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Album Review: In Flames - Battles

Brendan Crabb

"Those favouring latter-day excursions should be satisfied; anyone who gave up on In Flames eons ago won't be returning."

In Flames Profile

Some will consider it reinvention, but for many seasoned metallers In Flames' recent past has captured little of the vitality they formerly exuded in spades.

The Swedes have nonetheless continually shrugged off nay-saying, and soldiered on with a new sound. There's memorable moments (keyboard-laced Through My Eyes) scattered throughout here too. The Truth, revisiting a hook from POD's Youth Of The Nation, represents an unexpected nadir, though. Other passages border on Bullet For My Valentine's tepid pop-metal, and several tracks don't carve distinctive identities. Those favouring latter-day excursions should be satisfied; anyone who gave up on In Flames eons ago won't be returning.