OT: In Flames and evolution.

[Nitronium Blood]

I just listened to one of their songs of the soon to be released 'Come Clarity'.

I feel like an idiot for having so much hope and telling myself "No... no my child... they will soon return to their glory days... their 'experimentation' days are gone... don't worry"

They have once again more or less stuck to their formula that started with RTR.

Good one God.

The feeling is somewhat similar to that of a fan of Metallica hoping release after release since 'Load' that "this will be the one where they return to their rooooooootsssss". That is what fans speculated St. Anger would be.

How many of you believe that their change is anything other than 'evolution'?

 

[Disconnekt]

I think RTR would have been a better album if it hadn't sounded like shit... a lot of the songs were really strong (if different). STYE... somewhat weaker. But having heard all of Come Clarity... it's a fantastic album, and I love it. Great songs, and this thing seriously thrashes. The thing is, you have to stop expecting the old style (melodic death/power metal) to appreciate it. Evolution is when a band releases something that is different but still really good, and Come Clarity definitely fits the bill. I'd compare this one to Soilwork's release of Natural Born Chaos (not so far as the songwriting and sound, but just relative to previous releases); that one was a HUGE departure for them, and a lot of people bitched about it, but it was still a fantastic album.

 

[sorceron]

i like come clarity as an album personally.

 

[2dark]

didn't heard all of "come clarity" yet, but it sounds like a good album.

imho not the best in flames album they have done, but i didn't expected
another "clayman" or "whoracle" anyway.

 

[Fragle]

i haven't heared it yet, but in general i think in flames got worse with every album they recorded after around clayman....

 

[cornerarea]

i haven't heared it yet, but in general i think in flames got worse with every album they recorded after around clayman....

Ditto.

 

[Catastrophy]

I heard the album, I think it's great! Great record while driving! !!!

 

[MilkAndCheese]

I don't like anything after Whoracle.

*runs into the night*

 

[DanAbela]

I heard the album, I think it's great! Great record while driving! !!!

You 100% right! i just leave that cd in my car, i dunno what it is but its one of those records that livens up a journey

 

[Gomez]

I don't like anything after Whoracle.

Same here. I don't even bother listening to their new stuff.

Same thing goes to Soilwork. they went crap after "chainheart machine"

 

[gumplunger]

I think a better question would be are they getting better or worse. The actual word devolution implies evolution because evolution is directionless. If their music changes, it is evolving, regardless of anyone's opinion of it. But enough with semantics.

In Flames will never make another Colony/Whoracle/Jester Race/etc, and some people are going to have to deal with that. Some bands are alright with putting out basically the same album over and over. In Flames is not one of those bands. If their musical tastes are changing, who are we to tell them what kind of music they should and shouldn't play. Everything I've heard from that band is good - sure, some stand above others, but there's not a crap album among them. So, in response to my own question, I think they've remained fairly consistant - not in their style, but in the quality of the music.

 

[ArtisanBass]

I can deal with the fact that In Flames will never make anything from even Clayman on back. But I don't have to like their new stuff. Metallica was mentioned above. Here's my theory. In Flames took everything that was specific and special to them and ignored it. Therefore they weren't special any more to me. Same story with Metallica. Starting at load, they could have been COC or someone else making a great album of that style, but they weren't playing a style that drew me to them. There are some bands that totally abandoned their style that I still dig and I feel it's complete chance.

Amorphis, Entombed, Anathema, Tiamat,etc.

 

[Deus.exe]

I think a more appropriate question would be "Evolution or Stagnation".
I'm all for evolution. Very few of my favourite albums are ever debut from bands (Mnemics "Mechanical Spin Phenomina" is an exception though. That album is pure gold I tell ya!) the most come after a few years of experience, refinement and maturity e.g Slaughter of the Soul, Necroticisim: Descanting the Insalubrious,October Rust, etc, etc, etc.

 

[sorceron]

if they kept putting out whoracle or colony record after record we would be sitting here talking shit about that, hah. im not saying this record is the best by any means, i do like it better then the last 2 though wich i can barely listen to, even then i still would here and there. to me it still sounds very much like in flames. In the case of metallica now thats just different, if you heard and justice for all and then load you wouldnt know they were the same band if you had never heard them before. but if you compare rrtr to colony you would and its just been and evolving sound since then in my opinion. i think they changed sound quite a bit from whoreacle to colony to clayman personally. and even from jester race to whoracle they sound quite a bit different if you want to get technical.

As much as i sometimes hate when bands change their sound i see it as a necessary thing for a band, after all we arent the ones playing those songs every single day, they are and it would get old doing the same thing for literally years and years.

 

[ArtisanBass]

I made a discovery a few years back. When I was younger, if bands like Exodus and Testament didn't make the same album over and over again, I was pissed. Now, I'd rather bands not make the same album twice. I firmly believe though, you can change but keep your identity. Nevermore is a good example.

 

[estigma2001]

well in the case of IF i consider myself a diehard fan but i only like 2 songs from STYE and guess what i love R2R besides the awfull production, for me that album is revolutionary after this album many bands followed that trend, in some cases using better clean vocals (Soilwork), but if you remember Whoracle Jotun had that type of clean vocals or at least they were trying, so aint new also the were using those electronic sounds before, about CC well is better than STYE not better than R2R ( i hate just one song Black and White) however i felt it like forced i mean CC was like programed or made it with the intention to please everyone. Finally i can not put in the same sac St Shitanger and CC.
im happy about CC because has more guitar armonies and solos and less electronic sounds but the Anders high scream is starting to annoy me, i think he should try to use the Clayman voice with some Whoracle voice and the clean vocals from R2R.
IF ranking
1 Clayman
2 R2R and Colony
3 Whoracle
4 Jester Race
5 Come Clarity
6 Both EPs Subterranean Black Ash
7 Lunar Strain
8 Live Tokyo Showdown
9 STYE

 

[Sinister Mephisto]

I love Jester race - Clayman In Flames and I was under the impression that the rest of it sucks. However, I heard a couple songs from STYE and Reroute to Remain and really liked them, so that's the last time I listen to people on an internet message board.







About in Flames.

 

[estigma2001]

Anders needs to change his vocals for the next album period

 

[sorceron]

i like a few of the clean vocals on this record but i honestly couldnt stand the cleans he did in the past. to me it sounds like hes not trying to sound like jonathan davis anymore and sounds more natural.

 

[Dawn Patrol]

I really hope they continue to evolv, I would be very disappointed if they made a new Jester Race or Whoracle album, thats already been done. Sure I like the old stuff better, but sticking to the past would be wrong, just listen one more time at the old albums instead of hearing a new "old one". Hopefully for you guys they will evolv to a sound that you like