Ok so this one is going to be good. I was really siked when I heard In Flames was going to be coming out with a new one this year. I have liked In Flames for a long time now, and even though their sounds have shifted, and moved around a little it's all pretty decent material in their own lights. Some better than others yes but come on what band doesn't have that going on. Not everything can please everyone out there, and if you win some and loose some I'd say well that's the name of the game. Play what feels right, and be happy with it and people will listen to it no matter what, and with a bands reputation like In Flames there will be a lot of people listening to it I'm sure that will like it.
In Flames has been one of the main influences on melodic death metal for the past 15 or so years. I wouldn't really call them death metal anymore though, but great great stuff either way. Along side with others like Soilwork, At the Gates, and Dark Tranquility. Who all share some similarities, and are so different in so many ways. I really enjoy listening to Ander's voice. He has a great scream, and a great take on melodic singing. The melodic metal that's come out of Sweden has been unprecedented lets just say that with all of those bands being ailed out of Sweden. So with their last one A Sense of Purpose I wasn't as pleased as I've been with previous releases. Their distortion was very different, and the over-all feel to the record didn't seem to please me like their earlier stuff. So with this one I'd naturally have high expectations to beat A sence of Purpose, and blow it out of the water.
Lets just say while being better than A Sence of Purpose, it doesn't hit home quite yet for me, but the more I listen to it the more I'm liking it. Now that's not saying its not a great record. It's still in the same vein as A Sence of Purpose, Reroute to Remain, and Come Clarity, but it's not like a revolutionary change or anything for them. I learned later after getting the album that guitarist and founding member Jesper Stromblad had left the band for his own reasons. It was on good terms with the band, and his spot was filled by Niclas Engelin who's worked with them on many occasions so it was a easy fit. So all of the guitar structures and melodies were written by lead guitarist and guitar mastermind Bjorn Gelotte. So while there is a great presence of talented guitar workings here with some great clean tone intros with cool technicals, and great grooves throughout the record, it lacks a certain intensity that maybe Jepser was the one to pick up the slack when it came to giving it that extra umph it needed. Now I'm not saying Bjorn didn't write great material, but I do know something is missing that's all.
So there are some very very entrancing grooves on this one. Some of the greatest hooks they've ever written to date. The melodies are also very lustrous, and very present. This is by far in my opinion their most melodic record to date. While being their most melodic it still is standing strong compared up to their earlier material, like whoracle, or Jester's Race. Which are some of the greatest melodic death metal records out there. The melodies are so intoxicating I can't help but get pretty much every song stuck in my head. I listen and my head just starts nodding back and forth for some reason haha. There are great guitar textures, and some great solo segments throughout the record. The use of the electronic keyboard sounds and fills make the songs that much more interesting. The intro to Deliver Us reminds me of Quite Place which I really like that song. There are other electronic moments which are very interesting also. They've always been a band to incorporate that without over powering any other instrument by any means. The lyrics are in full force. I really think Anders Friden is one of metal's greatest lyricists right now. His lyrics are very motivating, insightful, angry, passionate, mysterious, and straight up kick ass at times. His voice is like no other. On this record he does a song completely harmonically without his signature twists on the melodic voices he usually does. He sings it straight up melodically which he hasn't really done before to this level. While loving it, I also think the song is by far their most commercial, simple song so far. I like to see bands that usually have a signature staple go outside that and expose themselves. Kind of like being caught with your pants down right. But in that exposure you open yourself up to maybe a new revolution in your music, or a whole new fan base. Win some loose some remember.
Now I'd hate to say it I do have a complaint with the record. While being a very strong record, with great melodies, and sound over-all. The drumming on the record is sub-par in my opinion. He has laid down some great technicals in previous years, and on this record I'm not hearing a strong drumming presence. The production and sound of the drums sounds great, but the over-all technicality is not where I know it could be. He seems to just play on the hooks, and guitar drive pretty well, but doesn't stand out on his own very much at all. I would've liked to hear him go nuts and give us some crazy fast stuff like I know Daniel Svensson can deliver us. So that is really my only major complaint with the record is that the drums aren't as technical, and as fast as I'd like them to be, but they've got many more years to please so I'll be fine. Haha
So as In Flames' new one Sounds of A Playground Fading goes I'd say it's a win. There are some very intoxicating, catchy songs here and I know I'll be jamming this one for a while. I also know that a lot of old school In Flames fans may not take to it very well. Owe Well though right. If they paid real close attention to what everyone was saying negatively about their new stuff being not as good as their early years they'd probably go hide in a corner and cover their ears, cause that's what everyone says about In Flames that's been listening to them since then. I say screw that. People change, and I always look at musical explorations as a move forward not backwards. There shouldn't be a problem with trying something new and pushing your influences to new levels. It shows your ability as a more powerful, and versital musician. Rather than a very bland, repetitive duplication of what you've done for ages. Which so many bands have going on these days. I think the metal world has a real problem with this fact. Now that also doesn't go without saying if it ain't broken, don't fix it. Haha. I love contradicting myself. You answer the question is In Flames' new material better or worse than their previous material, and I'm talking before Reroute to Remain. So as Sounds... goes I'm giving it a solid 8 right now. It really is a great listen but the over-all slower speeds, and the lack of drumming craziness is what is giving it a lower rating for me this time. Sorry guys. So until next time stay hard, stay heavy.
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