, NY – Chance
Feb. 14 – Allentown, PA – Crocodile Rock
Feb. 15 – New York City, NY – Highline Ballroom
Feb. 16 – Montreal, QUE – Foufounes Electriques
Feb. 17 – Toronto, ONT – Opera House
Feb. 18 – Pittsburgh, PA – Rex Theater
Feb. 19 – Cleveland, OH – Peabody’s Down Under
Feb. 20 – Sauget, IL – Pop’s
Feb. 21 – Mokena, IL – Pearl Room
Feb. 22 – Milwaukee, WI – Rave
Feb. 23 – St Paul, MN – Station 4
Feb. 24 – Winnipeg, MB – Royal Albert Arms
Feb. 25 – Regina, SK – Riddell
Feb. 26 – Calgary, AL – Warehouse
Feb. 27 – Edmonton, AL – Starlite Room
Feb. 28 – Prince George, BC – Soundstage
Mar. 1 – Vancouver, BC – Plaza Club
Mar. 2 – Victoria, BC – Sugar
Mar. 3 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon
Mar. 4 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theater
Mar. 5 – San Francisco, CA – Slim’s
Mar. 6 – Bakersfield, CA – Dome
Mar. 7 – San Marcos, CA – Jumping Turtle
Mar. 8 – Los Angeles, CA – Key Club
Mar. 10 – Farmington, MN – Gator’s
Mar. 11 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
Mar. 12 – Kansas City, MO – Beaumont Club
Mar. 13 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom
Mar. 14 – San Antonio, TX – Scout Bar
Mar. 15 – Fort Worth, TX – Lola’s
Mar. 16 – Houston, TX – Scout Bar
Mar. 18 – Louisville, KY – Uncle Peasants
Mar. 19 – Raleigh, NC – Volume 11
Mar. 20 – Jacksonville, NC – Hooligans Music Hall
Mar. 21 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel
Mar. 22 – Baltimore, MD – Sonar
There is no Philadelphia, NJ…
This is indeed awesome news!
Very very awesome news!
IIRC, Peter moved to Nashville with his wife and family in order to be close to hi quality studios so he could produce. Wonder what happened to that whole thing? Any way you slice it, I am very happy that he is back in Soilwork. I loved PTTWM which he wrote most of.
I counted I think 3 blast beats on the newest album. Gotta mean we’re looking forward to something, since the last 3 albums just didn’t do it for me. This is spectacular news though, I hope the next CD will nail Scar Symmetry. Though I heard Dan Swano was gonna be the new singer for ‘em, so I don’t think Soilwork can compete anymore.
Fuck yes! I thought Sworn To a Great Divide was a pretty good album, and to see that Wichers is coming back spells a great new album out of Soilwork next time.
It’s about fucking time Darkane came to California too. I’ve been listening to those guys since I saw them with Soilwork a few years ago in Sac and I haven’t fuckin seen them since. It’ll be nice to actually recognize their shit this time.
Oh yeah, Diet Pepsi is metal!
This is the best “comeback” news anyone could receive, save Devin Townsend going into his closet, opening a box, and just like Peter Parker putting on the black suit, Devin puts on the symbiot that is the skullet and the evil forces enable him to reform SYL.Now THAT would be a comeback.But still, Peter’s back.Amen.
[...] guitarist Peter Wichers returned to Soilwork and ex-At All Cost guitarist Mike Carrigan replaced Kris Norris in Darkest Hour; we rejoiced that [...]
This is great news. I know alot of Soilwork fans disagree but Stabbing The Drama is one of my favorite metal albums all time and I thought “Sworn” was a steep drop off. Now Peter’s back so I hope the next offering is f’in’ brutal.
Philadelphia, NJ?! Fuck you!!
[...] that of Peter Wichers’, who left Soilwork in ‘05 in favor of the producer’s chair only to rejoin Soilwork last month. Not that it can’t be done — Fear Factory’s Christian Olde Wolbers is someone who [...]
[...] Daylight fuckin’ Dies!! And Swallow the Sun! On the same bill! Headlined (finally!) by a newly re-Peter Wichers’ed Soilwork!! [...]
[...] BEST NEWS EVER: PETER WICHERS BACK IN SOILWORK! [...]
[...] BEST NEWS EVER: PETER WICHERS BACK IN SOILWORK! [...]
[...] it wasn’t the very first show back for Wichers, a founding member and key songwriter who recently returned to the group after a four-year hiatus, who had already been playing with the band for weeks on tour with Darkane, Warbringer and Swallow [...]