Soilwork
Encyclopedia
Soilwork is a Swedish
melodic death metal
band from Helsingborg
. They are currently signed to Nuclear Blast
. Formed in late 1995 by Björn Strid and Peter Wichers
, originally under the name Inferior Breed, the band changed their name in late 1996 to Soilwork (meaning "working from the ground up").
Their sound is a fusion of the classic Gothenburg
metal sound with power-groove riff
s of late 1970s, early 1980s British
, and European metal. However, in their most recent albums, Soilwork has also introduced elements from other genres such as blues rock and alternative metal
, and adopted a more melodic sound. Their most recent work has more singing and lighter melodies than their earlier work, as well as a more polished production.
, Meshuggah
, and Carcass
. Upon changing their band name in late 1996 to Soilwork they began to make more melodic music. Soilwork began work on a demo
entitled In Dreams We Fall into the Eternal Lake. Before the recording ever took place, bassist Carl-Gustav Döös left the group, leaving guitarist Peter Wichers
to handle the bass tracks on the demo. In a chance encounter, Soilwork met Michael Amott
of Arch Enemy fame, who owned a record store in Helsingborg, and gave him a copy of their demo. This ultimately led to the band signing with Listenable Records. In 1998, Soilwork added keyboardist Carlos Holmberg and bassist Ola Flink. The band recorded and released their debut album Steelbath Suicide
in May of that year. Soon after, guitarist Ludvig Svartz and drummer Jimmy Persson left, citing "different musical opinions." Persson (now guitar and vocals in Faithful Darkness) was replaced by Henry Ranta, while Svartz was replaced by Peter Wichers' uncle, Ola Frenning. The band toured throughout Europe in support of the album with bands such as Darkane
, Naglfar
, and Krisiun
. In 2000, Soilwork recorded their second full length LP, The Chainheart Machine
. The album received critical acclaim and eventually landed them a recording contract with major label Nuclear Blast, allowing the band to tour with acts such as Defleshed
, Cannibal Corpse
, and even, briefly, with fellow melodic death metallers Dark Tranquillity
.
. The release was well received and brought Soilwork to the forefront of the melodic death metal scene, alongside label mates In Flames
. The band played at Wacken Open Air Festival
that year, and toured extensively with Annihilator
and Nevermore
. Following up on their success, Soilwork entered the studio again in late 2001 to record the follow-up to A Predator's Portrait with Devin Townsend
(Strapping Young Lad
, Devin Townsend Band) and Fredrik Nordström
. Natural Born Chaos
was released in early 2002, to much acclaim as well. Soilwork toured throughout Europe to support the album, and, for the first time, throughout the United States
, first with bands Hypocrisy
, Scar Culture, Chimaira, Unearth and Killswitch Engage
during the summer, then alongside label mates In Flames during the fall. After touring, they started writing and recording their fifth album.
and Shadows Fall
throughout April and May. That same month, Figure Number Five
was released. In early June, drummer Henry Ranta left the band, to focus more on his personal life, and was replaced a week later by Richard Evensand. The band then embarked on another North American tour with In Flames, Chimaira
, and Unearth
. In September, Soilwork toured Japan
with Children of Bodom Merely days after a short mini-trek tour through Japan, Soilwork also toured Australia
briefly. Later that year, they again toured North America with Chimaira, As I Lay Dying
and Bleeding Through
. After the tour Richard Evensand left the band to replace drummer Andols Herrick who had recently left Chimaira. Soilwork initially announced his "temporary" replacement as Dirk Verbeuren of Scarve
; Verbeuren would later become the full time replacement. In early 2004, singer Björn "Speed" Strid laid down tracks with Italian
melodic death metal band Disarmonia Mundi
. During April, the band announced that it had extended its contract with record label Nuclear Blast Records. That same month the band again toured Australia alongside Anthrax
, Embodiment
, and Killswitch Engage. In mid 2004, Soilwork toured Japan for a second time alongside Dark Tranquillity. In September, Soilwork entered the studio to record their sixth album, Stabbing the Drama
.
charts at number 19, and in Sweden at number 14. The band also began to gain minor commercial success in the United States
. Stabbing the Drama
reached #12 and #21 on the Billboard Heatseeker and Independent
album charts, respectively. The band partook in the 2005 Ozzfest
, performing on the second stage. In November the band toured stateside with Fear Factory
. In late 2005, guitarist Peter Wichers
left the band due to tour exhaustion and other personal issues. The same month, Bjorn announced he was working on a second album with Disarmomia Mundi. In May 2006, Daniel Antonsson was announced as the replacement for Peter Wichers. Soilwork spent the summer appearing at festivals throughout Europe. In September they toured throughout the UK
and Turkey
. The band later pulled out of the Turkish dates, due to terrorist attacks
and bombings that had recently occurred to tourists there. In October the band trekked North America, this time with Darkest Hour, Mnemic
and Threat Signal
. In March 2007, Soilwork began work on their seventh album.
Late in June, Ola Frenning announced that the album was finished. Soilwork toured in the fall alongside Caliban
, Sonic Syndicate
, and Dark Tranquillity
in a tour dubbed, 'Eastpak
Antidote' tour. The album was released on October 19, 2007 through Nuclear Blast. The album sports a sound closer to thrash
than their previous albums, though still backed by their trademark synth elements.
The band took part on an American tour with co-headliners Lamb of God
and Killswitch Engage
, as well as DevilDriver
. The tour began on November 28, 2007 at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell, Massachusetts, and ended at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, New Mexico on December 17, 2007. The tour, dubbed The Clash of the Titans Tour 2007, appeared in Grand Prairie, TX at the Nokia Live Theatre on December 8, 2007 to play for the entire Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. On February 12, 2008, an official statement was posted on Soilwork's official website that Ola Frenning and Soilwork had decided to part ways, his replacement came in the form of Sylvain Coudret. In another statement on September 18, 2008, it was revealed that guitarist Daniel Antonsson
would be replaced with the return of former guitarist and founding member Peter Wichers
and also that Sylvain Coudret from the band Scarve
who has been doing session work as second guitarist during 2008 Summer festivals became permanent guitar player for the band.
, Speed announced on January 22, 2010 in a MySpace bulletin that the new album would be entitled The Panic Broadcast. The album was released on July 2 in Europe, and on July 13 in North America.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
melodic death metal
Melodic death metal
Melodic death metal is a heavy metal music style that combines elements from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with elements of death metal. The style was developed during the early and mid-1990s, primarily in England and Scandinavia...
band from Helsingborg
Helsingborg
Helsingborg is a city and the seat of Helsingborg Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden with 97,122 inhabitants in 2010. Helsingborg is the centre of an area in the Øresund region of about 320,000 inhabitants in north-west Scania, and is Sweden's closest point to Denmark, with the Danish city...
. They are currently signed to Nuclear Blast
Nuclear Blast
Nuclear Blast is an independent record label and mail order record distributor with subsidiaries in Germany, the United States and Brazil. The record label was founded in 1987 by Markus Staiger in Germany. Originally releasing hardcore punk records, the label moved on to releasing albums by melodic...
. Formed in late 1995 by Björn Strid and Peter Wichers
Peter Wichers
Peter Wichers is best known as one of the founding members of Swedish melodic death metal band, Soilwork. From 1995 until late 2005, when he announced his departure from the band, he was known as the lead guitarist and also a songwriter, especially on their Stabbing the Drama album...
, originally under the name Inferior Breed, the band changed their name in late 1996 to Soilwork (meaning "working from the ground up").
Their sound is a fusion of the classic Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
metal sound with power-groove riff
RIFF
The Resource Interchange File Format is a generic file container format for storing data in tagged chunks. It is primarily used to store multimedia such as sound and video, though it may also be used to store any arbitrary data....
s of late 1970s, early 1980s British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and European metal. However, in their most recent albums, Soilwork has also introduced elements from other genres such as blues rock and alternative metal
Alternative metal
Alternative metal is a genre of alternative rock and heavy metal that gained popularity in the early 1990s. Most notably, alternative metal bands are characterized by heavy guitar riffs and experimental approaches to heavy music.-Origins:...
, and adopted a more melodic sound. Their most recent work has more singing and lighter melodies than their earlier work, as well as a more polished production.
Formative years
Formed in late 1995, originally under the name Inferior Breed. Their sound, as explained by "Speed" was influenced by such bands as PanteraPantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
, Meshuggah
Meshuggah
Meshuggah is an extreme metal band from Umeå, Sweden, formed in 1987. Meshuggah's line-up has primarily consisted of founding members vocalist Jens Kidman and lead guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, drummer Tomas Haake, who joined in 1990, and rhythm guitarist Mårten Hagström, who joined in 1992...
, and Carcass
Carcass (band)
Carcass are an extreme metal band from England, who formed in 1985 and disbanded in 1995. A reunion was enacted in 2008 without one of its original members, drummer Ken Owen, due to health reasons....
. Upon changing their band name in late 1996 to Soilwork they began to make more melodic music. Soilwork began work on a demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
entitled In Dreams We Fall into the Eternal Lake. Before the recording ever took place, bassist Carl-Gustav Döös left the group, leaving guitarist Peter Wichers
Peter Wichers
Peter Wichers is best known as one of the founding members of Swedish melodic death metal band, Soilwork. From 1995 until late 2005, when he announced his departure from the band, he was known as the lead guitarist and also a songwriter, especially on their Stabbing the Drama album...
to handle the bass tracks on the demo. In a chance encounter, Soilwork met Michael Amott
Michael Amott
Michael Amott is a Swedish guitarist, songwriter, founding member of the bands Arch Enemy, Spiritual Beggars, and Carnage, as well as a member of the death metal band Carcass. He is the older brother of Christopher Amott...
of Arch Enemy fame, who owned a record store in Helsingborg, and gave him a copy of their demo. This ultimately led to the band signing with Listenable Records. In 1998, Soilwork added keyboardist Carlos Holmberg and bassist Ola Flink. The band recorded and released their debut album Steelbath Suicide
Steelbath Suicide
-Japanese bonus tracks:-2000 Re-issue bonus track:-November 2008 Re-issue bonus track:-Credits:* Björn "Speed" Strid – Vocals* Peter Wichers – Guitar* Ludvig Svartz – Guitar* Carlos Del Olmo Holmberg – Keyboards, Synthesizer, Programming...
in May of that year. Soon after, guitarist Ludvig Svartz and drummer Jimmy Persson left, citing "different musical opinions." Persson (now guitar and vocals in Faithful Darkness) was replaced by Henry Ranta, while Svartz was replaced by Peter Wichers' uncle, Ola Frenning. The band toured throughout Europe in support of the album with bands such as Darkane
Darkane
Darkane is a melodic death / progressive thrash metal band that originated in Helsingborg, Sweden in 1998. Their music contains ample thrash elements interspersed with acoustic interludes and symphonic features, such as the in studio use of synthesizers and occasionally full orchestras and choir...
, Naglfar
Naglfar
In Norse mythology, Naglfar or Naglfari is a boat made entirely from the fingernails and toenails of the dead. During the events of Ragnarök, Naglfar is foretold to sail to Vígríðr, ferrying hordes that will there battle with the gods...
, and Krisiun
Krisiun
Krisiun is a Brazilian death metal band, founded by Alex Camargo , Moyses Kolesne , and Max Kolesne . Since its formation, in 1990, the group recorded two demos, Evil Age in 1991, and Curse of the Evil One in 1992, and self-released an extended play titled Unmerciful Order in 1993...
. In 2000, Soilwork recorded their second full length LP, The Chainheart Machine
The Chainheart Machine
- Credits :Soilwork* Speed Strid − Vocals* Peter Wichers − Guitar* Ola Frenning − Guitar* Ola Flink − Bass* Carlos Del Olmo Holmberg − Keyboards* Henry Ranta − Drums- Release history :...
. The album received critical acclaim and eventually landed them a recording contract with major label Nuclear Blast, allowing the band to tour with acts such as Defleshed
Defleshed
Defleshed was a Swedish death/thrash metal band. The group was formed by Lars Lofven, formerly of Convulsion and Inanimate. They have released several albums on high-profile metal labels...
, Cannibal Corpse
Cannibal Corpse
Cannibal Corpse is an American death metal band from Buffalo, New York. Formed in 1988, the band has released eleven studio albums, one box set, and one live album...
, and even, briefly, with fellow melodic death metallers Dark Tranquillity
Dark Tranquillity
Dark Tranquillity is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Gothenburg. They are one of the longest-standing bands from the original Gothenburg metal scene, and are one of the most integral pioneers of the melodic death metal genre of music....
.
Breakthrough
In 2000, after exhausting themselves with touring, Soilwork returned to the studio to record their third full-length album, A Predator's PortraitA Predator's Portrait
-Soilwork:* Björn "Speed" Strid − vocals* Peter Wichers − lead guitar* Ola Frenning − rhythm guitar* Henry Ranta − drums* Ola Flink − bass guitar* Carlos Del Olmo Holmberg − keyboards, artwork-Guests:* Mattias Eklundh − guitar solo on "Needlefeast"....
. The release was well received and brought Soilwork to the forefront of the melodic death metal scene, alongside label mates In Flames
In Flames
In Flames is a Swedish heavy metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1990. Since the band's inception in 1993, they have released ten studio albums and one live DVD...
. The band played at Wacken Open Air Festival
Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air is a summer open air heavy metal music festival. It takes place annually in the small town of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany...
that year, and toured extensively with Annihilator
Annihilator (band)
Annihilator is a Canadian heavy metal band hailing from Ottawa, Ontario, also from Vancouver, British Columbia between 1987-2002 by founding member, vocalist, guitarist and bassist Jeff Waters. The band has been around since 1984 and is the biggest selling heavy metal artist from Canada in history,...
and Nevermore
Nevermore
Nevermore is an American heavy metal band from Seattle, Washington. Formed in 1991, they are known to incorporate elements from styles such as thrash, power, progressive, and neo-classical metal into their songs, and also makes use of acoustic guitars and a wide range of vocal styles.-Early years...
. Following up on their success, Soilwork entered the studio again in late 2001 to record the follow-up to A Predator's Portrait with Devin Townsend
Devin Townsend
Devin Garret Townsend is a Canadian musician and record producer. He was the founder, songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist in extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad from 1994 to 2007 and has had an extensive career as a solo artist....
(Strapping Young Lad
Strapping Young Lad
Strapping Young Lad was a Canadian extreme metal band formed by Devin Townsend in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1994. The band started as a one-man studio project; Townsend played most of the instruments on the 1995 debut album, Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing...
, Devin Townsend Band) and Fredrik Nordström
Fredrik Nordström
Björn Tom Fredrik Nordström, born on 5 January 1967, is a Swedish record producer and guitar player for the heavy metal band Dream Evil. Nordström is one of the leading melodic death metal producers in Sweden, and he has worked with some of the genre's top acts, including At the Gates, Arch Enemy,...
. Natural Born Chaos
Natural Born Chaos
- Band members :* Björn "Speed" Strid − Vocals* Peter Wichers − Guitar* Ola Frenning − Guitar* Ola Flink − Bass* Sven Karlsson − Keyboards* Henry Ranta − Drums- Guest musicians :* Mattias Eklundh − guitar solo on "No More Angels"...
was released in early 2002, to much acclaim as well. Soilwork toured throughout Europe to support the album, and, for the first time, throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, first with bands Hypocrisy
Hypocrisy (band)
Hypocrisy is a melodic death metal band from Sweden. It was formed in 1990 in Ludvika, Sweden by Peter Tägtgren.Musically, the band started off with a traditional death metal sound on their first albums, and soon drifted to become a melodic death metal band. The lyrics in their early stages -...
, Scar Culture, Chimaira, Unearth and Killswitch Engage
Killswitch Engage
Killswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999 after the disbandment of Overcast and Aftershock. Killswitch Engage's current lineup consists of vocalist Howard Jones, bassist Mike D'Antonio, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, and drummer...
during the summer, then alongside label mates In Flames during the fall. After touring, they started writing and recording their fifth album.
Figure Number Five
In December 2002, Soilwork entered the studio to begin recording their fifth album. After recording, the band began a European tour with Children of BodomChildren of Bodom
Children of Bodom is a Finnish heavy metal band from Espoo. Formed in 1993, the group currently consists of Alexi Laiho , Roope Latvala , Janne Wirman , Henkka Seppälä , and Jaska Raatikainen...
and Shadows Fall
Shadows Fall
Shadows Fall is an American heavy metal band from Springfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1995. They are one of the few contemporary metal bands who take their lyrical influence from Eastern philosophy and some references to the Rastafari culture...
throughout April and May. That same month, Figure Number Five
Figure Number Five
-Charts:-Band members:* Björn "Speed" Strid − Vocals* Peter Wichers − Guitars* Ola Frenning − Guitars* Ola Flink − Bass guitar* Sven Karlsson − Keyboards* Henry Ranta − Drums-Guest musicians:* Jens Broman − Guest vocals on "Figure Number Five"...
was released. In early June, drummer Henry Ranta left the band, to focus more on his personal life, and was replaced a week later by Richard Evensand. The band then embarked on another North American tour with In Flames, Chimaira
Chimaira
Chimaira is an American heavy metal band from Cleveland, Ohio. Formed in 1998, the group is a notable member of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal scene. The band's name is derived from the word Chimera, a monstrous creature in Greek mythology...
, and Unearth
Unearth
Unearth is an American metalcore band from Winthrop, Massachusetts. Formed in 1998, the group has released five studio albums. Their fourth record, The March was released on October 14, 2008 meeting with high positive reception by many...
. In September, Soilwork toured Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
with Children of Bodom Merely days after a short mini-trek tour through Japan, Soilwork also toured Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
briefly. Later that year, they again toured North America with Chimaira, As I Lay Dying
As I Lay Dying (band)
As I Lay Dying is an American metalcore band from San Diego, California. Founded in 2000 by Tim Lambesis and having completed their first Line-up in 2001, the band consists of vocalist Tim Lambesis, drummer Jordan Mancino, lead guitarist Nick Hipa, rhythm guitarist Phil Sgrosso, and bassist Josh...
and Bleeding Through
Bleeding Through
Bleeding Through is an American metalcore band from Orange County, California. Formed in 1999, the band blends influences stemming from modern hardcore punk, symphonic black metal, and melodic death metal...
. After the tour Richard Evensand left the band to replace drummer Andols Herrick who had recently left Chimaira. Soilwork initially announced his "temporary" replacement as Dirk Verbeuren of Scarve
Scarve
Scarve is a French technical death metal band from Nancy. They have released four full-length albums, the latest being The Undercurrent, released on April 2, 2007 on Listenable Records.- Biography :...
; Verbeuren would later become the full time replacement. In early 2004, singer Björn "Speed" Strid laid down tracks with Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
melodic death metal band Disarmonia Mundi
Disarmonia Mundi
Disarmonia Mundi is a melodic death metal band from Avigliana, Italy that started out as a progressive metal band. After Benny Bianco Chinto left the band it featured Soilwork's vocalist Björn "Speed" Strid for two albums...
. During April, the band announced that it had extended its contract with record label Nuclear Blast Records. That same month the band again toured Australia alongside Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
, Embodiment
Embodiment
Embodied or embodiment may refer to:in psychology and philosophy,*Embodied cognition , a position in cognitive science and the philosophy of mind emphasizing the role that the body plays in shaping the mind...
, and Killswitch Engage. In mid 2004, Soilwork toured Japan for a second time alongside Dark Tranquillity. In September, Soilwork entered the studio to record their sixth album, Stabbing the Drama
Stabbing The Drama
* * * ** -Charts:-Credits:Soilwork* Björn "Speed" Strid − vocals* Peter Wichers − guitars* Ola Frenning − guitars...
.
Stabbing the Drama
Soilwork entered Dug Out Studios on September 14 to begin recording their sixth full length album. A week later the band changed venues and recorded at Fascination Street Studios. Stabbing the Drama was released in early March 2005. The album entered the FinnishFinland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
charts at number 19, and in Sweden at number 14. The band also began to gain minor commercial success in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Stabbing the Drama
Stabbing The Drama
* * * ** -Charts:-Credits:Soilwork* Björn "Speed" Strid − vocals* Peter Wichers − guitars* Ola Frenning − guitars...
reached #12 and #21 on the Billboard Heatseeker and Independent
Independent Albums
The Billboard Independent Albums is a chart of the highest-selling independent music albums and extended plays in the United States, compiled by Nielsen SoundScan and published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is used to list artists who are not signed to major labels...
album charts, respectively. The band partook in the 2005 Ozzfest
Ozzfest
Ozzfest is an annual festival tour of the United States featuring performances by many heavy metal and hard rock musical groups. It was founded by Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon Osbourne, both of whom also organize each yearly tour with their son Jack Osbourne...
, performing on the second stage. In November the band toured stateside with Fear Factory
Fear Factory
Fear Factory is an American industrial metal band. Formed in 1989, they have released seven full-length albums and a number of singles and remixes. Over the course of their career they have evolved from a succession of styles, as well as steadily pioneered a combination of the styles death metal,...
. In late 2005, guitarist Peter Wichers
Peter Wichers
Peter Wichers is best known as one of the founding members of Swedish melodic death metal band, Soilwork. From 1995 until late 2005, when he announced his departure from the band, he was known as the lead guitarist and also a songwriter, especially on their Stabbing the Drama album...
left the band due to tour exhaustion and other personal issues. The same month, Bjorn announced he was working on a second album with Disarmomia Mundi. In May 2006, Daniel Antonsson was announced as the replacement for Peter Wichers. Soilwork spent the summer appearing at festivals throughout Europe. In September they toured throughout the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. The band later pulled out of the Turkish dates, due to terrorist attacks
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
and bombings that had recently occurred to tourists there. In October the band trekked North America, this time with Darkest Hour, Mnemic
Mnemic
Mnemic is a Danish metal band, formed in Aalborg, Denmark in 1998. Their music has been described as a fusion between metalcore, melodic death metal, industrial metal and progressive metal, with additional elements of thrash metal and groove metal, to form a style the band themselves have...
and Threat Signal
Threat Signal
Threat Signal is a Canadian Melodic death metal band hailing from the city of Hamilton. However, different members of the band hail from other parts of the Ontario province...
. In March 2007, Soilwork began work on their seventh album.
Sworn to a Great Divide
In early March 2007, Soilwork began laying down the tracks for their seventh album, Sworn to a Great DivideSworn to a Great Divide
Sworn to a Great Divide is the seventh studio album by Swedish melodic death metal band Soilwork. The album was released on October 19, 2007 for Europe and on October 23, 2007 for the US, both through Nuclear Blast. Everything aside from vocals was recorded at Not Quite Studios in Helsingborg...
Late in June, Ola Frenning announced that the album was finished. Soilwork toured in the fall alongside Caliban
Caliban (band)
Caliban are a five-piece metalcore band from Germany. They have released seven studio albums to-date, and two split albums with the band Heaven Shall Burn.-History:...
, Sonic Syndicate
Sonic Syndicate
Sonic Syndicate is a melodic death metal band from Falkenberg, Sweden. They are influenced by Swedish melodic death metal bands such as In Flames, Soilwork and metalcore bands like Killswitch Engage.....
, and Dark Tranquillity
Dark Tranquillity
Dark Tranquillity is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Gothenburg. They are one of the longest-standing bands from the original Gothenburg metal scene, and are one of the most integral pioneers of the melodic death metal genre of music....
in a tour dubbed, 'Eastpak
Eastpak
Eastpak is an American manufacturer of packs, bags, luggage and clothing. It is part of the VF Corporation, brand portfolio which is one of the world's largest apparel companies.-Founding:...
Antidote' tour. The album was released on October 19, 2007 through Nuclear Blast. The album sports a sound closer to thrash
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
than their previous albums, though still backed by their trademark synth elements.
The band took part on an American tour with co-headliners Lamb of God
Lamb of God (band)
Lamb of God is an American heavy metal band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1994, the group consists of vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Chris Adler...
and Killswitch Engage
Killswitch Engage
Killswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999 after the disbandment of Overcast and Aftershock. Killswitch Engage's current lineup consists of vocalist Howard Jones, bassist Mike D'Antonio, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, and drummer...
, as well as DevilDriver
DevilDriver
DevilDriver is an American heavy metal band from Santa Barbara, California, formed in 2002. The band was originally named Deathride, however, due to copyright issues and the name being taken by several bands, Deathride changed its name to DevilDriver, which refers to bells Italian witches used to...
. The tour began on November 28, 2007 at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell, Massachusetts, and ended at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, New Mexico on December 17, 2007. The tour, dubbed The Clash of the Titans Tour 2007, appeared in Grand Prairie, TX at the Nokia Live Theatre on December 8, 2007 to play for the entire Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. On February 12, 2008, an official statement was posted on Soilwork's official website that Ola Frenning and Soilwork had decided to part ways, his replacement came in the form of Sylvain Coudret. In another statement on September 18, 2008, it was revealed that guitarist Daniel Antonsson
Daniel Antonsson
Daniel Antonsson is a musician and songwriter from Gothenburg, Sweden, currently playing guitar in Dimension Zero and playing bass in Dark Tranquillity. He was also briefly in Soilwork and recorded with them on their album Sworn to a Great Divide...
would be replaced with the return of former guitarist and founding member Peter Wichers
Peter Wichers
Peter Wichers is best known as one of the founding members of Swedish melodic death metal band, Soilwork. From 1995 until late 2005, when he announced his departure from the band, he was known as the lead guitarist and also a songwriter, especially on their Stabbing the Drama album...
and also that Sylvain Coudret from the band Scarve
Scarve
Scarve is a French technical death metal band from Nancy. They have released four full-length albums, the latest being The Undercurrent, released on April 2, 2007 on Listenable Records.- Biography :...
who has been doing session work as second guitarist during 2008 Summer festivals became permanent guitar player for the band.
The Panic Broadcast
The band returned to the studio in early 2010 to write and record their eighth album, The Panic BroadcastThe Panic Broadcast
The Panic Broadcast is the eighth studio album from Swedish melodic death metal band Soilwork, released July 2 in Europe and July 13 in North America, 2010. The album marks the return of long-time Soilwork guitarist and founder Peter Wichers, who also picks up the role as the album's producer. The...
, Speed announced on January 22, 2010 in a MySpace bulletin that the new album would be entitled The Panic Broadcast. The album was released on July 2 in Europe, and on July 13 in North America.
Band members
- Björn "Speed" Strid – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
(1995–present) - Peter WichersPeter WichersPeter Wichers is best known as one of the founding members of Swedish melodic death metal band, Soilwork. From 1995 until late 2005, when he announced his departure from the band, he was known as the lead guitarist and also a songwriter, especially on their Stabbing the Drama album...
– guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
(1995–2005, 2008–present) - Ola Flink – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(1998–present) - Sven Karlsson – keyboardsElectronic keyboardAn electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
(2001–present) - Dirk VerbeurenDirk VerbeurenDirk Verbeuren is a heavy metal drummer for Swedish melodic death metal band, Soilwork, French melodic death metal band, Scarve , French melodic death metal band, Phaze I, Dutch death-thrash metal band, Anatomy of I, and American thrash metal band, Powermad...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(2005–present) - Sylvain Coudret – guitar (2008–present)
Studio albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SWE Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... |
AUT Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann... |
CHE Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
FIN |
FRA Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
GER Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
UK UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US Heat. Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
US Ind. Independent Albums The Billboard Independent Albums is a chart of the highest-selling independent music albums and extended plays in the United States, compiled by Nielsen SoundScan and published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is used to list artists who are not signed to major labels... |
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| 1998 | Steelbath Suicide Steelbath Suicide -Japanese bonus tracks:-2000 Re-issue bonus track:-November 2008 Re-issue bonus track:-Credits:* Björn "Speed" Strid – Vocals* Peter Wichers – Guitar* Ludvig Svartz – Guitar* Carlos Del Olmo Holmberg – Keyboards, Synthesizer, Programming...
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| 2000 | The Chainheart Machine The Chainheart Machine - Credits :Soilwork* Speed Strid − Vocals* Peter Wichers − Guitar* Ola Frenning − Guitar* Ola Flink − Bass* Carlos Del Olmo Holmberg − Keyboards* Henry Ranta − Drums- Release history :... |
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| 2001 | A Predator's Portrait A Predator's Portrait -Soilwork:* Björn "Speed" Strid − vocals* Peter Wichers − lead guitar* Ola Frenning − rhythm guitar* Henry Ranta − drums* Ola Flink − bass guitar* Carlos Del Olmo Holmberg − keyboards, artwork-Guests:* Mattias Eklundh − guitar solo on "Needlefeast".... Nuclear Blast Nuclear Blast is an independent record label and mail order record distributor with subsidiaries in Germany, the United States and Brazil. The record label was founded in 1987 by Markus Staiger in Germany. Originally releasing hardcore punk records, the label moved on to releasing albums by melodic... |
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| 2002 | Natural Born Chaos Natural Born Chaos - Band members :* Björn "Speed" Strid − Vocals* Peter Wichers − Guitar* Ola Frenning − Guitar* Ola Flink − Bass* Sven Karlsson − Keyboards* Henry Ranta − Drums- Guest musicians :* Mattias Eklundh − guitar solo on "No More Angels"... |
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| 2003 | Figure Number Five Figure Number Five -Charts:-Band members:* Björn "Speed" Strid − Vocals* Peter Wichers − Guitars* Ola Frenning − Guitars* Ola Flink − Bass guitar* Sven Karlsson − Keyboards* Henry Ranta − Drums-Guest musicians:* Jens Broman − Guest vocals on "Figure Number Five"... |
59 | — | — | 23 | 125 | 52 | — | — | 43 | 32 | ||||
| 2005 | Stabbing the Drama Stabbing The Drama * * * ** -Charts:-Credits:Soilwork* Björn "Speed" Strid − vocals* Peter Wichers − guitars* Ola Frenning − guitars... |
14 | 63 | — | 19 | 143 | 52 | — | — | 12 | 21 | ||||
| 2007 | Sworn to a Great Divide Sworn to a Great Divide Sworn to a Great Divide is the seventh studio album by Swedish melodic death metal band Soilwork. The album was released on October 19, 2007 for Europe and on October 23, 2007 for the US, both through Nuclear Blast. Everything aside from vocals was recorded at Not Quite Studios in Helsingborg... |
25 | 57 | 74 | 19 | 136 | 37 | — | 148 | 2 | — | ||||
| 2010 | The Panic Broadcast The Panic Broadcast The Panic Broadcast is the eighth studio album from Swedish melodic death metal band Soilwork, released July 2 in Europe and July 13 in North America, 2010. The album marks the return of long-time Soilwork guitarist and founder Peter Wichers, who also picks up the role as the album's producer. The... |
29 | 47 | 60 | 14 | 141 | 24 | 42 | 88 | — | 7 | ||||
| "—" denotes a release that did not chart. | |||||||||||||||
Compilation albums
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 2010 | The Sledgehammer Files: The Best of Soilwork 1998-2008 The Sledgehammer Files: The Best of Soilwork 1998-2008 The Sledgehammer Files: The Best of Soilwork 1998-2008 is a greatest hits compilation by the melodic death metal band Soilwork, released in 2010 on Avalon Marquee Records.-Track listing:# Sadistic Lullabye [remastered] - 2:55...
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Demo albums
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1997 | In Dreams We Fall into the Eternal Lake
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Extended plays
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 2004 | The Early Chapters The Early Chapters -Credits:* Björn "Speed" Strid − Vocals* Peter Wichers − Guitars* Ola Frenning − Guitars* Ola Flink − Bass guitar* Sven Karlsson − Keyboards* Henry Ranta − Drums...
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Singles
| Year | Title | FIN |
Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | "As We Speak" | — | Natural Born Chaos | ||
| 2003 | "Light the Torch" | — | Figure Number Five | ||
| "Rejection Role" | — | ||||
| 2005 | "Stabbing the Drama" | 7 | Stabbing the Drama | ||
| "Nerve" | — | ||||
| 2007 | "Exile" | — | Sworn to a Great Divide | ||
| 2010 | "Let This River Flow" | — | The Panic Broadcast | ||
| "—" denotes a release that did not chart. | |||||
Music videos
| Year | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | "As We Speak" | |
| 2003 | "Rejection Role" | |
| 2004 | "Light the Torch" | |
| 2005 | "Nerve" | |
| "Stabbing the Drama" | ||
| 2007 | "Exile" | |
| 2009 | "20 More Miles" | Olle Carlsson |
| 2010 | "Deliverance Is Mine" | |
| 2011 | "Let This River Flow" |