MetalSucks

Praises to the War Machine, the first solo effort from Nevermore / Sanctuary vocalist Warrel Dane, is one of the releases yet to come out this Spring that I’m most looking forward to. The effort was recorded and mixed by ex-Soilwork axeman Peter Wichers who also plays guitar and bass on the album; Soilwork drummer Dirk Verbeuren plays drums on the record as well. Praises to the War Machine is now available for streaming in its entirety on Warrel Dane’s MySpace. Also, check out the handy-dandy widget, below!

The result? Praises to the War Machine sounds something like Soilmore or Neverwork, not that this is a bad thing at all. The production and guitar tone are Wichers’ trademark, but Dane’s vocals add a dynamic to the music that’s distinctly Nevermore. If you’re a fan of either, you’ll likely dig this release. If you’re unfamiliar with Nevermore, you a) are a nincompoop, b) should check out several of their songs here. And I’m guessing most of you know Soilwork pretty well.

Praises to the War Machine drops April 28th in Europe and May 13th in the U.S. on Century Media.

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Often when a band loses some of its core members for replacements the remaining outfit is a lumbering, bland replication of itself. Not so for Sweden’s Soilwork, whom, despite losing both key guitarists within the span of the past year and a half who wrote and played on the bulk of their recorded output, are still the well-oiled killing machine they’ve always been in the live setting. Last Tuesday’s show (March 18) with Throwdown and War of Ages at the Gramercy Theater in New York City proved that even without some of their key members Soilwork are still relevant and still great, the reigning Kings (well… Princes, maybe) of Swedish metal.

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Axl and I will be at tonight’s Soilwork / Throwdown show (aka Scum of the Earth tour) at New York’s Gramercy Theater. We’re a bit bummed Through the Eyes of the Dead dropped off the tour, but what can you do? I’m always excited to see Soilwork (though personally I believe they should be the headliners), and as for Throwdown, Revolver editor Brandon Geist summed it up succinctly on the Revolver Blog: “… of all the gazillions of bands that have tried to ape Pantera over the years, only Throwdown, on that record [Venom & Tears], have done it right.”

If you’re at the show, come say hi. I have a big beard and Axl wears glasses. We look Jewish. We may also be hanging out with these assclowns.

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Guitarist Ola Frenning has split from Swedish melodic death metallers Soilwork, marking the second key guitarist to leave the band in the past year and a half and leaving bassist Ola Flink and vocalist Bjorn “Speed” Strid as the only two members left from the band’s second record Chainheart Machine. Frenning had been in the band for 10 years, joining them right after the recording of Steelbath Suicide for the accompanying tour and remaining with the band for 7 albums.

Frenning’s departure marks the end of an era of sorts, as the Wichers/Frenning combo was responsible for writing the large body of Soilwork material — and, who knew, according to the Wikipedia rats who already have Frenning listed as a former member, he was actually Wichers’ uncle.

The band cited Frenning’s difficulty with the touring schedule as the reason for the split, and Frenning cited the desire to focus on production and writing, an eerily similar situation to Wichers’ departure in late 2006. What’s up with the rest of these dudes, do they stink up the bus or something? But seriously, this information is actually consistent with what Frenning told us in an interview this past November. He cited road fatigue and stress as the reason for the band’s cancellation at Download Festival in 2006, and to this journalists eyes and ears he seemed tired and worn down even at that early stage in the touring cycle. Hey, touring isn’t easy and it’s certainly not for everyone.

In any case, we wish both Ola and Soilwork luck. The band has already announced David Andersson as the replacement guitarist for the upcoming tours, and Ola has promised updates on his other work via his MySpace page. We’ll get a chance to see the new guitarist at the upcoming Scum of the Earth tour with Throwdown and Through the Eyes of the Dead.

-VN

The rad dudes over at Metal Injection have posted a new video interview with Randy Blythe from Lamb of God, Bjorn Strid from Soilwork, and Dez Fafara of Devildriver… all in the same room, filmed on their recent OMG-best-lineup-ever tour (along with Killswitch Engage). The three frontman have some pretty interesting things to say about illegal downloading. Blythe, for a change, comes off as smart, accepting of the current state and recognizing the need to adapt. Strid is mostly pensive and understand both sides, while Fafara ends up sounding like a bit of an ill-informed idiot, suggesting all artists band together and sue the iPod and iTunes out of existence. Great idea, that’ll work. <sarcasm> And Coal Chamber was a great band, too. </sarcasm>

It has to be seen to be believed. Check out the video at Metal Injection.

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In the first edition of the Nuclear Blast Video Cast, Swedish metal kings Soilwork answer interview questions, among them “Name five albums that you can’t stop spinning.”After Bjorn Strid sites two predictable staples (Metallica’s Kill ‘Em All, and Iron Maiden’s Number of the Beast, natch), without any hesitation Strid names Love/Hate’s Blackout in the Red Room, and then goes right back to Dissection and Testament like he didn’t just say… Love/Hate! We knew Soilwork’s sense of melody came from somewhere. Here’s the video for the title track from Strid’s 3rd favorite album.

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As we are wont to do when we hang out and drink Jameson, Kip and I got to listening to metal on Saturday night. After nearly getting shot in the ghetto, getting a free rental van, nearly wrecking it, and moving a bunch of furniture in the snow, we needed a release. Thankfully our good old friends Jameson and Soilwork (as well as Unearth, and virtually unknown prog-metal masters Sikth) were there for us in a pinch. Naturally we got to talking about the band’s live show; Soilwork are a fucking sick live band, and according to Kip who recently caught them as the first of four bands on a lineup also featuring Devildriver, Killswitch Engage and Lamb of God, the Swedish metallers have still got it.

Thankfully they recently announced the “Scum of the Earth Tour” with Throwdown, Through the Eyes of the Dead and War of Ages, which will grace North American shores beginning in early March; even those that caught them opening for Killswitch / LoG got an abbreviated set, so it’ll be great to see them in full force this Spring.

Here’s a pro-shot video of Soilwork performing “Follow the Hollow” — no word on when or where, but I’d guess it’s a European festival circa 2002/2003, probably on the Natural Born Chaos tour. Though there’s been a couple of member changes since then, it’s still a great taste of what the ‘Work has to offer live.

And don’t forget to check out our recent interview with guitarist Ola Frenning.

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All That Remains will tour next year with Chimaira (pictured above left in winter coats). That’s a pretty good bill – I’d say you should never, ever, under any circumstances miss a chance to see Chimaira live, and I’m told that All That Remains are good live, too, except that I’ve seen them twice and they haven’t been that great either time. But I guess I’d give them a third chance.

Alas, Five Finger Death Suck will be the openers. I guess we can at least be grateful that since they’re going on first, it will be easy to miss them.

Meanwhile, Throwdown (pictured above right, also in winter coats – be proud of me for choosing a theme and sticking with it) are doing a tour with Soilwork and Through the Eyes of the Dead. War of Ages will be the openers; for anyone unfamiliar with them, they’re an above average metalcore band and probably the best Christian metal band this side of post-Luti-Kriss, pre-Ross Robinson Norma Jean.

ANYWAY, I’m sure you can find tour dates through the usual channels, as I’m way too lazy to post them here.

-AR

MetalSucks recently sat down with guitarist Ola Frenning (above, right) of Swedish metal kings Soilwork mere hours before their sold out show at New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom with Killswitch Engage, Lamb of God and Devildriver. Frenning talks about the tour, the band’s new album Sworn to a Great Divide (read our review), self-producing for the first time, the sudden exit of guitarist and songwriter Peter Wichers from the band, future touring plans and more. Read the full transcript after the jump.

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October saw the release of two “Soilwork” albums. One was produced/written/released by ex-Soilwork guitarist Peter Wichers with a variety of different well-known singers under the Nuclear Blast All Stars: Out of the Dark moniker (read our review here) and the other — Sworn to a Great Divide — was a proper Soilwork release, the band’s first without Wichers who was heretofore a primary songwriter in the band. While Sworn to a Great Divide may not be Soilwork’s best work, it should certainly allay any fears that the band would be unable to write good songs without Wichers in the picture; in fact, it’s surprising how well the band has been able to continue on without him, and the band never sounds like a carbon copy of themselves trying to replicate past sounds. Sworn ends up sounding like a “best of” Soilwork album, echoing what the band’s press releases have said, by offering up a mix of both old and new-style Soilwork in the bodies of brand new songs. While the “X” factor that was Wichers’ inventiveness may be missing, Sworn to a Great Divide is still a really good record that should please fans of the “Gothenburg” sound (even though Soilwork is actually from Helsingborg) with plenty of aggressive riffing, NWOBHM-inspired guitar harmonies, and an epic mix of growling and clean singing.

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October, 2007 will go down as an interesting month for Gothenburg metal; we’ve effectively seen the release of two Soilwork albums. One, which bears the Soilwork namesake, is the first album written and recorded by the band without ex-guitarist and primary songwriter Peter Wichers. The second is essentially a Peter Wichers solo album released under the Nuclear Blast All Stars moniker — Wichers wrote, produced and played guitar and had a host of other musicians contribute their duties, including an A-list roster of singers, one for each song. Anders Friden (In Flames), Peter Tagtgren (Hypocrisy), John Bush (Anthrax), and Bjorn “Speed” Strid (Soilwork) all contribute vocals. Out of the Dark ends up being a solid listen, if not so much a proper album as a collection of songs. Nuclear Assault has drawn on their rich history to assemble a disc that’s a much more interesting — at least to these ears — version of the Roadrunner United compilation put out a couple of years back.

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The first and title track from Soilwork’s new record might just be one of the best — combining Chainheart-era pummeling riffs with Soilwork’s now trademark melody, it’s pretty much a snapshot of latter-day Soilwork.

In case you missed it, the band is selling pre-orders at CMdistro.com of the new CD along with a DVD and t-shirt all for the incredible price of only $16, with free shipping. I bought one, and you should too. If this track doesn’t sell you, check out the whole album which is currently streaming at the band’s MySpace page.

Sworn to a Great Divide drops October 19th in Europe and October 23 in the U.S. Be sure to catch them on tour in the U.S. with Devildriver, Lamb of God and Killswitch Engage this fall.

Steal This Track: Soilwork – “Sworn to a Great Divide” mp3

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Yesterday Soilwork made their entire new album available for streaming on their MySpace page, and we highly recommend you go listen now as it’ll only be up for the next week. The new disc is a combination of Soilworks both new and old; there’s the thrashier elements of Chainheart Machine and Predator’s Portrait as well as the more structured, melodic characteristics of Natural Born Chaos, Figure Number Five, and Stabbing the Drama. Though departed guitarist and songwriter Peter Wichers is missed, it’s surprising how well the band has soldiered on without him and with new guitarist Daniel Antonsson. The songs are solid, and Bjorn “Speed” Strid sounds better than ever, thanks I’m sure in part to vocal producer / skullet inspirer Devin Townsend.

Also, be sure to check out the amazing deal at CMDistro.com: get the new CD, bonus DVD and a t-shirt all for only $16, free shipping. While supplies last. Can’t beat it.

In the meantime, please enjoy track 3 from the album, “Breeding Thorns.”

Sworn to a Great Divide is out officially October 19 in Europe and October 23 in the U.S.

Steal this Track: Soilwork – “Breeding Thorns” mp3

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Major labels, pay attention: THIS is how you treat your fans right. Century Media announced today — almost two full weeks before the proper release of Soilwork’s new album Sworn to a Great Divide — that not only is the full album available for streaming for the next 8 days on the band’s MySpace page, but for a limited time you can purchase the CD+DVD edition of the new album together with an exclusive Soilwork t-shirt all for the amazingly low price of $16! This deal is available only through CM Distro.

How’s that for a reward for being a loyal fan? A hell of a lot better than the ass-raping Sire Records imposed on HIM fans by charging them $3 for a fucking music video (!!). Sure as fuck beats suing the piss out of your customers. Hell, it’s a way better deal than the criminally high $18.99 price tags most releases have in major retail outlets. Seriously, what are the majors thinking? Cut your goddamned payroll, fire your know-nothing, suit-wearing execs and get used to making less money already.

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Soilwork have posted an e-card for their forthcoming release Sworn to a Great Divide, due October 19 in Europe and October 23 in North America. The e-card has roughly one minute-long clips of all 11 songs on the album, and has restored my faith that this album will actually be worth a shit after the relatively disappointing first single.

I’d have to agree with some of the critics that this is the most Natural Born Chaos-like album since, well, Natural Born Chaos (see: “Bleeding Thorns” and “Your Beloved Scapegoat”). On first listen through (and based on these one-minute clips), my faith in these Swedes has been restored — but we’ll reserve final judgment ’til we hear the whole thing.

-VN