Soilwork's seventh release sees the band continuing on with the melodic and accessible death metal sounds that the band introduced on 2001's A Predator's Portrait and really made their mark with on the follow-up Natural Born Chaos. On Stabbing the Drama, the band sounds a bit more aggressive and straightforward, utilizing some of the techniques of American bands like Killswitch Engage or Shadows Fall, rather than rely on the Swedish metal sounds that they have made famous along with bands like In Flames and Dark Tranquility. So while some of the death metal vocals do remain, mixed very effectively with catchy clean vocals, the overall music is faster and relies less on doomy death/black metal passages. The band also effectively uses keyboards once again, courtesy of Sven Karlsson, as a way to set a mood and add a futuristic element, rather than as a lead instrument.
TRACK LISTING:
1. Stabbing The Drama
2. One With The Flies
3. Weapon Of Vanity
4. The Crestfallen
5. Nerve
6. Stalemate
7. Distance
8. Observation Slave
9. Fate In Motion
10. Blind Eye Halo
11. If Possible