Maximum Metal Rating Legend

In Flames-Soundtrack to Your Escape-Nuclear Blast Records Reviewed by Chaoslord

Track Listing1. F(r)iend 2. Quiet Place 3. Dead Alone 4. Touch of Red 5. Like You Better Dead 6. My Sweet Shadow 7. Evil in a Closet 8. In Search for 1 9. Borders and Shading 10. Superhero of the Computer Rage 11. Dial 595-Escape 12. Bottled

Well, the Gothenberg boys are back with their latest album. For those of you not familiar with the bands previous album "Reroute to Remain", this was a departure from what most listeners were used to. This album is much like that with an occasional twist thrown in there.

The first track "F(r)iend" is a throwback to old In Flames and leaves the listener's mouth agape with the heaviness and melody that this song contains. The following track "The Quiet Place" is something you would have heard on "Reroute to Remain". The album follows this pattern somewhat throughout the rest of the disc. While In Flames is experimenting with some things, one thing that has stayed in their formula is the melody that made them a success.

The trademark Swedish guitars are executed flawlessly by Jesper Stromblad and Bjorn Gelotte. Anders Friden gets downright guttural on the opening track and then throws in clean vocals at certain points in the album. This album is somewhat of an anomaly for the simple fact that it is hard to determine where the band is headed. I enjoyed the album but am still somewhat undecided as to what I think of this album overall. It is not something that you can compare to pre-Reroute to Remain In Flames because they have evolved and matured with each album they released. So go pick up "Soundtrack to Your Escape" and experience the phenomenon that are In Flames.

--Chaoslord 04.30.04