Is that still IN FLAMES?

Just over three years after the controversial, but sometimes but highly acclaimed SOUNDS OF A PLAYGROUND FADING, now the successor SIREN CHARMS, representing the now 11 studio albums of Sweden IN FLAMES appears. What should surprise no more is the fact that IN FLAMES swim freely from the former Melodic Death Metal to try still. So the expectation is only superseded in most Jesterheads of the tension right after the second single THROUGH OBLIVION. So you really knew the Gothenburg's not now. I will take into account the current pessimism about recent publications of IN FLAMES as little as possible in the reviews. So I'm going to vote in the following, the songs that I was fortunately heard beforehand in detail.
Who does not like / has time to read all that can safely skip to the conclusion, there can be found, as usual, a bundled evaluation of the whole :)

1. Plainview 7.5 / 10

The song begins with a small electric gimmick and one first feels reminiscent of Cloud Connected, which even now is nothing bad, quite the contrary. But when the bass starts & Rhythm Group, a tantamount anything strange before. And who now feels less CLOUD CONNECTED, but more reminiscent ST ANGER, just believe me: I'm doing the same. The sound of the drums is actually getting used to, I find myself still do not fully cope with it. As expected, his mind going on simultaneously with clean vocals and you already longs for a little more aggression, instead of the rather whiny vocals, as the chorus at least comes up with some kind of shouting. However, the vocals sound more like Mitgröhlrefrain a punk band. Somehow this sounds quite wrong. The melodies are really very nice, Plainview is certainly not a bad song, but the implementation is very strange and unfinished works, such as a demo recording. Live this song could still come across very well, because apart from the peculiarities of the vocals and the drum sounds of the song is really cool.

2. Everything's Gone 3.5 / 10

The guys take same time to properly's pedal, but rather uninspired, which does not change with the onset of monotonous and highlighted with a Hall vocals. The chorus, however, teem with power and has actually the potential to improve a good song, but this is just not before. For me, a disappointment, especially since not many fast songs were expected and this is really weak here despite double-bass

3. PARALYZED 7.5 / 10

Again a short electric intro, then a cool mid-tempo part before running the stanzas. Almost entirely devoid of guitar, but somehow pretty cool and even the chorus is pretty good guess. A pleasant surprise, although at first seems relatively interchangeable and also not become a high flyer, but still knows how to please :)

4. THROUGH OBLIVION 8.5 / 10

Please do not let scare of the high score. THROUGH OBLIVION was already published in advance startled some fans off and the more or less right. Because THROUGH OBLIVION is really nothing like Lunar Strain, COLONY, etc., not even with the majority of SOUNDS OF A PLAYGROUND FADING. However, I have decided to re-evaluate the songs entirely objective and ignoring the past of In Flames largely. And if one takes the Early-was-all-better-glasses, then one should blink briefly, rub their eyes, but eventually find a good alternative metal song which actually really fun because if you open challenge :)

This is of course anything but that are what you would expect of IN FLAMES and I'm sure that there are still many old-school fans have their problems with such songs. If you also for Alternative & Co., however, is open, you should definitely get used to it.

5. WITH EYES WIDE OPEN 6.5 / 10

Another mid-tempo song, as always with clean vocals (from here I will not mention extra). Recalls the ambience of a ballad a la Come Clarity, however, the title track of the 2006 album was qualitatively impressive lot. WITH EYES WIDE OPEN is not bad, but overall pretty bleak. Rather a stopgap

6. SIREN CHARMS 9.5 / 10

The song opened quietly, but interesting, the verse is melancholy, until the chorus, the mood can then boil and culminates in a grandiose rock song, welcheres's hard for me to write this, so please love old-school Jesterheads, see wegzugegebenermaßen somewhat reminiscent of 30 Seconds to Mars. So now it's out.
Nevertheless this song until now by far the best and most original is on SIREN CHARMS.
This is not a big hurdle, but it is passed with flying colors. As with THROUGH OBLIVION applies: Not for everyone!

7. WHEN THE WORLD Explodes 8/10

Aha, now let it rip So, you think after the first few seconds.
Double-Bass, hard guitar sound and shouts (no kidding!) Are driving the song, which is more settled in higher pace. No Death Metal, but at least has used this mix of modern metal and metalcore a lot of steam boilers to unter'm female choirs. No Comment. But. I have rarely heard such a band is able to take such a song dynamics. Hats off. But even if this cheesy-looking Gesäusel tearing the entire mood, I can forgive no less than well-meaning 8 points due to the great beginning.

8. RUSTED NAIL 9/10

The song was already published earlier as the first single and came immediately to mixed feelings, is expected in the overall picture still among the best songs on SIREN CHARMS. But that is no reason to expect Death Metal by far, the song had so also can adapt without any problems to SOUNDS OF A PLAYGROUND FADING. After the quiet guitar intro and the subsequent wall of drums, riffs and solos once occurs more clean vocals of Anders in the foreground. That was probably the most frequently mentioned point of criticism in the network, because as always, the whole thing sounds a little weepy at. I can promise, however, that 95% of you will get used to it. Just like in the pre-chorus, which acts somewhat still out of place in the overall picture, but eventually merges with the rest of RUSTED NAIL and not more great bother. Live is the safe and great fun even in this form RUSTED NAIL has to offer :)

9. DEAD EYES 6.5 / 10

The beginning of first recalls a throttled based on ONLY FOR THE WEAK, albeit not as strong. Again, the song remains at a rather slow pace, not necessarily before gushing originality, but I can let the song almost nothing to be guilty. Because DEAD EYES entertains well and comes up with some nice melodies. What the short-Electro Intermezzo is, I can not say. Perhaps thought the songwriter, the contrast would bring some more excitement to it happening, but the break is a little too abruptly and really only bothers. Still not a bad song, albeit relatively dispensable.

10. MONSTERS IN THE BALLROOM 6/10

Sets strongly going on, but gets lost in how it could be different stanzas. Well, at least the first, later it will again punchier, but this song does not move on the metallic average. Unfortunately another stopgap which somehow does not want to take so right away.

11. FILTHERED TRUTH 8/10

Who still Death Metal has expected to conclude at the end, will be disappointed. FILTHERED TRUTH turns out to be a SIREN CHARMS-typical midtempo song but stands out from the rest, fortunately material. Here is pretty loose rocked, even if the men would break no spikes of the crown, if they incorporate a little more dynamic. Ultimately, a cool modern metal song that will not agree all Jesterheads conciliatory, but soberly considered a cool song of the well when it is difficult to definitively say that's IN FLAMES anno 2014 reflects perfectly.

Conclusion

It is difficult to assess SIREN CHARMS entirely neutral. On the one hand the album alongside some depths boast a handful of good to very good songs, on the other hand it represents such a change in style as it was rare in the metal world.
Here, IN FLAMES had yet removed since Reroute To Remain significantly from Death Metal. The fans of the first hour will probably have to finally find their way to the fact that the old IN FLAMES history. SIREN CHARMS has its moments, for sure, but also those in which one might well imagine that Anders Friden and Jared Leto change in the near future the bands. Without wishing to Anders' vocals condemn, in the long term are likely to most of the old style but rather be. I am convinced that IN FLAMES will change their style on the next album again, in whatever direction. The reputation as a chameleon in Metal is them just as surely as a bunch of criticism. Therefore please do not buy this album blindly consulted beforehand rather purely on the net. I hope for the future, because this album is not fulfilling.

For me, it only remains to say: In Flames We Trust In good times and in bad