Sweden’s Melodic Death Metal band Soilwork formed in 1995 with Vocalist Björn “Speed” Strid and Guitarist Peter Wichers taking the name Inferior Breed with Bassist Carl-Gustav Döös, Guitarist Ludvig Svartz, and Drummer Jimmy Persson. Then, in 1996, the band changed its musical style, as well as name to Soilwork, as they put together a demo, In Dreams We Fall into the Eternal Lake. Before they could play a note, Döös left the band. Rebounding from the loss of Döös, the band met Arch Enemy’s Michael Amott, who dug the demo, and was signed to Listenable Records. Continuing their growth, Keyboardist Carlos Holmberg and Bassist Ola Flink joined the band in 1998 and Soilwork’s debut album, Steelbath Suicide, was quickly released. However, Svartz and Persson left, and Henry Ranta replaced Persson while Ola Frenning took over for Svartz. The new lineup toured Europe with Darkane, Naglfar, and Krisiun. Soon after the tour, Soilwork started working on their second album and The Chainheart Machine was dropped in 2000, which got them noticed, thus signed to Nuclear Blast, where they remain to this day. Touring with Defleshed, Cannibal Corpse, and Dark Tranquillity, they followed with in 2001’s A Predator’s Portrait, thrusting Soilwork into the Melodic Death Metal stratosphere.
Then, in early 2005, Soilwork released their sixth full-length studio album, Stabbing the Drama, which broke them wide open to the American public’s eye with its diversity, reaching 12 and 21 on the Billboard Heatseeker and Independent charts. They were also invited to do Ozzfest that same year, where they rubbed elbows with bands like Rob Zombie, Killswitch Engage, and As I Lay Dying, among others. By year’s end, the band toured with bands like Darkest Hour, Mnemic, Threat Signal, and Fear Factory on various legs. As it is said, the rest is history. Ten years later, Soilwork are in prime form with a lineup of “Speed” Strid on vocals, Sven Karlsson on keyboards, Dirk Verbeuren on drums, Sylvain Coudret and David Andersson on guitars, and newest addition, Markus Wibom on bass. Coming off the bold 2013 double album, The Living Infinite, August 28th saw the band release their tenth studio album, The Ride Majestic, which was recorded by David Castillo at Studio Gröndal, and was produced and mixed by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street.
The Ride Majestic is an 11-track combination of Speed Metal and beautifully orchestrated hooks with growling vocals mixed with some gentleness that only “Speed” Strid can provide. For instance, the album title track “The Ride Majestic” starts with a sweet little guitar, then, there is a pause…and the hyper dual guitars and drums commence. The single guitar weaves in and out the Speed Metal melodically as Strid screams about how the church is supposedly supposed to save.
Next is “Alight in the Aftermath” with hyper drums starting the track and searing riffs with a melodic breakdown and grinding solo by Coudret as Strid sings about the afterlife; “And if that flame enlightens me/Will it relieve me of my needs?/To come alive, free from existence/Escape the emptiness where I was born.” At one time, everybody thinks about “Death in General.” The track by this name begins with a feedback line that dissipates into a little slower piece until the first stanza is through when the speed picks like an answer to the first stanza. The back and forth like a conversation continues until the singing and screaming interweave; “You went out of reach as quick as the setting sun/Nowhere else you could have gone.”
Guitars melodically bring in “Enemies of Fidelity,” then, the supersonic drums kick in with the hypnotic vocals followed by the answering screams in this piece of the people that believe or do not depending on the situation; “Restless believer/Of everything you hear/Of everything you see.” Andersson cuts in with a sweet solo, then, the track ends with each musical element fading out. Moving on to “Petrichor by Sulphor,” a bombastic tune of drum work to make John Bonham jealous accompanied with Soilwork’s patented melodic guitars that weave throughout with Andersson’s breaking into solo in this piece of working through the pain to the tranquility of a new dark dawn; “Like growing pains/They fade away/Like every time/They made you suffer/I will return.”
A phantasmal riff hails in and carries through “The Phantom,” which features Pascal Poulsen of Odium. Soon, the drums hit, and the multi-vocals commence in this ode to their higher power; “I live to awake you/You son of time.” Then, Andersson’s solo soars in. “Ride the Majestic (Aspire Angelic)” follows, beginning with a melodic guitar entry as the original version, but with an urgency punctuated by the hyper drums on its heels. The interwoven screaming and singing vocals talk about the angel of death coming for him; “She is closer now than death/Aspire Angelic/But the Ride is Majestic.” This track features a solo by Coudret as well as a duet with Karlsson and Andersson.
“Whirl of Pain” has a beautifully strummed intro that sets up for the Gothic tune with hyper drums accompanied by melting riffs as the guys mixed vocals tell of the apocalypse and the evil pervades. The anthemic “All Along Echoing Paths” has a breakdown hearkening to late ’90s, early 2000’s Alt/Goth music, but with speed drums and the requisite screams answering the singing of true devotion; “Strength in numbers/Will burn us all.” Andersson has this solo. Shining on is “Shining Lights,” with a happy riff intro that quickly turns into a complex speed guitar riff and screaming vocals of the complexities of religion as a hindrance to learning; “A resolution never seen before/Reality won’t be a friend no more/’Cause the further it goes, the less you will grasp.” Coudret solos on this track. Wrapping up The Ride Majestic is a strangely sweet Soilwork ballad, “Father and Son Watching the World Go Down,” featuring Nathan James Biggs of Sonic Syndicate in this cut of apocalypse upon a father and son as the light seemingly prevail with the lyrics “Riding the wave of nothingness/Our ambitions slowly ripped apart/But we still stand” before Andersson has the final solo.
The Ride Majestic delves deep into the darkest psyche of the human spirit that normally gets repressed. Soilwork puts those thoughts to words head-on, accompanied by hardcore, driving beats and melodies that break into the beautiful. While some fans may look to 2002’s Natural Born Chaos as the pinnacle of the band’s best others may have 2007’s Sworn to a Great Divide holding that title. Whatever it may be, 2015’s The Ride Majestic is a wonderful way to continue their story. CrypticRock gives The Ride Majestic 4.5 stars of 5.
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