In Flames

Come Clarity

[3/5] When you spend six years and two studio albums fumbling through an identity crisis–as In Flames have since 2000’s Clayman broke them into, well, if not the mainstream, then at least the popular underground–you don’t really need to have high expectations for your next release. After all, when you consider that these Swedish metal mainstays headlined last year’s Ozzfest despite having turned off most of their original fan base, another shitty album probably would’ve just raised their profile. And while at least three-quarters of Come Clarity finds In Flames reclaiming the niche everyone from Killswitch Engage to Avenged Sevenfold has stolen from them, the album’s strengths (the face-ripping “Vacuum” and bowel-loosening “Scream”) only make its weaknesses (“Reflect The Storm” recalls Papa Roach as much as “Crawl Through Knives” brings to mind Carcass’ sellout period) more glaring. Which isn’t to say we’re not ready to make amends with Come Clarity: After all, In Flames’ occasional off-moments are other bands’ entire genres.
(FERRET MUSIC) Aaron Burgess



ROCKS LIKE: God Forbid’s IV: Constitution Of Treason • Dark Tranquility’s Haven • Killswitch Engage’s The End Of Heartache