Spiritech: The band said in interviews prior to finishing the album that you were planning on incorporating more guitar solos on this album, as well as giving you more room to maneuver. Do you feel you've achieved this with the new album?
Dirk Verbeuren: Absolutely. There hasn't been this much shredding on a Soilwork record in a long time. Peter and Sylvain (Coudret, guitars) are quite the guitar duo and anyone looking for fretboard magic will be in seventh heaven. As far as the drums go, I focused on dynamics more than ever before. The songs on The Panic Broadcast are so diverse and inspired I really had no option but to go berserk behind my kit. And the guys encouraged me to do precisely that.
Spiritech: great stuff. In what other ways do you feel The Panic Broadcast is an improvement upon your previous albums?Dirk Verbeuren: I absolutely love Peter's production. We recorded the drums in a North Carolina studio called Echo Mountain, located in what used to be a church, with super high ceilings, huge stained glass Jesus and all. The room sound was just incredible. A perfect starting point for the acoustic, natural production we were aiming for. I wish every one of our records sounded like this. Or maybe not, that would be boring... Anyways, Jens Bogren made my drums sound better than they ever have so I can be but stoked. Other than that, musically this album is my favorite since the Natural Born Chaos era. It has a sense for adventure that was maybe lacking somewhat on the last couple of releases.
Spiritech: Interesting. Can you explain the inspiration for the album title?
Dirk Verbeuren: This is really a question for Speed (Strid, vocals), but I'll try my best. The Panic Broadcast is an outcry about what happens when panic takes over, and how it can push one's mind to react to things that aren't even there, to the point where fear-induced perceptions become reality. As far as I know it's mostly inspired by Speed's recent years of personal turbulence.
Spiritech: This album also features the return of Peter and Sylvain to the band. Was this the shot in the arm that the band needed to really write a great record?
Dirk Verbeuren: I'm not sure. We pour our heart and soul into every one of our albums. Sworn To A Great Divide' may not have been everyone's favorite Soilwork platter but I still think it has many a kick-ass tune and possibly Speed's best vocals ever, up until this new one that is. On the other hand, Peter and Sylvain brought along great energy and inspiration, both of which played a major role in The Panic Broadcast turning out as strong as it did. The rest of us were equally hungry to release all the frustration created by the various struggles this band has gone through in recent times. All in all, this is definitely the perfect Soilwork line up and The Panic Broadcast shows it.
Spiritech: Good to hear. What fresh qualities did they both bring to the table this time around?
Dirk Verbeuren: They're both very talented songwriters who contributed a majority of the music. Peter can obviously pen a Soilwork song like no one else, since he's written most of them over the years, and Sylvain has a recognizable style full of majesty and weird grooves. He definitely brings a new perspective but also does a great job fitting in properly with the rest of us. This album has a lot going on, and every track sounds different which is usually a good recipe for a "listening over and over" record.
Spiritech: What effect did this have on the writing process for this album as well?
Dirk Verbeuren: We took things day by day and collaborated wherever we felt it. Peter and Sylvain both came up with very advanced demos, whereas some songs where built through exchanging guitar riffs, drum rhythms and vocal melodies. It was a familiar working method for us and even though everyone's happy with the outcome, we wish we could have jammed and rehearsed together. That's definitely on the agenda for the next album.
Spiritech: Fair enough. Soilwork are renowned for writing a plethora of catchy choruses. What in your view are some of the better ones on this record and why?
Dirk Verbeuren: I really dig the chorus to 'Night Comes Clean'; it's in two parts which is quite unusual, and you can just feel Speed's deep emotions pouring into it. 'Let This River Flow' and 'Two Lives Worth Of Reckoning' also kick these ears' butts. But we didn't stick to the same formula on every song. Speed mixes things up on 'Late For The Kill...', 'Deliverance Is Mine' and 'King Of The Threshold'. Those choruses are still catchy as all hell but the way they're sung is a lot more aggressive. Prepare to get blown away.
Spiritech: How difficult can it be for the band to balance the catchy hooks with the more technical bent you attempted to take on The Panic Broadcast, especially as fans more or less expect this kind of mix from Soilwork these days?
Dirk Verbeuren: It was actually a very natural process; we didn't force ourselves to add more technical stuff. The first three Soilwork records were pretty intense to say the least, and I think we were just more open to letting that aggression come out. Plus, Sylvain and I are used to tearing it up in our other band Scarve, so our playing easily goes down that road. In the end it's indeed all about the balance, but we don't have all that much control over that because we don't know what the album's gonna sound like until it's done, you know?
Spiritech: Indeed. The band has ventured to Australia a few times now and seems to get a great response each time. Can we expect to see the band Down Under again for this album?
Dirk Verbeuren: Definitely. Our Australian fans have done nothing but amaze us. They've made every show worthwhile and we can't wait to come and play the new songs for them, along with a bunch of older tracks. I just know they're gonna love The Panic Broadcast. Our next trip Down Under will be announced soon.
Spiritech: What are your memories of previous visits to Australia?
Dirk Verbeuren: Fantastic shows, perfect weather, fun excursions to the zoo and being exhausted from flying for 30-plus hours. Last time, our gear got stuck in L. A. but with the help of our promoter and crew, everything worked out and we still managed to play that same night. I also recall some crazy drinking binges on my first trip, back in 2004. I don't drink anymore but those are still fun memories.
Spiritech: What are the band's ultimate goals for this record and how long do you plan to tour for it?
Dirk Verbeuren: I feel that we've achieved the ultimate goal of making this the ass-kicker of a record we were hoping for. It doesn't get much better than that. As far as touring goes, that depends on how well the album does. Ideally, we'd like to go to Europe and Japan before the holidays, then back to the US early next year before hitting the summer festivals. We want to keep it fun though. Breaks in between tours are absolutely vital for one's mental health. We've found that out the hard way.
Spiritech: How many new songs will you be working into the set for the upcoming shows?
Dirk Verbeuren: Six is the number, and the number shall be six (laughs). But we've never played any of them together so our upcoming rehearsals will be the test to see what feels right and what doesn't. People often ask us to play this or that song live, but oddly enough certain songs just don't work on stage, no matter how good they are. Either way it's gonna be interesting to pick a set list from eight records... It gets tougher each time!
Spiritech: Indeed. On a more personal note, are there any new releases you've been enjoying lately?
Dirk Verbeuren: The new Lyzanxia album Locust has been spinning a lot, it's their best so far. I also absolutely love Tom G. Warrior's new band Triptykon and The Devin Townsend Project's Addicted. Let me see here... There's some non-metal stuff like the latest Autechre and Scorn releases, and some golden oldies like the entire Napalm Death back catalogue. I'm always listening to tons of records; I'm a devourer of music.
Spiritech: Final question - any famous last words?
Dirk Verbeuren: Don't know if these will be famous, but... Hey reader, if all of these inciting comments don't make you wanna check out The Panic Broadcast then what will? Seriously, give it a shot, not just one or two songs but the whole thing and come enjoy our shows later this year. We love to bring our pure Swedish melodic metal to the stage with tons of energy.
- Spiritech
