Soilwork expanding metal roots

They’re the heavy metal equivalent of a five-tool baseball player.

Sweden’s Soilwork is among the most well-rounded acts of their ilk, a group that began as a more straightforward melodic death metal outfit but has since sprouted roots in numerous directions, as if they were fertilized with metal Miracle Grow.

The band’s new release, “The Living Infinite,” a sprawling double-album, takes existentialist philosophical tenets and hammers them into a fine point with an equally furious and tuneful payload of some 30 tunes.

There’s elements of death metal, speed metal, power metal, thrash and radio-friendly modern rock discernible in the band’s tireless, alternately anthemic and assaultive sound.

Soilwork’s larger point on “The Living Infinity” seems to be that while there may not be a sweet hereafter to look forward to, at least the present can be plenty invigorating — especially when this record is spinning in the background.

Contact reporter Jason Bracelin at jbracelin@
reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0476.