Artist: In Flames
Label: Nuclear Blast
Release Date: 7/25/00
Average Rating: 3.76
Go to Judgment Committee Reviews of this Album
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Title: Clayman Artist: In Flames Label: Nuclear Blast Release Date: 7/25/00 |
There are currently 13 Reader Reviews of this album.
Average Rating: 3.76 Go to Judgment Committee Reviews of this Album |
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Submitted by Omen (11/11/01):
Now let me start by saying I really like In Flames. I own all their stuff from Lunar Strain to Colony. This new album, though, felt fake and commercial. The songs are mundane and forgettable. "Pinball Map" is annoying due to the fact that the chorus is so cheesy it makes me sick. In my view they climaxed at Colony and Clayman is their attempt to get some radio time. I'm so disappointed-- maybe their next album will be better.
Submitted by Dopey (9/25/01):
Although "Whoracle," "Colony" and "Clayman" really kick ass I despise the fact that In Flames took this way. But I really love their early work and am still crying inside that there aren't any bands out there anymore who are making melodic death metal without the power/speed metal influences. Anyway, this is definitly their best album which every melodic metal fan should have. Are you guys also crying 'bout that ugly logo after "The Jester's Race"? I am :(
Submitted by Jeb (9/7/01):
Say what you will about In Flames and the direction they have taken, but Clayman, in my not so humble estimation, is an amazing album... It is full of awesome riffs and beautiful melodies (yes, most beautiful). In Flames has always been a melodic band, and this album, with its great songwriting and high production value, sounds amazing thoughout. The thing that stands out to me the most here, as with all In Flames, is the conveyance of emotions, and the changes from slow to mid tempo hooks to faster paced riffing, coupled with Anders Friden's vocals (which range from introspective and clean to emotive and enraged) make for one hell of a listen. I cannot pick one track out of them all, because I am completely emamoured with this album, but I do love the clean guitar solo in "Square Nothing" at the 2:56 mark... Beautiful. I know this is a pretty damn sappy review, but this album deserves it, and anyone interested in emotive and melodic metal should definately give Clayman a spin. Worth every penny.
Submitted by Total Satan (8/28/01):
First, let me tell you the history of Swedish melodic death or NWOSDM (new wave of Swedish death metal) or whatever shit that you will call them! It began from the two original bands, At the Gates and Edge of Sanity. They melded guitar-oriented, melodic riffs and technical leads in their songs: full of power, screaming and screeching... arghhhh!!!!!! And then it was time for the new generation, the coming of the classic albums Slaughter of the Souls by At the Gates (last album before they split) and The Gallery by Dark Tranquility. These two albums stirred the world with melodic-as-hell, technical and hyper-speed riffs that you can't sit on your chair and hold your headphones on your ears to, you must throw off your headphones and stand up, playing your air guitar... until you die or until you press stop!!!!Second, how the hell does that coincide with In Flames? Well guys (or girls?), an old member of Dark Tranquility left and started a new band called In Flames, and played the same thing as Dark Tranquility, only softer (I mean, less heavy).
Third, if you already have two cult albums, mentioned above, do you still need another one which is less heavy than those two albums? Come on guys, there are many albums out there that you may dig, and (at least for me), In Flames is a band full of melodic riffs, and lead guitar parts that will bring you a grin from ear to ear, and vocals that scream, and double bass drum, and good production, and acoustic and interlude parts, and instrument tracks... all the trademarks of the Gothenburg sound in this period (I mean 1996-2001)-- but the only thing in my narrow mind is, these all appear on The Gallery, so this album is nothing special for me.
Fourth, as for my respect for MetalJudgment, I follow your reviews, Mr. Abyss, I love your words so much, some of your reviews stick in my mind always, but one thing that we may have to disagree with one another on: In Flames is a band that I will never buy the CD of, but only copy on cassette in my poor country. I guess, from your review of Clayman, I think you may love this band, so I'm sorry to say all this, but it's just my opinion.
Submitted by The Magician (7/4/01):
In Flames was unfamiliar to me untill I collided within the reviews higly praised Clayman. The music that in turn changes from simple structured metal ( that you've already heard somewhere) to disturbingly average hard rock just runs out of steam too quickly.Every song opened up to me on the first spin and in fact it rocked quite well, but some of them started already to bore me on the second and thereafter the record was on the shelf for months.
If you like more complex songwriting with songs that it takes a longer time to assimilate... WARNING. To me this was a huge disappointment. It offered nothing new, no surprises except that the metal changed to hard rock sometimes, which wasn't a pleasant surprise.
The record merits the second skull for its catchiness but otherwise we are talking about "metal" far too predictable to stay a longer time in the CD player.
UP THE IRONS!!!
Submitted by Drew (3/25/01):
A good album, but just not to my taste. IF ANYONE WANTS TO PURCHASE THIS CD FROM ME, I WILL SELL IT FOR $10 WITH FREE SHIPPING TO YOU. IT IS IN PERFECT MINT CONDITION. EMAIL ME at drewross@excite.com.
Submitted by Zero Hero (2/25/01):
I just want to temper all these rave reviews of Clayman with a little reality. This is In Flames' worst album. Now that doesn't mean it's crap, because The Jester Race and Colony are some of the best in metal. Anyway this is enjoyable, but it just reeks of suits telling them they can sell more units if they turn down the insanity a little. This is radio rock!! Of course this is as good as radio rock can ever be. Get the other In Flames stuff first. After Colony, it's a bit of a letdown.
Submitted by William Castro on 9/26/00:
The first time I listened to this CD was LIVE, yes in the Whisky on Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood, In Flames was opening for Earth Crisis (what an insult to us In Flames fans.)Right after the 50 min. set was over, I went to the corner where they were selling the T-shirts and CDs and bought it. I didn't take it off my CD player for a week.
A more comercial, accesible masterpiece than Jester Race. A brilliant album. GET IT.
Submitted by mike sweetleads on 9/26/00:
Ok... this record is fucking amazing. Not too overproduced, and extremely tight. Picture a mix between Iron Maiden/At the Gates if yu will. It's been a while for them and they still know how to destroy shit.
Submitted by Chris Pedersen on 9/2/00:
Simply stated... in a word... shred!
Submitted by Jonathan Meyer on 8/21/00:
There are very few albums, that when you hear the opening notes from the band, they put a smile on my face. In Flames has the uncanny ability to do that with every single release. Ever since hearing their debut, The Lunar Strain, I knew that this was gonna be one hell of a band. And with Clayman, the group has further evolved, yet still producing its characteristic "melodic-death style".This album resembles Colony moreso than any of the others mainly due to the production, but the group have intensified their sound with their heaviest output since The Jester Race. Not one filler on this album (check out every damn song, cause they all are the shit). Unbelievable!!!
Submitted by Auggs on 8/4/00:
First, let's start off by saying that any album that In Flames comes out with is probably better that 90% of all the stuff that makes up the metal scene. Second of all, I believe In Flames came out with its best opus with The Jester Race.Clayman? A damn good album!!! Could it have been better? I think so! All the albums after Jester Race sound pretty much the same to me, although this one shows some elements that are new to the In Flames catalog (synths, clean vocals).
But still I was expecting more. With every release I hope for a come back to The Jester Race standard and sound, but I get some more of the same. But great album none the less...
Submitted by Hybrido on 7/26/00:
When I first heard about this baby I was told that they had made some changes to their classical In Flames sound. How wrong can you really be? Today I wonder what the hell those people were talking about. Itīs just the same sound as in Colony, even if this album is just a little more commercial. Anyway, everything is very well written and played on Clayman. Thereīs no real weak songs on this album, but still I miss something. I canīt put my finger on it but thereīs something that makes my score end up at only a four (in this case, ONLY a four).
Submitted by Kathy Chuter on 7/25/00:
Being a long-time fan of In Flames & possessing ALL of their releases I can honestly say this is their masterpiece, where all of their best elements come together to create a perfect symmetry. I do admit that this is the type of metal I love best, the "melodic death" metal, but In Flames has always been at the top. I just wish they had more gigs planned in the U.S. during their tour in August so I could see their show, which I've heard is always heavier than the recording. Please buy this cd & support the future of metal!
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