Fantastic!
Michael A. Carra | bronx, new york | 07/13/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Soilwork return with their 8th studio album "The Panic Broadcast", and i got to say they returned full force! This album marks the return of guitarist and founding member Peter Wichers, and the entrance of new guitarist Sylvain Coudret replacing Ola Frenning.I must say this is the bands best line up let, and it shows on the music on The Panic Broadcast.
I am a long time fan of the band, and can say there is something for all their fans on this album. They really managed to mix the best of everything on this album. It has the aggression and intensity of albums like The Chainheart Machine, and A Predators Portrait, and the Melody of albums like Natural Born Chaos, and Stabbing The Drama. The Panic Broadcast manages to add a different twist to things too. The music is allot more technical than anything the band has ever done, but they somehow still keep everything Catchy. The Guitar playing on the panic broadcast is the best guitar playing sinse a predators portrait. The Guitar solos, and guitar Harmonies came back full force, and is diffidently some of the best guitar playing they ever recorded. Both peter and Sylvain play some amazing trade offs! This album also has the craziest and most diverse drum performance i've ever heard on a soilwork album. Dirks Drum performance is amazing. The keyboards are great on this cd too. There are even a few keyboard leads. Last but not least Speed's Vocals on this album are phenomenal. He uses all sides of his vocal styles on the album, and also has lots of unpredictable vocals. Meaning not everything is Screaming verse, and clean chorus. He mixes it up on this album, and is not afraid to scream on a whole song or use almost all singing on a song. I'd also like to add the Production is great. Its one of the fattest productions the band ever had. Its very clean, but does not loose its heavyness.
What we got here is The most diverse, and one of the strongest albums Soilwork ever put out. its hard to compare it to other albums but best way to put it is picture A Predators Portrait, and Natural Born Chaos, with bits of stabbing the drama, but remember the album is in its own league so you really gotta listen to it yourself. Not 1 weak song on this album! Soilwork are back with a vengeance!
"
Solid from start to finish.
Richard H. | 07/18/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When I saw another release coming from Soilwork i was expecting more of their direction that started with Sworn to a Great Divide. Which.. was an ok album but. Much too different.
Panic' suprised the hell out of me. Its a very addictive album. The guitar work is very technical, the "Speeds" lyrics and vocals have a great variety. The drum work is not left out like it has been in previous albums.
The Thrill has to be the best track on the album. It has an awesome intro, the verse is amazing. The Chorus is epic.
Two Lives Worth of Reckoning is an awesome track with an awesome intro and verse and great overall guitar work.
Night Comes Clean is a very tight sounding track. Awesome vocals. Very very catchy.
Let This River Flow has a great intro with acoustic guitars that progresses into your Soilwork Metal. Drums and Guitar work are kept tight together, and awesome melodies are used through the verse and a chorus of nicely done clean vocals.
other notable tracks are The Akuma Glow and Enter Dog of Pavlov.
Over all, most the songs find 5 stars on my itunes, no less than 4 stars. There's not a single song to skip. Its a surprising breathe of fresh air after 'Divide and 'Drama were only mildly impressive.
"
Totally Mindblowing
Curtis Carter | Ocean Shores, WA | 07/19/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Panic Broadcast is simply amazing. Every song has top notch vocals and instruments. Soilwork have done it again. It's not surprising for Soilwork to put out an outstanding album, but this album surpasses everything I could have hoped for. Every song has catchy riffs, solos, and of course, choruses. Speed is definitely a master of his craft. Who knows how these guys think up these songs, with all their harmonies and amazing guitar work, but I'm damn sure other bands just scratch their heads in awe. And on top of all that, they throw in keyboards to the mix! And it works seamlessly. I really can't explain how awesome this album is. Just pick it up and give it a listen from beginning to end. Garunteed you'll be blown away."