Soilwork or In Flames (modern sound)

Both of these bands started as melodic death metal along with Arch Enemy and Dark Tranquillity. While AE and DT have pretty much stuck to their guns, Soilwork and In Flames have modernized their sound in recent years. Now I will admit I haven't listened to much In Flames (at least not as much as Soilwork), but as far as the more modern sound I like Soilwork more. Not saying In Flames is bad, I plan on getting something from them in the near future, but from what I've heard, I like Soilwork more (that could change when I have heard more of their material . While I love Figure Number Five, I think they did their best work on Natural Born Chaos (mainly because they mixed the old sound and the new real well and the guitar solos had more meat on them then in FNF). How about everyone else, which do you prefer?

i haven't liked a Soilwork since Steelbath Suicide. i liked only the first 3 In Flames albums. as for either bands recent works, i'll pass.

i won't say that they should have kept their old sound. i'll just say that i'm uninterested in their new modern rock oriented material.

I mentioned this elsewhere, but I love both bands, both eras. What I will always find funny is that early Soilwork and In Flames is just typical by-the-books melodic death metal, there's nothing separating them from the rest of the genre. Once both bands began to evolve and create their own sound, their own niche within the overcrowded genre, everyone called them sellouts. I just don't understand that. You put on Natural Born Chaos and you know it's Soilwork, but put on Steelbath Suicide and it's not so obvious anymore. Same goes for In Flames.

I love melodic death metal, and both bands' early material, but I dig the catchier, groovier material far more. That's just me, though. I came to the melodeath stuff late in the game (around 1999/2000, while I was in Korea), so that may have something to do with it.

I was ironic and chose "Can't Choose."

in flames is one of my favourite bands, i love almost all of their material, soilwork on the other hand, havent got into them. Ever

Like 'em both, love In Flames. Soilwork is a little hit or miss with me, but In Flames have only disapointed me once.

Eyesore wrote:

What I will always find funny is that early Soilwork and In Flames is just typical by-the-books melodic death metal

I disagree with this. Soilwork's first releases, at least the one I heard (I traded that one) is as you said typical by-the-books melodic death metal, but the first In Flames is not that obvious because back then the melodic death metal scene wasn't as flooded as when Soilwork came out, you know after At the Gates' 'Slaughter of the Soul', and In Flames' first album sounds different in my book. Anyway I don't care too much for these two bands nowadays.

min wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

What I will always find funny is that early Soilwork and In Flames is just typical by-the-books melodic death metal

I disagree with this. Soilwork's first releases, at least the one I heard (I traded that one) is as you said typical by-the-books melodic death metal, but the first In Flames is not that obvious because back then the melodic death metal scene wasn't as flooded as when Soilwork came out, you know after At the Gates' 'Slaughter of the Soul', and In Flames' first album sounds different in my book. Anyway I don't care too much for these two bands nowadays.

There were plenty of bands doing the same thing, it just wasn't yet a big deal everywhere.

Neither, cause I never really liked either of them.

...and I would think the poll would be bewteen At the Gates and In Flames, as Soilwork was a late-comer in the genre.

AchrisK wrote:

...and I would think the poll would be bewteen At the Gates and In Flames, as Soilwork was a late-comer in the genre.

Yeah, but At The Gates now and In Flames now aren't really the same.

I don't think I've ever heard Soilwork, and the only In Flames disc I ever really liked was CLAYMAN so I guess I have nothing to contribute to this discussion..

I'll just go now.

Eyesore wrote:

AchrisK wrote:

...and I would think the poll would be bewteen At the Gates and In Flames, as Soilwork was a late-comer in the genre.

Yeah, but At The Gates now and In Flames now aren't really the same.

very true.. At The Gates bowed out on a high note.