Here is my "review." I dont like song for song reviews, so I will just do the album as a whole. Yes, Ive listened to the entire album this afternoon and here are my thoughts:
Basically, this album is for In Flames what NBC was for Soilwork. It's dominated by vocals and there is a major lack of guitar emphasis, which really sucks considering that's what this band excells at. There are hardly any solos, and any melodic riffs or leads, but there happen to be "catchy" choruses in almost every song. Think of it as an entire album of "Pinball Map" type songs, but none of the new songs have a chorus even close to as catchy as that treat from Clayman. While these types of songs are cool every now and then, there shouldnt be as many on the album as there are. Not for In Flames. Theyre much too talented to do that kind of stuff.
I have to admit I do like how the vast majority of the songs are fast and heavy...I had a small feeling they'd have some nu-metalish songs, but they really dont except for the title track. It's a good song, but that riff is pretty basic...if youve heard it, you know what I mean. But, like I said, more or less, dont worry about it being/sounding "nu-metal" because it doesnt.
The main thing that scares me and I can say honestly disappoints me is the fact that, to my ears, there arent really any "stand out songs." No Zombie Inc's or Ordinary Story type songs. No Jotun's or Gyroscope. I mean, virtually all the songs, in one way or another sound the same. Also, the 14 songs is much too many, as some of them are clearly rushed and half assed.
Yet another thing that really gets me mad is the lack of the acoustic elements in the album. There are one or two acoustic songs, but again, the band concentrates on the vocals even in these songs MUCH more than they do on the guitar melodies. No Pallers Anders Visa's on this album at all.
I dont understand why bands do this, I honestly dont. Im not a musician, but seriously...I dont get it. Im sure being in a band like this, they want to explore new areas and try new ideas. Maybe one or two songs for experimental puropses, but not an entire fucking album full of songs that stray so far from their roots it's disgraceful. Clayman atleast had songs like Bullet Ride and Swim that were infact, guitar dominated songs with TONS of melody. I say again, the lack of melody on this album is my biggest gripe. I'll put it like this: The concern and concentration of guitar melodies that should have been the focus for this album (as with every IF album IMO) was completely substituted and replaced by new attempts at vocal melodies that should always play a small role for this fucking band! This is a guitar dominated band, not a vocally dominated band. Im sure Anders wants to "express himself" and "grow" as a musician, but lets face it. His singing sucks, and his screaming rules. They shouldnt have tried to fuck around with the vocals in every song and ditch out on guitar.
That is the name of the game with In Flames: LIVE BY THE GUITAR, DIE BY THE GUITAR. Always has been and always will be.
As I look at it from a fans point of view, I already know this is the album I will like the least. And not really liking one album out of the 5 I have isn't bad. But it's the direction theyre taking with this album that really kills me. I do have faith that maybe when they do the next effort they'll listen to previous releases and realize they forgot why they had such an cult following to begin with...being a melodic death band, they got rid of the "death" aspect eventually, no big deal, but now it seems that theyve forgotten the "melodic" aspect as well.
Melody in guitars, not vocals! Jesus Im mad.
Overall, if this was any other band Id say it's solid...8/10. For In Flames, being a long time fan I rate this as a 6/10.
Sorry to say.
Basically, this album is for In Flames what NBC was for Soilwork. It's dominated by vocals and there is a major lack of guitar emphasis, which really sucks considering that's what this band excells at. There are hardly any solos, and any melodic riffs or leads, but there happen to be "catchy" choruses in almost every song. Think of it as an entire album of "Pinball Map" type songs, but none of the new songs have a chorus even close to as catchy as that treat from Clayman. While these types of songs are cool every now and then, there shouldnt be as many on the album as there are. Not for In Flames. Theyre much too talented to do that kind of stuff.
I have to admit I do like how the vast majority of the songs are fast and heavy...I had a small feeling they'd have some nu-metalish songs, but they really dont except for the title track. It's a good song, but that riff is pretty basic...if youve heard it, you know what I mean. But, like I said, more or less, dont worry about it being/sounding "nu-metal" because it doesnt.
The main thing that scares me and I can say honestly disappoints me is the fact that, to my ears, there arent really any "stand out songs." No Zombie Inc's or Ordinary Story type songs. No Jotun's or Gyroscope. I mean, virtually all the songs, in one way or another sound the same. Also, the 14 songs is much too many, as some of them are clearly rushed and half assed.
Yet another thing that really gets me mad is the lack of the acoustic elements in the album. There are one or two acoustic songs, but again, the band concentrates on the vocals even in these songs MUCH more than they do on the guitar melodies. No Pallers Anders Visa's on this album at all.
I dont understand why bands do this, I honestly dont. Im not a musician, but seriously...I dont get it. Im sure being in a band like this, they want to explore new areas and try new ideas. Maybe one or two songs for experimental puropses, but not an entire fucking album full of songs that stray so far from their roots it's disgraceful. Clayman atleast had songs like Bullet Ride and Swim that were infact, guitar dominated songs with TONS of melody. I say again, the lack of melody on this album is my biggest gripe. I'll put it like this: The concern and concentration of guitar melodies that should have been the focus for this album (as with every IF album IMO) was completely substituted and replaced by new attempts at vocal melodies that should always play a small role for this fucking band! This is a guitar dominated band, not a vocally dominated band. Im sure Anders wants to "express himself" and "grow" as a musician, but lets face it. His singing sucks, and his screaming rules. They shouldnt have tried to fuck around with the vocals in every song and ditch out on guitar.
That is the name of the game with In Flames: LIVE BY THE GUITAR, DIE BY THE GUITAR. Always has been and always will be.
As I look at it from a fans point of view, I already know this is the album I will like the least. And not really liking one album out of the 5 I have isn't bad. But it's the direction theyre taking with this album that really kills me. I do have faith that maybe when they do the next effort they'll listen to previous releases and realize they forgot why they had such an cult following to begin with...being a melodic death band, they got rid of the "death" aspect eventually, no big deal, but now it seems that theyve forgotten the "melodic" aspect as well.
Melody in guitars, not vocals! Jesus Im mad.
Overall, if this was any other band Id say it's solid...8/10. For In Flames, being a long time fan I rate this as a 6/10.
Sorry to say.
