Monday, October 3: Soilwork, “Forever Lost in Vain”
R.I.P. David Andersson (1975-2022)
If The Living Infinite was a logical culmination of how Soilwork’s sound had developed over the previous decade, the subsequent Beyond the Infinite EP indicated they were beginning to evolve. Although it was recorded during the same sessions as The Living Infinite, “Forever Lost in Vain” was something of a bridge track: the song had many of the melodic death metal trademarks that Soilwork was known for, but between Jens Bogren’s smooth production and the ebb and flow of the arrangement, there was also something more esoteric and progressive happening here. It was here that then-new guitarist David Andersson really announced himself- he largely played it straight on the double album, but on Beyond the Infinite he was more present as a lyricist and driving force, pushing Björn “Speed” Strid to try new approaches with both his vocals and the music (Strid actually wrote the music, but somehow Andersson’s influence was more clearly felt). It wasn’t longer than usual, but “Forever Lost in Vain” wasn’t as linear and felt more layered and dynamic in its construction, and as a result was less conventionally metal than expected from Soilwork. In that respect, the track was an early indication that the band was ready to evolve beyond where they had gone (“beyond the infinite”, as it were), and that’s what ended up happening, more or less.
