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5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
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Band
Soilwork
Title
The Panic Broadcast
Type
LP/EP
Company
Nuclear Blast
YOR
2010
Style
Thrash
8/9/2010 - Review by: Greg Watson

Soilwork
The Panic Broadcast

Company: Nuclear Blast
Release: 2010
Genre: Melodic Thrash/Death
Reviewer: Chaoslord

  • Pushing the envelope of their sound once again



  • Sweden's Soilwork is back and delivers another quality release, pushing the envelope of their sound once again. "The Panic Broadcast" is one of their most ambitious albums to date, in this writer's humble opinion. You won't find a whole mess of blast beats, frenzied fretwork or guttural vocals as on previous albums. Following the direction the band started to head in with "Natural Born Chaos", Soilwork has continued to challenge the boundaries and evolve their sound with each subsequent release.

    This album also marks the return of former member Peter Wichers, most recently appearing and helping produce Warrel Dane's solo album. The band's sound on this album is very ethereal and creepy at times. Each song is different from it's predecessor and Wichers, fellow guitarist Sylvain Coudret, bassist Ola Flink, keyboardist Sven Karlsson and drummer Dirk Verbeuren feed off each other and expand on each other's sound. Wichers and Coudret combine melody, technical precision and a brutality that meld together phenomenally.

    Flink, Karlsson and Verbeuren add in some atmosphere and filler with their work, adding eerie keyboard riffs, wandering and frantic bass lines and drums that go from chaotic to subdued in the blink of an eye. Rounding out the band is vocalist "Speed" Strid. Strid continues to polish his clean vocals and take you to a serene place before demolishing your dream world with a voice that would make a demon cower in fear. The songs on "Panic Broadcast" range all over the spectrum, from fast and brutal to slow and melodic.

    That is something that in my opinion sets the band apart and continues to help them evolve their sound. No one album sounds the same and they continue to get better with each release. The production, as always, is spot on throughout. The only drawback I have is that I feel that a song or two was just thrown on the album to make it complete. Other than that, this is definitely a release that any metal fan would be wise to purchase.

    If you are unsure of the state of metal and the direction things are going, go check this out as well. It'll give you a feel for things and bring you into the Panic Broadcast.


    • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
      4 :AVE RATING

    ALL REVIEWS FOR: SOILWORK
    TITLE
    DOR
    COMPANY
    REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
    Beyond The Infinite
    2014
    Nuclear Blast
    Greg Watson11/10/2014
    3.5
    Live In The Heart of Helsinki
    2015
    Nuclear Blast
    Greg Watson5/8/2015
    4
    Stabbing The Drama
    2005
    Nuclear Blast
    Ken Pierce8/10/2005
    -
    Stabbing The Drama
    2005
    Nuclear Blast
    Troy Cole3/17/2005
    -
    Sworn to a Great Divide
    2007
    Nuclear Blast
    Sinnercorp6/25/2008
    3.5
    The Living Infinite
    2013
    Nuclear Blast
    Eric Compton3/24/2013
    4.5
    The Panic Broadcast
    2010
    Nuclear Blast
    Greg Watson8/9/2010
    4
    The Ride Majestic
    2015
    Nuclear Blast
    Greg Watson10/9/2015
    3.5
    Verkligheten
    2019
    Nuclear Blast
    David Loveless2/23/2019
    4.5

    ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: SOILWORK
    INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE


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