OK, we all know In Flames was a melodic death metal outfit over 15 years ago. Are you still hoping for an album like “Lunar Strain” or “The Jester Race”? If you are then stop reading now and piss off. If you’re not then read on as In Flames have successfully achieved what most metal bands really do dream of, that is global recognition selling thousands of quality albums and whether you like it or not In Flames were a modern metal outfit in the 90s and still continue to be so in 2011. Since Jesper left/kicked out (delete as applicable to you) due to substance abuse the band really hasn’t missed him at all really and despite the guys obvious talent one look at the song writing credits on past albums and you’ll see his input wasn’t as large as you’d think.
In Flames has developed a trademark commercial sound that is mimicked by newer outfits clamouring for a break. The album has a softer production style compared to “A Sense Of Purpose” which doesn’t mean less heavy at all. Kicking the album off is the title track, a surprisingly dark song as an opener as most would expect single material with archetypal bounce and infectious drive. “Deliver Us” treads familiar ground with an upbeat melody and a dead cert for a live song before the atmosphere turns darker again for “All For Me” which possesses a haunting quality on the effects used. The lead is serene when balanced with Anders powerful clean emotive vocal delivery.
“The Puzzle” is true In Flames material, faster with a snappy snare beat and a great mid section of bass line and double kick for power that is reminiscent of the material on “Reroute To Remain” (one of my favourite albums to this day). Said album is still retained in my memory on “Fear Is The Weakness” which has a “Trigger” like quality that builds to lead work very similar to the Amott brothers. As with any band it is the song writing that is crucial for the memory and I suspect many bands would kill for song writing ability of this calibre, especially when the execution is so perfectly performed.
The darkness reappears, which as a sideline is matched by the abstract artwork on the cover and within the booklet (yes I bought the album), when “The Attic” starts up. The vocals are poignant within the slower template of the song which is in stark contrast to “Darker Times” as the lyrics are belted out within an upbeat structure we expect of this band. “Enter Tragedy” is also another mean song with gritty riffing and a far more aggressive approach as the song drops into a more sludgy riff and beat similar to Machine Head to these ears. Again the leads are just great and not just slapped in the song to pad them out. “Jester’s Door” will be the song that will get the band slated like Morbid Angel’s song “Radikult” off their brilliant new album, as it has Depeche Mode synth atmosphere in places that develop in the song with spoken words.
As the last couple of songs approach I can honestly say that this is trademark In Flames; excellent song writing and just utterly great tunes to listen to. “A New Dawn” has a wonderful harmony to it whereas “Liberation” comes across as a rousing stadium closer with a dark commerciality which fits brilliantly. If you didn’t like the last album or the one before it is unlikely you’ll like this, but I guess you’ll have buggered off after my remark at the start anyway. An album of superior metal tunes that balance melody and gritty dynamics superbly.
http://www.inflames.com
http://www.myspace.com/inflames
Martin Harris
MTUK HOME
