UMUR
"The Chainheart Machine" is the 2nd full-length studio album by Swedish death metal act Soilwork. The album was released through Listenable Records in February 2000. It´s the successor to "Steelbath Suicide" from 1998 and features two lineup changes compared to the lineup who recorded the predecessor, as guitarist Ludvig Svartz has been replaced by Ola Frenning and drummer Jimmy "Judas" Persson has been replaced by Henry Ranta. The remaining part of the lineup are Björn "Speed" Strid (vocals), Peter Wichers (guitars), Ola Flink (bass), and Carlos Del Olmo Holmberg (keyboards).
"The Chainheart Machine" was recorded during February 1999 at Studio Fredman with producer Fredrik Nordström, and the sound production is a professional, powerful, and detailed affair, which provides the material on the 9 track, 43:34 minutes long album with the best possible conditions to shine. The rawness of this production is something they would tone down on subsequent releases, and in that regard "The Chainheart Machine" is one of the band´s most heavy, raw, and edgy albums.
Stylistically the material on the album pretty much continues down the same melodic death metal path as the material on "Steelbath Suicide (1998)". The songwriting is just a bit more mature, melodic, and sophisticated, and the band have obviously also become more tight playing. There is a conviction behind the delivery which is pretty impressive considering that Soilwork were still a relatively young act at this point. Strid would introduce clean vocals on the succeeding album release, but on "The Chainheart Machine" he only uses his high pitched screaming/growling vocals.
It´s an album were almost every track on the album deserves to be mentioned as a highlight, but I´d give a special mention to tracks like "Generation Speedkill", "Possessing the Angels", and "Room No 99", just to mention a few of the standout tracks featured on the album. The only minor issue with the album is that the riffing/rhythm style have a tendency to become a bit the same on all tracks (the vocals a bit too actually). So there are both positive and negative consequences of stylistic consistency. Individually the tracks are absolutely killer material though. Hard edged death/thrashy riffing and rhythms, skillfully played melodic guitar solos, and a good understanding of effectful songwriting.
Upon conclusion "The Chainheart Machine" is a high quality sophomore release by Soilwork, showing a positive development of sound. A powerful sounding production and high level musical performances of course aren´t issues either, so my minor issue with one-dimensionality in the songwriting department really aren´t a major problem, and "The Chainheart Machine" is a quality release through and through. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.