Track Listing
1. Bastard chain 2. Like the average stalker 3. Needlefeast 4. Neurotica rampage 5. The analyst 6. Grand failure anthem 7. Structure divine 8. Shadowchild 9. Final fatal force 10. A predator's portrait Year: 2001 Label: Nucleur Blast - Official Site - Official Fansite |
Soilwork - 'A predator's portrait' - By M. Freeman
Formerly called Inferior Breed, the Swedish metallers return with their third and most accomplished offering to date. After an impressive debut (Steelbath Suicide) and ferocious follow-up (The Chainheart Machine) this album takes a step sideways and for the first time the band bring clean vocals into the picture. With the first few listens the opening track 'Bastard Chain' stands aside from the rest of the album, this being due to the lack of clean vocals, other than that the sound is pretty familiar to the bands earlier releases and the following tracks. Almost all the other tracks follow a set formula with of course is the added element of clean vocals. I feel that there is one drawback of this continued sound, and it's that it does seem as though the band have put together a set of tracks all in the same way which leaves very little to the imagination. Though it is easy to realise why the direction is re-visited in most of the tracks, it is simply because the sound is so good, and the choruses are incredibly catchy. Track three, 'Needlefeast' starts with a futuristic sound and features more of the clean vocals which, in the end, make this album what it is. Tracks four and six ('Neurotica Rampage' and 'Grand Failure Anthem', respectively) flow in a similar vein, infectious choruses and storming guitar solos nearing the end of either piece. 'The Analyst' and 'Structure Divine' also have similar routines, a more melodic intro to the tracks than the others and two more sets of soaring clean vocals. 'Shadowchild' has slightly different components involved within it, the odd whispered part in the track adds to the all round futuristic feel which swells around the album. A bulky riff is ever-present on 'Final Fatal Force', as with the final (and title) track 'A Predator's Portrait'. After a couple of listens to the album as a whole, the final track was probably the piece that gave the best impression of the band and I would say that for a good idea of how this album shapes up, this track would be as good a place as any to start, plainly because it has all the polished elements of the album mixed together inside four and a half minutes. Overall, there are comparisons to fellow Swedish metallers In Flames, as well as Arch Enemy and even faint reminisces of Carcass. That said, Soilwork must not be overlooked, they have found a sound which works well throughout. For those out there who prefer the raw sounding Soilwork then I suggest you look into the first two albums (Steelbath Suicide and The Chainheart Machine) and for more of what is on offer on this album, be sure to check out their latest release (Natural Born Chaos) which further progresses the melodic metal sound. Metal Obsessive Grade: 89% |