In Flames
Sounds of a Playground Fading
Rating
Style: Melodic Death Metal/Modern Metal
Release date: 20 June, 2011
Playing time: 53:49
 
 

No more Jesper Strömblad in In Flames? Will that work?

Perhaps it was the subconscious awareness that a founding member of the band is out, I don't know, but when I first listened to 'A Playground Fading', it sounded exactly as the album title predicts. After a series of brilliant albums culminating with the tour de force that is 'A Sense of Purpose', this new album from one of the most powerful metal combos to come out of Sweden ever came across as a watered down version of In Flames.

I listened once, I listened twice. And stopped listening. Put it away for two weeks.

Then I forced myself to listen again, this time entering into it with the awareness that I could potentially be disappointed. This time it worked out much better!

What I heard now was a slightly more complex and demanding album than the past efforts. An album with more melody and less full-on power, which is probably why I in the first place couldn't quite 'feel' it.

There is definitely more the investigate and dive into on this album, more diversity in Anders Fridén's singing, more synths scattered across the effort, and once you accept that, this is actually a very, very good album that keeps growing on you.

How this will work in the live setting, I can't tell (having just missed In Flames playing one of the nearby venues), but I could imagine e.g. some of the more straight-forward songs like Darker Times or Enter Tragedy to tear some shit up across the live circuits this summer.

Try it, bin it, and then listen again!


Tracklist

01. Sounds of a Playground Fading (4:44)
02. Deliver Us (3:31)
03. All for Me (4:31)
04. The Puzzle (4:34)
05. Fear is the Weakness (4:07)
06. Where the Dead Ships Dwell (4:27)
07. The Attic (3:18)
08. Darker Times (3:25)
09. Ropes (3:42)
10. Enter Tragedy (3:59)
11. Jester’s Door (2:38)
12. A New Dawn (5:52)
13. Liberation (5:10)

Label: Century Media
Distribution: EMI (Denmark)
Artwork rating: 85/100
Reviewed by: Thomas Nielsen
Date: 9 June, 2011
Website: www.inflames.com