Artist: In Flames
Label: Nuclear Blast
Release Date: 7/25/00
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Title: Clayman Artist: In Flames Label: Nuclear Blast Release Date: 7/25/00 |
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Abyss's Review:
In Flames, fresh off a, from all accounts, successful U.S. tour, have turned out another album in what feels like record time. In all honesty, I haven't even had a chance to get sick of Colony yet. But if you're afraid that the album will sound rushed let me end your anxieties right now. Not only does it not sound like a forced effort; it is, in many ways, a more complete album than their previous effort.
While the sound doesn't stray too much from the older In Flames that we've known and loved, this band has expanded its scope and continued to center on terrific songwriting to create an album that is moving, melodic, and malignant (how's that for aliteration!?!). The vocals are the most obvious departure from expectation, often utilizing a clean whisper, and actually singing occasionally a la newer Dark Tranquillity. The harsh vocals, which still predominate, are also ever evolving, trading off between a higher-pitched, Black Metal influenced wail, and Mr. Friden's traditional warmed-over death bellowing that seems to become more and more expressive with each successive album. This is draped over music that, in general terms, is very similar to the music of the last album, but despite some experimental sounds and beats, somehow seems a bit harder. Considering how highly polished this material is, it is amazing how powerfully it can come across.
Photo by Cynthia PelznerThe twin guitars take up a good amount of each song, which is to be expected, and I often found myself (during the longer of these moments) thinking, "this is too pretty to be heavy." But just as those thoughts form, the band goes into a (often) simple low-end riff that becomes a headbanger's test of self-control if you're listening to it in public (let's face it -- if you're in the subway station banging your head and making horns out of your fingers people step away from you pretty quickly... even in New York). "Only for the Weak" is a good example of this come chorus time.
There is also some other musical experimentation on this album as it uses some more mainstream sounds and beats. Branching out like this can often prove fatal for a band, labeling them either as a has-been or sell-out, but when it's done this well it just plain works. Normally, I'd run for cover when the soulfully whispered vocals first chimed in, but when they are contrasted with such emotinal screaming, they play off of each other in a way I wouldn't think possible. With this release I believe that In Flames, given the right exposure, could bring metal to a more mainstream audience, without compromise, combining two things that are rare in music today: marketability and integrity.
Death's Review:
Clayman is a fantastically mature release from an accomplished band at the top of their game. Like Maiden releasing Powerslave, Priest releasing Defenders or Metallica with Master, In Flames are at the point in their careers where they've clearly reached the top of the mountain - yet certainly have not yet begun their inevitable descent. In short, In Flames are at their prime, and what better time to experience these true masters of 90's European melodic death than now.
From the very first glance at the cool color scheme of Clayman's DaVinci- inspired cover, to the opening power chord of "Bullet Ride," whose warm yet aggressive tone resonates majestically throughout the entire record, it is clear that this a superior work. The songwriting is varied and interesting, with the opener "Bullet Ride," the slow and heavy part of "Pinball Map," the entire "As the Future Repeats Today..." and the title track standing out as personal faves. I do find the vibe of "Only for the Weak" a bit strange, and it is as commercial as anything they've ever done. Not sure exactly how I feel about that one yet, although I guess I currently lean toward a mild dislike relative to the rest of the record.
Photo by Cynthia PelznerBut more importantly, In Flames have successfully achieved something all bands should strive to do: progressing their sound musically without stylistic abandon. Sure, Clayman sports some silly keys and even sillier spoken word / "clean" vocal parts, enough so to make Jesper Stromblad's frank Metal Update interview confession from last year that In Flames likes listening to the Backstreet Boys in their spare time seem like it could actually be true! But nevertheless, Clayman is an unabashedly and undeniably important piece of aggressive, melodic death metal that we all should spend the rest of the summer listening to. Hailz to In Flames, the first classic-level masters of the metallic dominion to acheive that status in the new millennium.
Hel's Review:
In Flames are back once again with a new album. It seems like just a year ago I was listening to Colony for the first time... Wait a second... That WAS just a year ago! I remember a time when, if your favorite band put a new album out within two years from the last, that was an amazing turnaround time. In this day and age of quick turnaround releases, I can't help but wonder, does the quality of the albums suffer?
In the case of In Flames, I'd have to say no. While the material is largely similar to that on their last effort, it is still well written and well executed. There are the occasional innovations, most notably the utilization of "clean" vocals on a couple of tracks. But considering how much I liked their last effort (it made my top ten, if you don't recall), it shouldn't be too shocking that I'll like this one too.
Photo by Cynthia PelznerPoint of fact, I actually like the clean vocals the least of anything on the entirety of this platter. A Type O Negative vibe is evoked for me and, well, Type O is one of those bands that just never drew me in. You see, when I like something particular, I'm a sucker, and anything along those lines I eat up too. But when I don't like something, I'm a total hardass about anything reminiscent of that, and it takes a major event in order to change my mind about it. So, these new clean vocals in my In Flames weren't the optimal innovation for me.
Otherwise, I think it's great. Not to invoke the "G" word, but of course that's still present. Their sound is progressing and growing, but all of the elements I loved remain intact. I spun Clayman again and again, and at this point these songs are as classic as their others. A mark of a great album in my book. And the clean vocals are few enough that I hardly even notice them anymore, and I have decided that, in conjunction with the integrity of the other elements, is a major enough event to redeem the transgression. All in all, I consider this a damn fine album.
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