Undoubtedly Soilwork It has become one of the biggest names on the Swedish metal scene in recent years. Led by the imposing Björn Strid nos regalan este año “Verkligheten“, el álbum que continua el legado de “TI've Ride Majestic“, su larga duración lanzado en 2015.
El usar el verbo “continuar” es quizá lo más ideal, ya que el sonido no cambia nada la linea marcada por disco lanzado hace 4 años. Por lo que si esperabas un cambio radical prepárate para la decepción, y si te gusta lo que ha estado haciendo la banda, terminarás más que complacido. El track que da nombre al álbum es una pieza instrumental que sirve como trampolín para “Arrival”, that in fact it was chosen as the first single and in the right way, because it combines the melodic elements and traditional power that one expects to hear when putting material from Soilwork. De ahí partimos a”Bleeder Despoiler” where without a doubt the most amazing thing is to remember the quality of Strid, y su versatilidad para pasar de sutiles voces limpias a rabiosos gritos en cualquier instante. Un poco más experimental y melódica tenemos a “Full Moon Shoals”, that without losing the style that reigns at work if it is much more grounded and adaptable at the first listen.
Más elaborada y sublime nos encontramos con “The Nurturing Glance”, Maybe a song that sounds a bit different in your guts until the chorus reminds you of the band you are listening to: very complex and deep and seasoned with a highly virtuous guitar solo. “When the Universe Spoke” For its part, it is different: a little darker and in a certain way powerful, from those songs that at the first listen do not offer as much as when you start listening to it more constantly. And then a bombardment of strong percussions is present in “Stålfågel”: an enjoyable track that enters the voice of Alissa White-Gluz of Arch Enemy as a special guest and the clean voices of Strid, they form a dual combination for other interesting. And if we talk about percussion, in the next topic we find a powerful shrapnel in the drums, which is in fact the marker of the dizzying rhythm of “The Wolves are Back in Town“; another great complex and atmospheric theme.
Vamos terminado el viaje y nos encontramos con “Witan”. It is a song that is difficult to digest on listening and difficult to typecast due to the different tones it handles: I honestly feel that it requires more frequent attention to fully understand it. And the contrast hits you in the face with “The Ageless Whisper”, that without problems we could propose as one of the best songs on the album, and where both the voice and the instruments of Soilwork they are pushed to the limit in a masterful way and without reservation. Then comes “Needles and Kin” and then one begins to suspect Soilwork he kept the crown jewels for the last: it is another theme with a heavier and more powerful metal base, which also with the presence of Tomi Joutsen of Amorphis it is polished as a true beastly piece and ideal for metalheads of red bone. The journey comes to an end with “You Aquiver”, lighter and more electronic and lively theme, which is something like a lively album farewell party; of course everything under the unique style of Soilwork.
En resumen, “Verkligheten” es una continuación a su disco antecesor pero eso si, muy bien hecha. Pudo haberse llamado “The Ride Majestic Part II” no one would have missed him anymore. But that doesn't mean a bad thing considering Soilwork he is at a great point in his career and as people say: if something is not broken there is no need to change it. An album that must be listened to completely since in my opinion it goes from less to more, and it is worth knowing in depth and not just from one ear.