Swinelords

Swinelords, released by Spinefarm on 7 May 2007, is the last album. Having lost their keyboard player after the previous record, the band decided not to replace him, and that single fact changed the sound. Double bass drumming is rare here; acoustic guitar appears instead, and more work went into the lyrics. Most reviewers concluded that this was no longer power metal but melodic heavy metal. It was recorded at Miitri Aaltonen's Music-Bros Studios, with only the drums cut at Astia by Anssi Kippo; Aaltonen mixed and co-produced with the band, and Mika Jussila mastered at Finnvox. The reception was harsh. Metal Archives carries a row of disappointed reviews asking where the early promise went. "Not a Word" is the one song that gets named everywhere, and some pointed to the MTV-baiting "Pimps, Witches, Thieves & Bitches" as the best moment. The Japanese edition adds "Maggots." The band broke up in July 2009. Their own statement said it plainly: they had discovered the drive was gone, there was no point going on without full force and motivation, and to do so would cheat themselves and their fans. Eleven years, and tours with Helloween and DragonForce.