In Flames : "Forgone"

 

Having been into metal for almost 40 years, I have watched the trends ebb and flow and the bands who spurned them rise and fall. I have never considered myself a fan of In Flames, but when this Swedish band came on the scene, they were filling a necessary void left by the thrash bands who came before them who had begun to doubt themselves when grunge shook things up. Now 14 albums deep into their career, there are not a great deal of surprises. This is the first album to feature former Megadeth guitarist Chris Broadrick. The first song is an example of what I am not too crazy about when it comes to this band. A charge of twin guitars harmonizing over melodic death metal at a breakneck speed. I like my death metal to sound darker and uglier.  However, the second song displays what I do like about these guys, which is catchy song writing. It works off of groove rather than trying to keep up with the drums. 

The title track is broken up into two song a first and second part. The first part is the more aggressive side that races away with the song. Granted there are melodic moments in this that are catchier and some smart riffs. The guitar solos are too shred focused and what I do not like about the about this kind of playing. No one is ever going to question the caliber of the players this band employs, the execution is precise, perhaps too much so. When the guitar melodies are not so rapid fire you can enjoy them more, this is the lesson learned by the second part of the title track which is more of a power ballad.  Normally when the singer plays good cop / bad cop going from harsh yells to clean singing one is stronger than the other, but his voice is well balanced. Not enough to have made my top 200 greatest rock singers list, but impressive for what this band does. "Pure Light of Mind" is another power ballad of sorts. 

They prove they can play aggressive metal with the best of them and not be stuck in their typical formula on "The Great Deceiver". There is a section that speeds up to their standard mode of attack, but it works best off the more steadfast thrashing.   They slow down even more on "In the Dark". The hook is kind of poppy for metal, but effective. There was a one point a moment where In Flames went nu-metal, the closest they get to that is on " a Dialogue in b Minor". The vocals are largely responsible for this. I like it better than when they are in the melo-death formula. "Cynosure" picks up off the more melodic alt rock vibe. There is more of a Tool feel than I recall them having before. The last songs is also not too far from this. I will give this album an 8.5, they are great at what they do, with some decent songs on here, but despite their legacy and proficiency they are not blowing me away. But the same came be said of their more classic material, this seems like a slicker more polished version of that.,