Peter Wichers

Last updated

Peter Wichers
Also known asVicious
Born (1979-02-08) 8 February 1979 (age 44)
Ängelholm, Sweden
Origin Helsingborg, Sweden
Genres Melodic death metal
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, record producer
Instrument(s)Guitar
Labels Listenable, Century Media, Nuclear Blast
Website soilwork.org

Peter Wichers (born 8 February 1979) is a Swedish guitarist, songwriter and record producer best known as one of the founding members of melodic death metal band Soilwork. From 1995 until late 2005, when he announced his departure from the band, and again from 2008 until 2012 [1] he was the lead guitarist and songwriter, especially on their Stabbing the Drama album. [2]

Contents

Rejoining

18 September 2008, it was announced that Wichers had rejoined Soilwork in his previous role. [3] Having joined the band again, Wichers accompanied Soilwork on their European tour in late 2008 and the American tour in early 2009. Once the tour was finished, the band wrote and recorded The Panic Broadcast album. [4] On 25 June 2012 it was announced that Wichers left the band for the second time, due to creative differences. Peter's official statement posted on the band's Facebook page is as follows:

I want to thank everyone who has supported Soilwork over the years. It has been a wild and fun ride, but it's time for me to explore different options in my career. I will cherish all the amazing moments I have gathered from my time with Soilwork, and I would not be where I am today without the help from you Fans, my family and Soilwork. Thank you!

Peter Wichers

After leaving Soilwork, he filled in for Adam Dutkiewicz when he was injured on Killswitch Engage's European tour. [5] Later he collaborated with singers from across the melodic death metal genre including Anders Fridén, former bandmate Björn "Speed" Strid and John Bush (Armored Saint and ex Anthrax vocalist) to make an album much in the same style as Roadrunner United , entitled Nuclear Blast All-Stars. He also co-wrote Warrel Dane's solo record Praises to the War Machine .

Personal life

After his first split from Soilwork, Wichers moved from Los Angeles to Nashville, Tennessee where he worked as a producer and songwriter. [6] Wichers currently lives in North Carolina with his wife, Sara Wichers (who is from North Carolina) with the couple's son. [4] Wichers met Sara in Spain while touring for Soilwork. Wichers works for Jackson Guitars since 2015.

Discography

Soilwork

Warrel Dane

Contributions

Producer

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killswitch Engage</span> American metalcore band

Killswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999 after the disbanding of Overcast and Aftershock. Killswitch Engage's current lineup consists of vocalist Jesse Leach, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, bassist Mike D'Antonio, and drummer Justin Foley. The band has released eight studio albums and three live performance albums. Their eighth studio album, Atonement, was released on August 16, 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanctuary (band)</span> American thrash/power metal band

Sanctuary is an American thrash/power metal band, formed in 1985 in Seattle, Washington. They were broken up from 1992 to 2010. The band consists of Lenny Rutledge (guitar), Joseph Michael (vocals), George Hernandez (bass), and Dave Budbill (drums). The lead vocalist position was held by Warrel Dane until his death in 2017. They have released four studio albums and one live EP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soilwork</span> Swedish melodic death metal band

Soilwork is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Helsingborg. They are signed to Nuclear Blast. Formed in late 1995 by Björn Strid and Peter Wichers, originally under the name Inferior Breed, the band changed their name in late 1996 to Soilwork.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darkest Hour (band)</span> American metal band

Darkest Hour is an American metal band from Washington, D.C., formed in 1995. Though failing to break through early in their tenure, the band has received acclaim for their albums Undoing Ruin, Deliver Us, and The Eternal Return. Deliver Us debuted at number 110 on the Billboard album charts, with sales of 6,600, and their more recent effort The Eternal Return garnered them an even higher position in the Billboard album charts at number 104. Their latest album Godless Prophets & the Migrant Flora charted at 42 on the Billboard 200, a peak for the band, and it marked a stylistic shift in the band's discography.

<i>A Predators Portrait</i> 2001 studio album by Soilwork

A Predator's Portrait is the third studio album by Swedish melodic death metal band Soilwork. It was released on 19 February 2001, and was reissued on 15 October 2013 in the U.S. and 18 October 2013 in Europe. This is the last album to feature Carlos Del Olmo Holmberg on keyboards. According to Nielsen Soundscan, the album sold 6.326 copies in the US as of 2002.

<i>Stabbing the Drama</i> 2005 studio album by Soilwork

Stabbing the Drama is the sixth studio album by Swedish melodic death metal band Soilwork. The record was released on 28 February 2005, via Nuclear Blast label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonic Syndicate</span> Swedish metal band

Sonic Syndicate was a Swedish metalcore band from Falkenberg. They were originally influenced by Swedish melodic death metal bands such as In Flames and Soilwork, as well as American metalcore bands like Killswitch Engage and All That Remains.

<i>The Fall of Ideals</i> 2006 studio album by All That Remains

The Fall of Ideals is the third studio album by metalcore band All That Remains, released on July 11, 2006. Three music videos were created for the songs "This Calling", "Not Alone" and "The Air That I Breathe". It is the only All That Remains release with drummer Shannon Lucas and the band's first album to feature bassist Jeanne Sagan. Musically, the album features a more melodic metalcore sound the band would be known for.

Threat Signal is a Canadian heavy metal band from Hamilton, Ontario. The band has had numerous lineup changes, with only Jon Howard remaining from the original incarnation. Their music is often classified as metalcore, melodic death metal, or groove metal.

<i>Sworn to a Great Divide</i> 2007 studio album by Soilwork

Sworn to a Great Divide is the seventh studio album by Swedish melodic death metal band Soilwork. The album was released on 19 October 2007 for Europe and on 23 October 2007 for the US, both through Nuclear Blast. Everything aside from vocals was recorded at Not Quite Studios in Helsingborg. This is the only album to include Daniel Antonsson on guitar who replaced founding member Peter Wichers after his late 2005 departure. It is also the last album to feature long-time guitarist Ola Frenning who left Soilwork in February 2008.

<i>Nuclear Blast All-Stars: Out of the Dark</i> 2007 compilation album by Nuclear Blast All-Stars

Out of the Dark is a two disc compilation album from Nuclear Blast Records to commemorate their 20 years as a record label. Produced by Peter Wichers, who is also the only songwriter on the album, it features a variable collection of "All Stars" much in the same vein as Roadrunner United. The album includes 11 different singers, with Wichers playing bass and guitar, and drums by Dirk Verbeuren and Henry Ranta. It also includes a second disc which includes 10 songs from thrash metal, death metal and black metal bands signed to Nuclear Blast. While its "twin" album Into the Light focuses more on the power metal side of the label, Out of the Dark is rather devoted to the genre of melodic death metal.

<i>Praises to the War Machine</i> 2008 studio album by Warrel Dane

Praises to the War Machine is the debut solo release/album by heavy metal vocalist Warrel Dane from Nevermore, released on April 25, 2008. The album was produced by Peter Wichers, who was tapped by Dane to work on the album while Wichers was still a member of Soilwork. After leaving that band in 2007, Wichers co-wrote the album with Dane and played on eight of its tracks. Soilwork drummer Dirk Verbeuren and former Himsa guitarist Matt Wicklund also played on the album. Nevermore guitarist Jeff Loomis and James Murphy make guest appearances. Chris Broderick was supposed to contribute a solo to the track "Obey" but was unable to, due to other obligations. Praises to the War Machine includes two cover songs, The Sisters of Mercy's "Lucretia My Reflection" and "Patterns" by Paul Simon. Dane had previously covered a Simon song on Nevermore's album Dead Heart in a Dead World.

<i>The Panic Broadcast</i> 2010 studio album by Soilwork

The Panic Broadcast is the eighth studio album by Swedish melodic death metal band Soilwork, released 2 July in Europe and 13 July in North America, 2010. The album marks the return of long-time Soilwork guitarist and founder Peter Wichers, who also took on the role as the album's producer, though Wichers would leave Soilwork in 2012. The album also features the debut of guitarist Sylvain Coudret who replaced longtime guitarist Ola Frenning in 2008. Mixing was done by Jens Bogren. According to Nielsen SoundScan, The Panic Broadcast sold around 5,257 copies in its first week of sales in the United States. The album debuted at #88 on the Billboard 200 chart, making it their highest-charting album in their entire career at the time.

<i>The Human Romance</i> 2011 studio album by Darkest Hour

The Human Romance is the seventh studio album by the American melodic death metal band Darkest Hour. The album was released on February 22, 2011, in North America through eOne Music, and was released on March 7 in Europe through Century Media Records. This would be Darkest Hour's last album with drummer Ryan Parrish and bassist Paul Burnette.

<i>The Living Infinite</i> 2013 studio album by Soilwork

The Living Infinite is the ninth studio album by Swedish melodic death metal band Soilwork, released on 27 February 2013 in Asia, 1 March 2013 in Europe, on 4 March 2013 in the UK and on 5 March 2013 in the US. It is the band's first double album. It is also the first Soilwork release to feature guitarist David Andersson; founding guitarist Peter Wichers left Soilwork for the second time in 2012, making this the second album to not feature him. This also marks the band's last album with longtime bassist Ola Flink who parted ways with the band right before the recording of the next album The Ride Majestic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nevermore</span> American heavy metal band

Nevermore was an American heavy metal band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1991. The band has been inactive since 2011, due to personal issues between the band members. Vocalist Warrel Dane died in December 2017, ending hopes of a reunion.

<i>Death Resonance</i> 2016 compilation album by Soilwork

Death Resonance is the second compilation album by Swedish melodic death metal band Soilwork, released on 19 August 2016 via Nuclear Blast. The album contains two new songs as well as thirteen remastered versions of B-sides previously unreleased worldwide, including all tracks in Beyond the Infinite EP and bonus tracks in Stabbing the Drama, Sworn to a Great Divide, The Panic Broadcast and The Ride Majestic. The album is the final Soilwork record to credit Dirk Verbeuren on drums.

<i>Verkligheten</i> 2019 studio album by Soilwork

Verkligheten is the eleventh studio album by Swedish melodic death metal band Soilwork, released on 11 January 2019 via Nuclear Blast. It is the first album to feature drummer Bastian Thusgaard as the replacement of longtime member Dirk Verbeuren. The album's release also marks the longest gap between Soilwork studio albums to date, with their previous album, The Ride Majestic, having been released nearly three and a half years earlier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Act of Denial</span> Death metal supergroup

Act of Denial is an international melodic death metal supergroup, formed in 2020. Its members are vocalist Bjorn Strid (Soilwork), guitarists, songwriter and producer Voi Cox and lyricist and guitarist Luger, bassist Steve Di Giorgio, drummer Kerim Lechner (Septicflesh) and keyboardist John Lönnmyr.

<i>Övergivenheten</i> 2022 studio album by Soilwork

Övergivenheten is the twelfth studio album by Swedish melodic death metal band Soilwork, released on 19 August 2022 via Nuclear Blast. It marks the first album with new bassist Rasmus Ehrnborn who joined as a touring member for the previous album Verkligheten cycle and became a permanent member in 2022, also making this album the first recorded as a six-piece since 2013's The Living Infinite. This was the last album to feature guitarist David Andersson who died on 14 September 2022.

References

  1. "BLABBERMOUTH.NET - SOILWORK: Guitarist WICHERS Quits, Drummer VERBEUREN Named Full-Time Member". Archived from the original on 22 August 2007. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  2. allmusic ((( Stabbing the Drama > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))
  3. "SOILWORK — Verkligheten out now" . Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Peter Wichers: Soilwork". SuicideGirls.com. 8 March 2009. Retrieved 11 March 2009.
  5. "Blabbermouth.Net - Ex-Damageplan Singer To Play Guitar For Killswitch Engage". Archived from the original on 27 August 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  6. "BLABBERMOUTH.NET - Former SOILWORK Guitarist To Set Up Recording Studio In Nashville". Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 11 November 2019.