‘Soilwork’ needs no introduction, a band that does Sweden and MDM proud. Each album they released touched new heights of musicianship and critical acclaim. On the latest ‘Sworn to a great divide’ Bjorn ‘Speed’ Strid troops his boys to a thicker, precise and balanced melodic sound. Its less metallic than ‘Figure number five’ and ‘Stabbing the drama’ and has ingredients of polished death sound of ‘Chainheart machine’. Devin Townsend’s contributions come in handy since he’s the one handling vocal recording on the album. Composite as concrete, the music is towering when the vocals are blowing in a thrashy chord. Lead recordings in the mix is also very well controlled and do not step of out of their specified realms of amplifications. Drums are also fluffy carrying the music forward. Therefore, a substantial improvement in composition and recording pattern.

The prog, thrash and industrial touches are best visible on ‘Silent bullet’ and ‘The Pittsburgh syndrome’. On the other hand you have the ultra modern and ultra melodically rich cyberish ‘Light discovering darkness’ and ‘Sick heart river’. And to add to all there’s dark/doom/depressing and hellish ‘Exile’ and ’20 more miles’.

Unquestionably this album invites continuous spins, it combines the strengths of traditional Soilwork and untouched explorations under the umbrella of Devin Townsend.