Nuclear Blast Americ
2007
Sworn To A Great Divide
About This Album
First off, this is not -- as was heavily blog-rumored to be -- the awaited, perhaps even expected, second chapter in the Natural Born Chaos legacy that was Soilwork's first deep etching in the death metal book of the damned. It sounds nothing like that record, despite the speculation all over the Internet that it would even be titled Natural Born Chaos II. Secondly, Devin Townsend did not produce this set (though apparently he was the desired first choice); he only produced the vocals because of other commitments. Thirdly, Peter Wichers left in 2005; he was the architect of the sound on the 2002 classic. Daniel Antonsson recently replaced him, and Ola Frenning wrote most -- if not all -- the guitar parts. Sworn to a Great Divide feels like the natural extension of Soilwork recordings like Stabbing the Drama. That big, nearly orchestral sound dilutes the heaviness that was so inherent to Natural Born Chaos. That said, there is absolutely nothing to complain about on Sworn to a Great Divide -- the melodic hardcore/death metal hybrid is ever-present and as a singer, Björn Strid has never sounded better. When he sings, he really sings; when he growls, he gets downright ugly. Check out "The Pittsburgh Syndrome," one of the heaviest cuts on the set.
Track List

Disc 1 (try tracks 1,2,3,5,6,7,8 and 9)

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Disc 2

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