Originally Soilwork's atmospheric blend of thrashy death metal used to draw heavy similarities to fellow Swede's In Flames, At The Gates and Opeth. However, this clearly began to change with last year's "Natural Born Chaos" as the band provided ample evidence that something new was looming on the horizon. Finding their sound now fully incorporating a more modern aesthetic, "Figure Number Five" is unquestionably that change and exhibits an interesting hybrid of modern North American inspired metal clawing its way out of mature and generally empowering darker soundscapes. All this and more makes this record sound like the next logical step for a band who never attained the kind of recognition here that they possess overseas.

Despite the heavily pronounced direction this album takes though, those who would instantly decry the band as trying to hop on the dreaded nu-metal bandwagon would be best to stave their tongue. While the music contained on this offering is indeed more aggressive and palatable to North American ears; It is still miles away from that of Korn or Disturbed and instead sounds more like Pantera on downers hanging out at some haunted gothic opera. Layered with chunky guitar riffs, incendiary solos and vocals that meld melody with raging snarls and growls, this latest outing still retains a decidedly European feel - even with all the bands efforts to the contrary.

Indeed this full fledged evolution of the bands sound works out quite well - thanks to it staying firmly rooted in the melodic and ethereal death metal that they made their namesake with. While the chugging grooves provide rapid fire adrenaline jolts, the restrained melodies and gloomy hooks establish a unique sense of sophistication which goes hand in hand with the confrontational keyboard work contained. Sounding mildly industrial in orientation at times, the group now seem more intent upon ambiance weighted down by crisp fiery riffs and searing vocals rather than the traditional implementation of days past. With this being the case, "Figure Number Five" will probably be the black sheep of the bands discography to long-time fans who appreciated their earlier work on "The Chainheart Machine" and the like. Surely their most commercially accessible record to date, this record is perhaps their most slickest sounding as well. And while not groundbreaking in scope, it still has an undeniable charm that is hard not to be taken in by.