Grade: F
In the realm of music, what’s more depressing when a band with a track record as illustrious and influential as that of In Flames releases a string of consecutively bad, even terrible, albums?
That same band sacrifices its signature sound, technical prowess and dignity in order to fit in with the “kids” and stay relevant for a little while longer.
Nowhere is that more evident than on In Flames’ latest catastrophe, “Siren Charms.”
Now to be fair, it wasn’t always like this.
In Flames was a pretty big deal when the band started back in the early 1990s . It was a major contributor in the creation of the “melodic death metal” subgenre and was recognized as a significant influence in heavy metal almost immediately after releasing “The Jester Race” in 1996.
Not an easy thing to accomplish right out of the gate.
Then when “Reroute to Remain” came into being around 2002 , things started to go south.
Not only did In Flames change its sound completely, with accessible song structures and a brighter tone to boot, it also caused a great rift in the fanbase, with words like “selling out” and “betrayed” thrown around.
So here they are now in 2014 with “Siren Charms,” and to say that the band is a shadow of its former self is a major understatement. What made the band so well regarded in the past is no longer present on this plane of existence.
Instead, we are graced with the presence of a slew of bland, flat and gratingly boring compositions that would make Papa Roach green with envy.
Therein lies a trove of uninspired songwriting, melodramatic vocals, laughably bad lyrics and a painful reminder of what once was.
No care or effort resonates within this release, if any such thing went into it.
There are no signs of redemption, recovery or salvation seen beyond the horizon — just an epitaph bearing the band’s name. Pathetic.
“Siren Charms,” now available at a Hot Topic near you.
