Artist: In Flames
Label: Ferret Music
Release Date: 2/7/06
Abyss's Review:
At The Gates broke up, Dark Tranquillity went on to make some outstanding albums, and In Flames? Well... In Flames went to Ozzfest. It's been obvious for quite some time that this band has been actively courting the mainstream, but despite how shameless that is in our opinionated little clique, it has become easy to forget that this band is comprised of a talented bunch of chimps. Sure, Reroute To Remain sucked and Soundtrack To Your Escape was only a mild improvement, but for all the emo choruses and nu metal leanings, these guys are still inherently metal, and I must admit I've always been pulling for them to hit it big, even if I couldn't really call myself a fan in recent years.
"One word review: EMOtive." I've always considered In Flames to be a band that has been playing against their strengths since the new millennium hit, sacrificing their once groundbreaking sound to sell a few thousand more records. But here comes their latest record, Come Clarity, to shake me up a bit. Fact is I really like this album, despite the fact that there has been no huge stylistic change from their last few. Perhaps I'm softening, but I think the reason that I've accepted this latest In Flames album is that the band is finally settling into their new sound, allowing their talent to come through.
This album is successful where the last two weren't for one important reason. They're doing the same thing, they're just much better at it now. Come Clarity still combines melodic death, nu metal and emo, but the songs grind much more efficiently and the vocals abound with hook, both clean and harsh. The band appears much more comfortable than they did in the past, and the result is a well put together record that has enough of an edge to get my head banging despite the syrupy sweet pop that, more often than not, accompanies it.
Songs like "Leeches," the female-accompanied "Dead End," "Vacuum," and lead track "Take This Life" all show how powerful metal can be at its poppy best. Of course, there's still a great amount of cheese as well, but most of it is forgiven. Case in point is "Scream," which has the chorus "I scream! You scream!" which will have every American thinking "We all scream for ice cream!" One word review: EMOtive.
Death's Review:
So In Flames comes to Ferret. Don't tell me this wasn't telegraphed to you when Anders wore the gun logo shirt in one of their videos a couple of albums back (they had to blur it out on MTV2), 'cause it was. Come Clarity is a good album for those of you In Flames fans who have stuck with the band for the last few albums. The Johnny-come-latelies will like it too. Old school fans might find a few nuggets of the old form back in action, but don't expect this to be the next Whoracle or The Jester Race. It's not. But despite the presence of female vocals on a track and a few other expansions of the general formula, this is not an album that overhauls the sound fans have come to expect. It is another decent In Flames album for those who like this sort of thing. Cool cover art, decent music, cool band, good signing for Ferret. In Flames deserve all the success they can achieve. Catch them on the Sounds of the Underground 2 Tour this summer.
"In Flames deserve all the success they can achieve."
Hel's Review:
I know I am not alone in feeling that In Flames has taken a wrong turn along the way. There was a point in time when this was one of my absolute favorite bands, so I have taken the changes particularly hard, I think. And at this stage, I may be guilty of holding a grudge for some of their worst decisions. I, for one, do not believe that Anders’ clean vocals are a good idea. I believe I have been pretty vocal about this in the past, but alas, the trend persists with absolutely no improvement.
"As a fan, I am frustrated." True, Come Clarity is a better album than its predecessor, but considering what a steaming pile I thought the last one was, it is not enough to win me back. But as long as Anders persists with his tortured-cat crooning, I doubt I’ll ever be fully back on board. I am saddened by this, not just as a former die-hard fan, but also because on the occasions that I have encountered them socially I have always found them to be great people, and on that level I certainly wish them to achieve all the success that they desire.
As a fan, however, I am frustrated. There are things on this album which hint that the old In Flames that I adore and long for are still lurking underneath the surface somewhere. Somehow, this almost makes it worse. I really, really, want to put a new In Flames album into the player and have it sound the way it should in my mind, but instead I continue to hear the things I believe they need to abandon. The clean singing needs to go, as does the nu-metal influences – these have thankfully declined on this album, but have not been eradicated and they must be.
Come Clarity does provide some small hope for future records. It is undeniably a step in the right direction. My dearest wish is that the band members take a good long look inside themselves and at the progression of mainstream trends in the States, and realize that the band that they had been from day one is the band that they need to be. Musically, I believe THAT is the kind of material that has the best potential to hit it HUGE with the next album. Each wave of metal-related music that is accepted into the Billboard charts is heavier than the last. My prediction is that in a year or two the 90s-era Gothenburg sound will be the rage; Arch Enemy will lead the way, but I think a band like Dark Tranquillity is best poised to ride the wave once the swell has begun. In Flames could be there too if only they would go back to the sound that they do best – because they have always done it better than pretty much anyone else.
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