Review: In Flames

In Flames
“Soundtrack To Your Escape”
(Nuclear Blast)

The much-hailed In Flames return.  One of Sweden’s many contributions to the contemporary metal scene, the band has seen much growth in the past few years along side the likes of fellow countrymen (and women) in Arch Enemy, Dark Tranquility and Children of Bodom.  The In Flames trademarks of acrobatic duel guitars that crunch as well as offer up unapologetic leads combined with vocals that grumble and roar with much passion is still here.  But where previous releases gave a heavy nod to European traditional metal, this newest shows what some heavy touring around the world might do to a bands sound.

Namely, it’s become a bit more “Americanized”.  More streamlined around the ‘big riff’ instead of constructing the challenging guitar runs and climaxing song structures that were a bit overblown, but all the better for their complexity that we saw in previous releases.

The opening track “F(r)iend” hits as expected, but when the second track, “The Quiet Place”  crawls in, the influence from touring with bands like Soilwork can be felt.  While competent, it doesn’t attack with the intricacy most listeners have grown accustomed to hearing out of In Flames.  They even bring in some keyboard tricks for the ending of “My Sweet Shadow”.

Luckily, most of the disc is a progressing In Flames with feet rooted in their past, but their heads looking around at their contemporaries and thinking, “Some of this ain’t bad”.  Most tangibly felt in the cutting back of the total number of ideas that go into an In Flames song.  Previous works showcased complex songs with numerous directions that were accomplished by the fierce guitars the band wraps their songs around, while this newest is more “song” orientated.  That’s not to say it doesn’t crush.  It most certainly does, tempered by the strong sense of melody that the guitars employ when they aren’t crunching.

Fans will hear the newer metal scene influences, but shouldn’t be too disappointed at any lack of range.  And there are about 4 songs on here that crack the In Flames metal as expected.  But even the slightly more mellowed tracks have a lot of heart and creativity.  I doubt this will be an In Flames fans favorite release, but it does the admirable job of bringing out the essential elements of that Euro-flavored metal, but bringing some fundamentals of a more stripped down and straight ahead American metal.