'Spirits of the Future Sun,' along with the record's title track, are just two highlights in a record stuffed with amazing compositions that include dense harmony guitar lines and interesting rhythmic changes. Their ability to craft and execute interesting, complex, and memorable metal is the group's defining element - one that truly separates the group from the hordes of Swedish metal competitors. Featuring a returning lineup of BjГ¶rn Strid on vocals, Peter Wiche and Ola Frenning on guitars, Henry Ranta on drums, Ola Fink on bass, and keyboardist Carlos Del Olmo Holmberg, Soilwork improved on the sound of their debut, and more importantly, they displayed their growing songwriting chops on this sophomore outing. The strutting, swaying rhythm-fest known as 'Final Fatal Force' lives up to its title nicely other solids include 'Needlefeast' and 'Grand Failure Anthem'.ДЄs if there was any question after the release of Steel Bath Suicide, Soilwork emphatically proved themselves to be one of melodic death metal's finest Swedish exports on this 2000 Century Media follow-up, The Chainheart Machine. Pretty much ripping throughout.The bottom-heavy 'Bastard Chain' shifts and morphs several times in its cycle, while 'Like the Average Stalker' attacks with its fast-chopping riffs.'Neurotica Rampage' is a thundering and rolling treat, with the pounding 'The Analyst' following on its heels. Still, this is a friggin' underrated band, and this release features its heaviest production sound yet, to boot. In part it is understandably eloquent and impressive, but the vocals also have the tendency to occasionally zap some of the aggressiveness from a song. Clean, Opeth-like sections can now be found (mainly in the choruses), adding a new element to the band's sound. There is definite songwriting growth on this release, as the underlying, atmospheric keyboard use is more apparent, and the vocals are also somewhat altered in places. Thankfully, Soilwork chose to continue their natural development and not wander off the path or resort to a 'back to our roots' release. In fact, Natural Born Chaos suggests what Dark Tranquillity might have accomplished on Haven had they not lost their nerve on the clean singing. However, that is not even a quibble since the songs here are very well written and memorable from beginning to end. To a degree, the tempos are a touch slower, allowing songs to breathe more, but it does lose that excellent frantic and manic feel of A Predator's Portrait.

Singer BjГ¶rn Strid has apparently worked on his clean vocal delivery and uses it quite a bit more, adding a better melodic strength to the mix. The core sound of Soilwork is still intact with the mix of crunchy, melodic Swedish death metal riffing and that cool keyboard undertone still keeping the bottom intact. There are a few small differences from one album to the other.

Natural Born Chaos finds Soilwork continuing down the same path as last year's effort with a few minor refinements and upgrades along the way.

Not only did Soilwork put out one of the best albums of 2001 with A Predator's Portrait, but they've turned out to be prolific as well, recording a follow-up within a year's time.

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