The problem with the idea of a "comeback to an aggressive sound" is that this isn't "back to the roots" because whilst they had some aggressive songs on previous albums - Morphing Into Primal, for example - by and large their music was far more geared towards melody than aggression. The closest they had to an aggressive sound was Come Clarity. Firstly, not back to da rootz as that was 2006, but secondly there's still plenty of melody there. It also has Jesper's touch which is simply impossible for them to replicate now.
I would have been fine with them sticking to and refining to the ITM sound, but when have they ever done that? Since they left Nordstrom they've always jumped to a new kind of sound every album, which makes it difficult to ever build up any expectations. How many other bands are so utterly schizophrenic in how they approach their music? It worked on some level before, as Jesper was able to tie it all together with his unique ability to compose in a certain way, but nowadays their change of sound just comes across as a band who have no idea who or what they want to be.
I don't want to give up on IF, but after 3 bad albums out of 4 (from a personal perspective), I've pretty much lost hope. As long as they are shacked up with Benson I don't think they'll record anything worthwhile, and even without him we may just get another dumpster fire like Siren Charms. The only way they record a solid new album (without returning to Nordstrom) is:
1) Dump Benson
2) Let a motivated Bjorn write everything again, like SOAPF. Broderick and Tanner could contribute, as I've heard enough to know they have good ideas
Sadly I don't foresee either of the above happening, so we're likely stuck with HB's In Flames until they finally decide to call it a day.
I would have been fine with them sticking to and refining to the ITM sound, but when have they ever done that? Since they left Nordstrom they've always jumped to a new kind of sound every album, which makes it difficult to ever build up any expectations. How many other bands are so utterly schizophrenic in how they approach their music? It worked on some level before, as Jesper was able to tie it all together with his unique ability to compose in a certain way, but nowadays their change of sound just comes across as a band who have no idea who or what they want to be.
I don't want to give up on IF, but after 3 bad albums out of 4 (from a personal perspective), I've pretty much lost hope. As long as they are shacked up with Benson I don't think they'll record anything worthwhile, and even without him we may just get another dumpster fire like Siren Charms. The only way they record a solid new album (without returning to Nordstrom) is:
1) Dump Benson
2) Let a motivated Bjorn write everything again, like SOAPF. Broderick and Tanner could contribute, as I've heard enough to know they have good ideas
Sadly I don't foresee either of the above happening, so we're likely stuck with HB's In Flames until they finally decide to call it a day.