In Flames – Soundtrack to Your Escape (2004)
Nuclear Blast Records
Line-up
Peter Iwers – Bass Player
Jesper Strömblad – Guitar
Daniel Svensson – Drum
Björn Gelotte – Guitars
Anders Friden – Vocals
Tracklist
1. F(r)iend (2.5/5)
2. The Quiet Place (2/5)
3. Dead Alone (3.5/5)
4. Touch of Red (2.5/5)
5. Like You Better Dead (2/5)
6. My Sweet Shadow (2.5/5)
7. Evil in a Closet (4/5)
8. In Search for I (2.5/5)
9. Borders and Shading (2,5/5)
10. Superhero of the Computer Rage (2/5)
11. Dial 595-Escape (3/5)
12. Bottled (2,5/5)
13. Discover Me Like Emptiness (3/5)
What can I say about In Flames. They are a Swedish melodic death/Gothenburg band. What???? Did I just say that they are playing melodic metal? I can’t tell why some are still telling that they are playing Gothenburg. To me it sounds more of a combination of boring riffs with a singer that tried to copy someone that I will not tell the name.
In 2002, Reroute to Remains was on the tablets. It was the first time that In Flames experiment a lot with keyboards and clean vocals. The reception of the album was still good but the fans were a bit disappointed about this release. The best words that can describe Soundtrack to your Escape are In Flames’ St. Anger. They basically choose to go further in experimentation but they went in a path that they’re not supposed to.
The opener, F(r)iends, is not a bad song but you cannot compare this to their previous work. The riffs are generic and their is no trace of melody. In fact, I would say that 90% of the riffs on this album are E muted riffs (tuned down to A#). Their’s no chord progression or no melodic driven part. The only so-called melodic parts are the bridge of Touch Of Red and the intro and bridge of Dead Alone. The lather is maybe the best track of the record with Evil in a closet. Those are the two songs in which experimentation works. The keyboard stuff is well done on these two. Their’s a good vibe that came out of those songs. At least this album has a couple of songs that have feeling. The rest of the album is the same riff repeated over and over. Simplicity can be good but in that case it is like listening to a ***ty Linkin Park. It just doesn’t work.
Another big let down is the sound of this album. The drum sound is terrible. Almost as terrible as the one on St. Anger. . The guitar sound is digital and fuzzy. The bass is not that bad but it could be better. If you combine all of this it sounds like a big thrash can. The voice of Anders is also a big turn off. Where’s the guy who had powerful growls on The Jester Race and Whoracle.
Like I said before this album can be compared to St. Anger. A big disappointment. The sound and writing is awful.
Recommended tracks:
-Dead Alone
-Evil In A Closet
-Dial 595-Escape
Pros
-Experimental
-Evil in a Closet
Cons
-Boring riffs
-Where’s melody?
-Not enough solos
-Annoying vocals
