Reviewed by: Cosmo Lee
Reviewed on: 2007-10-30

Posted 10/31/2007 - 12:58:47 AM by allison1:
	At the risk of walking on someone's grave (i.e Stylus's), I have some quibbles with this reviews conclusion. Soilwork were never a definitive band by any standard, and so to call them out on suspicion of "pop"-iness does them a disservice. "Natural Born Chaos" succeeded because it was internally consistent...AND held some very credible ideas for the direction of Swedish metal (they were basically fungible with Dark Tranquility). You acknowledge that they owe an enormous debt to Iron Maiden, but then imply that they should distance themselves them from plying melody, and heaven forfend, a chorus. Okay- I haven't listened to this album since I basically don't care about this kind of metal anymore. My point is simply that the review would be better served by taking the group on their own terms, though those terms may include appealing to a broader market (maybe inevitable) But I totally agree with this passage: "This record's ruthless catchiness would make Diane Warren jealous. That this falls under metal, as does Slayer and Sunn O))), is a credit to the music's breadth and resiliency."