I didn’t get around to hear these guys’ last full-length “Reroute to Remain”. However if the first track is any indication then I’d say it might’ve been a fairly uneven affair. I.F. still has some of the same aggression crossed with the melodicism that is a blueprint for a lot of current-era metal & metal-core bands. I’d say if you’re a big fan of the band then pick this up if they’re say, your 17th favorite band then don’t bother.
1) From their last full-length, melodic with a big-low end, pretty typical of most of their songs, builds up nicely then the later-era Scorpions-like chorus (think “Love At First Sting” & on) fucks it up. I’ll take a wild guess and say this was the ‘hit’ of the album. ((2)) Faster, typical I.F. style definitely one of their better tunes, melodic & kinda of catchy chorus.
3) Oy vey! Genesis cover tune and a MTV-era Genesis at that! (I think they could’ve done a decent version of “The Knive” ). I don’t know what Phil “master of songs that should’ve never existed” Collins thinks of this one. Let’s just hope that Jesper & co. don’t make of video of this...I doubt you want to see In Flames puppets rockin’ out on your TV, do you?
4) I don’t know the original of this one but this is kind of odd hearing ‘dance club’ re-mixes of In Flames songs. Shit, this sounds like a metal version of Tears of Fears or something equally awful from the 80’s. Repetitive riffs, big stadium choruses, slight warbles of electronics. Check out Dødheimsgard or Red Harvest if you want electronics & metal done the right way.
((5)) Apoptagmya Berzerk did a Commodore 64 mix of one of their songs, too. For some silly reason this actually works, super low-fi 80’s electronics. Maybe someone will do a “Vic 20 mix” someday? Well, maybe not the cassette would probably take a fucking hour just to work.