Soilwork Entering a "New Era" with Over an Album's Worth of New Music

Swedish melodic death metal maestros Soilwork are preparing to enter a new chapter, with vocalist Björn "Speed" Strid revealing that the band has already written more than enough material for their next full-length record.

In a recent interview with Metal Anthology, Strid and guitarist Simon Johansson discussed the progress of their follow-up to 2022's Övergivenheten. The upcoming project marks the first album since the tragic passing of longtime guitarist and driving creative force David Andersson in September 2022.
A Collective Creative Effort

The songwriting process has shifted significantly in the wake of Andersson’s death, moving from a single primary visionary to a more democratic, group effort.

"It's a bit more of a group effort now, like a collective thing," Strid explained. "It feels like we're entering a bit of a new era. [Johansson] joining the fold has brought some fresh blood, both on a personal level and songwriting-wise."

Johansson confirmed the productivity of this new lineup, stating that while they aren't planning a double album, they have already penned "more than one album" worth of promising tracks. This surplus gives the band the luxury of selecting the best possible songs for a "moderate, normal-length" release.
Returning to the "Heaviness"

Musically, Strid describes the new material as a blend of the band's recent atmospheric "epicness" with a return to the weight of their early 2000s classics. He cited the influence of landmark albums like A Predator's Portrait (2001) and Natural Born Chaos (2002).

"I kind of wanted to bring back the heaviness a bit and sort of mix it up with a more recent atmosphere," Strid said. He noted that the band's latest single, "Spirit of No Return," serves as a "fierce reminder" of their thrashier roots while dressing that sound in a "new heavier suit."
Self-Produced at SolnaSound

The band is taking a hands-on approach to production this time around. The new album will be recorded at Simon Johansson's own studio and will be largely self-produced by the band members, with input from their longtime mixing engineer.

Soilwork has remained one of the most consistent and evolving forces in the metal world since their 1998 debut, Steelbath Suicide. As they bridge the gap between their "rootsy" thrash origins and modern progressive elements, this upcoming release is poised to be a pivotal moment in their decades-spanning career.

While a release date has not yet been confirmed, fans can expect more news as the band continues to refine their mountain of new material.