Peter Wichers is a Swedish guitarist, songwriter and record producer best known as one of the founding members of

melodic death metal Melodic death metal (also referred to as melodeath) is a subgenre of death metal that employs highly melodic guitar riffs, often borrowing from traditional heavy metal (including New Wave of British Heavy Metal). The genre features the heavines ...

band

Soilwork 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 S ...

. From 1995 until late 2005, when he announced his departure from the band, and again from 2008 until 2012 he was the lead guitarist and songwriter, especially on their '' Stabbing the Drama'' album.

Rejoining

18 September 2008, it was announced that Wichers had rejoined Soilwork in his previous role. 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 ''The Panic Broadcast'' is the eighth studio album by the 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 Wiche ...

'' album. 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 Facebook is an online social media and social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with fellow Harvard College students and roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin M ...

page is as follows: After leaving Soilwork, he filled in for

Adam Dutkiewicz Adam Jonathan Dutkiewicz (born April 4, 1977) is an American musician, recording engineer, songwriter, and music producer, best known as the lead guitarist and backup vocalist from Massachusetts metalcore bands Killswitch Engage, Aftershock, and ...

when he was injured on

Killswitch Engage Killswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999 after the disbanding of Overcast (band), Overcast and Aftershock. Killswitch Engage's current lineup consists of vocalist Jesse Leach, guitarists Joe ...

's European tour. Later he collaborated with singers from across the melodic death metal genre including

Anders Fridén Pär Anders Fridén (born 25 March 1973) is a Swedish vocalist, best known as the lead singer of Heavy metal music, heavy metal band In Flames. He was also the vocalist of Dark Tranquillity and Passenger (Swedish band), Passenger, a side project ...

, former bandmate Björn "Speed" Strid and John Bush (

Armored Saint Armored Saint is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1982. Since 1990, the band has consisted of John Bush on lead vocals, Joey Vera on bass, Jeff Duncan (musician), Jeff Duncan on rhythm guitar and the Sandoval ...

and ex

Anthrax Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium ''Bacillus anthracis''. It can occur in four forms: skin, lungs, intestinal, and injection. Symptom onset occurs between one day and more than two months after the infection is contracted. The sk ...

) vocalist to make an album much in the same style as ''

Roadrunner United ''Roadrunner United'' was a project organized by American heavy metal record label Roadrunner Records to celebrate its 25th anniversary. It culminated in an album released worldwide on October 11, 2005, entitled ''The All-Star Sessions''. Four ...

'', entitled ''Nuclear Blast All-Stars''. He also co-wrote

Warrel Dane Warrel Dane (born Warrel George Baker; March 7, 1961 – December 13, 2017) was an American musician who was the lead singer for the heavy metal bands Sanctuary and Nevermore. He was a natural baritone; though he was known for his high-pitched ...

's solo record ''

Praises to the War Machine ''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 ...

''.

Personal life

After his first split from Soilwork, Wichers moved from Los Angeles to

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...

where he worked as a producer and songwriter. Wichers currently lives in

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...

with his wife, Sara Wichers (who is from North Carolina) with the couple's son. Wichers met Sara in Spain while touring for Soilwork. Wichers works for

Jackson Guitars Jackson is a manufacturer of electric guitars and electric bass guitars that bears the name of its founder, Grover Jackson. The company was acquired by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation in 2002, which manufactures Jackson-branded guitar ...

since 2015.

Discography

Soilwork *''In Dreams We Fall into the Eternal Lake'' (1997 demo) *'' Steelbath Suicide'' (1998) *''

The Chainheart Machine ''The Chainheart Machine'' is the second studio album by the Swedish melodic death metal band Soilwork. It is the first Soilwork release to feature guitarist Ola Frenning and drummer Henry Ranta. There is an instrumental hidden track on "Room ...

'' (2000) *''

A Predator's Portrait ''A Predator's Portrait'' is the third full-length studio album released by the 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 ...

'' (2001) *''

Natural Born Chaos ''Natural Born Chaos'' is the fourth full-length studio album released by the Swedish melodic death metal band Soilwork. According to Nielsen Soundscan, the album sold 2.267 copies in the US as of 2002. The album comes in a limited vinyl versi ...

'' (2002) *'' Figure Number Five'' (2003) *'' The Early Chapters'' (2003 EP) *'' Stabbing the Drama'' (2005) *''

'' (2010) Warrel Dane *''

'' (2008) Contributions *'' Nuclear Blast All-Stars: Out of the Dark'' (2007)

Producer

* All That Remains - ''

The Fall of Ideals ''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 Re ...

'' (2006) (guitar production/engineer) *''Nuclear Blast All-Stars: Out of the Dark'' (2006) (guitar, bass, producer/engineer) *Samadhi - ''Incandescence'' (2007) *

- ''

'' (2008) (guitar, bass, producer/engineer) * Mannah - ''Untitled'' (2008) (producer/engineer) *

Nevermore 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. In April 2015, lead singer Warrel Dane confirmed that Nevermore had n ...

- ''

The Obsidian Conspiracy ''The Obsidian Conspiracy'' is the seventh and final studio album by American heavy metal band Nevermore. It was released on June 8, 2010 in North America by Century Media and at the end of May in Europe. The band's previous album, ''This Godles ...

'' (2010) (producer/engineer) *Remain - ''Untitled'' (2010) (producer/engineer, mix) *

- ''

'' (2010) (producer/engineer) * Darkest Hour - '' The Human Romance'' (2011) *

James LaBrie Kevin James LaBrie (born May 5, 1963) is a Canadian singer, best known as the lead singer of American progressive metal band Dream Theater, which he has been fronting since 1991. Early life Kevin James LaBrie was born in Penetanguishene, Ontar ...

- ''

Impermanent Resonance ''Impermanent Resonance'' is the third solo album and fifth solo project by Canadian singer James LaBrie. It was released on July 29, 2013, in Europe and on August 6, 2013, in North America. The album carries on the melodic death metal style firs ...

'' (2013) (Co-Producer / Additional songwriting - guitars)

References

External links

Soilwork official band website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wichers, Peter Living people Swedish heavy metal bass guitarists 1979 births People from Ängelholm Municipality 21st-century bass guitarists Soilwork members Swedish record producers Heavy metal producers Swedish songwriters