IN FLAMES - Siren Charms

September 8, 2014, 9 years ago

(Sony)

Mark Gromen

Rating: 7.0

review heavy metal in flames

IN FLAMES - Siren Charms

In life, be it a childhood friend, teen/college sweetheart, or even an ex-spouse, there are people, that upon meeting, you never envisioned growing apart. Once it happens, there's the normal “grief cycle”: initial anger, then avoidance (not just physical, but all references and/or remembrances). Hopefully, upon a chance encounter, there's civility and maybe even the opportunity to recall the good times, before each gets on with their separate lives, once again (only in Hollywood, do they reunite and rekindle that lost feeling). BraveWords was enamored with In Flames even before they set foot on this continent, so much so, they were the front cover, as the Swedes debuted at the '99 Milwaukee Metalfest. After a pre-show night of partying and hanging with us scribes, they ended up signing copies of that mag from our shared booth at the festival. A lot has happened since then and while there was a period where their recorded output fell on deaf ears at Brave Central, I have always tried to meet up, see the band live and check out the successive discs. There's no denying In Flames doesn't “need” the BraveWords seal of approval, as they've successfully transcended the (narrowly focused?) “real metal” audience and while they've altered the musical direction, individually the guys essentially remain the same people we hung with, all those years ago (a little more personal & professional responsibilities aside).

Overall, the latest eleven songs are more mature and restrained. “Paralyzed” begins strongly and while it takes a slight electronica turn, left of (metallic) center, remains the strongest rock number. “Through Oblivion” is more akin to drab, American radio staples like Creed, Third Eye Blind, Coldplay or Three Door Down. Follow-up “Eyes Wide Open” is similarly slow paced, devoid of guitars and commercially tuneful. Aggressive, in both music and the first Anders Friden shouted/gruff vocal, “When The World Explodes” is an apt title, albeit with serene, guest female vocal mid-section. “Dead Eyes” is another meandering mid-tempo number, preferable to the screamed chaos of the several later day discs. Guess the live show won't be wall-to-wall insanity this time around, as this collection offers the band a few moments to gather their senses. Between the staccato riffs, hushed/whisper begun first single, “Rusted Nail” contains snippets of old school guitarwork, plus backing vocals courtesy of fans invited into the studio. The concluding “Filtered Truth” is unlike anything else on the album (hence its placement). While I wouldn't really call this metal, there's a seductively ingenious sense of melody winding its way throughout Siren Charms, which I guess explains that moniker.

 



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