Metal Reviews

They were never an early leader in the genre.

By the time Steelbath Suicide came out, the genre innovators of melodic DM; At The Gates, Carcass and Edge of Sanity had already broken up. Amorphis were heading away from metal.

In Flames and Dark Tranquillity were up to their 3 studio album (Whoracle and The Minds I). Then there was Arch Enemy, Crown of Thorns etc etc etc.

And there were plenty of melodeath/extreme melodic bands coming out during this time (Amon Amarth, Ebony Tears, Carnal Forge, Children of Bodom, Darkane, The Haunted).

Even at the time Soilwork seemed rather faceless.

It's an adequate description of their sound, bare with me as any more elaborate explanation are better suited for a better band. I hope you understand.

I actually think if Devin Townsend had not produced Natural Born Chaos, the band would've slipped into obscurity just like a lot of the stuff that was floating around.

They'd probably still be playing melodic DM though.

I'm a big fan of Natural Born Chaos and their latest, quite an enjoyable listen.

Yes there certainly were but I disagree that Soilwork were " faceless " or " generic ". You could always mention them over a decade ago, in the late 90's early 2000's to anyone who knew MDM and people knew who they were, and most metal sites pushed them as a band that stood out.



How do you figure?



You're so fuckin' kvlt.

I don't wanna answer for him, but a big name producer means more magazines and sites will review it, the label will push the album with more investment in it's promotion, and the Producer's fans will boost sales.

It doesn't matter how mediocre a band is, if you hire a producer that the average fan has heard of, you are piggybacking off their reputation. Everyone does this obviously. It's part of the deal.

Why would anyone hire Rick Rubin otherwise to essentially have a few conversations with the guy? You don't give someone 3% of the gross from the first sale and a massive all-in fee for nothing.

I was speaking from personal opinion. I brought Steelbath Suicide when it came out and found it too be generic sounding.

It onmly got moderately better after that.




Adveeser hit the nail on the head.

Both Lamb of God and Soilwork were propelled to fame by having Devin Townsend produce their albums.

Both were relative no-names prior to that. Soilwork went from being a second tier melodic DM band ignored by the mainstream to flavour of the month with Natural Born Chaos.

I bet if you were to ask the average Lamb of God fan if they know who Devin Townsend is they would have absolutely no clue who you're talking about.

Yeah I don't see Devin Townsend as a name that would propel bands to fame (although admittedly checking out albums he's produced is how I discovered Soilwork, teehee)

The Devin Townend connection got both those albums more recognition in the intermediate semi-commercialised level of metal - i.e. coverage in mags such as Metal Hammer, extensive radio play on metal shows (e.g. Australia's 3 Hours of Power) and that sort of thing that expands coverage.

After that Lamb of God got picked up on a mainstream label for Ashes of the Wake.. Soilwork stayed with Nuclear Blast but went more commercial with the Figure Number Five album, whose purpose I suspect was to exploit commercial success of Natural Born Chaos.


Devnin Townsend is a major player in Metal. I'm not quite sure why you guys are pretending he's underground when he hasn't been an underground player for a long time - he is after all a Roadrunner man these days.


And Noodles you prove my point exactly!

Epic isn't a mainstream label?

As The Palaces Burn was on Prosthetic Records in the US in 2003. It was released on Epic a year after it came out in the US (so 2004).

Ashes of the Wake was released on Epic in 2004.

So basically, As The Palace Burns did well in the US so they got signed to Epic.

This doesn't explain how bands like Devil Driver, Unearth, God Forbid, and Chimaira and other bands that got labeled the New Wave of American Metal became big. Were they riding LoG's coattails as they rode Devy's?

I think they were riding LoG's coat tails as well as Shadows Fall.

Most of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal was a Roadrunner marketing attempt to cash in on LoG/Shadows Fall and dwindling Nu-metal album sales. Metal Blade latter whole heartedly embraced Metalcore.

Leader of this marketing drive was Shitswitch Engage.

Chimera even changed their sound for it (they were initially more Nu-Metal). Devildriver was Dez Fafarra (Coal Chamber) attempt to get off the sinking Nu-Metal ship (their new album is not too bad).

God Forbid were a called Melodic DM band at the time they came out though I have no idea what they've done since.

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By the way I got to interview Devin Townsend when those two albums (LoG and Soilwork) came out. It was a very interesting interview and he did discuss those albums. Very bizarre individual - short spoken one minute and roaring the next.

Oh geez. You guys. So kvlt. Sellin' out with Devy. Word.

Who said anything about selling out?

In 1991-92 Death Metal bands were lining up to be recorded at Morrisound Studios by Scott Burns.

Similarly how often do you see a no-name band that has a sticker "produced by Andy Sneap (Nevermore, Caliban, Kreator etc)"?

It's using people who have massive credibility in the scene to propel your own fame.

Your average person doesn't know who Scott Burns, Andy Sneap or Devin Townsend is.

But your average Death Metaller circa 1991 certainly knew who Scott Burns is and most metal heads today know Andy Sneap.

Devin Townsend has been big news in the Metal world for a long time now - since at least City.

Nah they were never that great.

Certainly not as bad as people are saying. Plenty of memorable songs, plenty of filler. I especially enjoy The Panic Broadcast, much better than Sworn to a Great Divide. Quality band, nothing more or less.