In Flames - 'Come Clarity' (Nuclear Blast) Released 06/02/06

It’s not quite known as to who should be accredited with spearheading the genre known as 'Melodic Swedish Death Metal' but one thing remains true is that the Gothenburg quintet In Flames gave it the staying power that is has today. Since 1994 these boys have been putting out one ass kicking effort after another until when in the spring of 2004 longtime fans were shocked and confused on their over polished, and over synthed Soundtrack to Your Escape. The lot of them had concluded that In Flames had reached the end of the road and nervously bit their nails for two years with hope that the next full length would be solid but more so were calculating a way to deal with it’s follow up which most were predicting to be even so more mediocre than it’s predecessor but fear not because while they haven’t taken a complete 180 turn for the best Come Clarity will more than redeem them for the most seasoned of fans.

From the opener of the math-thrash 'Take This Life' and 'Leeches' front man Anders Friden is at the helm with the gravely howl in his voice and keeps the melodies purging with hostility. These days when the term “melodic” is used to describe anything within the realm of loud and/or heavy music, it is really just a sugar coated word for emo but not with In Flames. The dual guitar onslaught of Jesper Stromblad Bjorn Gelotte are epical but refrain from being too arena sized as a lot of their Scandinavian counterparts tend to indulge in. While there are fist pumpers like 'Scream' bring on the thunder Come Clarity takes a tad of a detour into mushy terrain while running low on gas with 'Dead End' featuring a poorly chosen guest spot from Swedish songstress Lisa Miskovsky.

Credit must be given where it’s due though because the songs are to the point and don’t over brim with filler as some of their previous works have tended to do. The band also seems more in tact both harmonically and instrumentally as well. This album couldn’t have been given a more apt title because when it comes to their fans, redemption has brought clarity.