“This Swedish import helped pioneer the Gothenburg sound of Scandinavian melodic death metal, but the band has always been an ever-evolving one. On its Koch debut, the group’s experimentations have led it to a metalcore crossroads. Singer Anders Fridén doesn’t viciously sport the genre’s requisite scream though, settling for a hoarse shout. In Flames stretched its chops at will on previous effort “Come Clarity,” but every lick of this new album shows purpose, with 12 tightly sewn songs that punch instead of pummel. “Alias” is an instant hit, thanks to its irresistible keyboard hook at the intro and chorus. Guitarists Jesper Strömblad and Björn Gelotte still provide sweet riffage (”Sober and Irrelevant,” “March to the Shore”), albeit in controlled quantities, and downtempo contemplation “The Chosen Pessimist” continues In Flames’ tradition of brooding on matters of weightiness. —Christa L. Titus”
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