Vewy Good

Nation: Sweden

Album Genre: Nu-Metal/Electronica/Hard Rock

Pros: Here is the side project of In Flame's vocalist Anders Friden along with others from the extreme metal limelight. However, this is definitely a side project meant as a way to express themselves in a completely different way. Gone are the extreme vocals of Anders, and the mind numbing solos and break neck harmonic guitar/keyboard workouts. Passenger, in the metal/hard rock sense, is a very chill album. It is a bunch of musicians relaxing, putting their feet up and expressing themselves in a way they have not done before. No, I would not call this album metal, but it does not have to be. This album is what it is, and doesn't pretend to be anything else. I think what I notice most about this album is its ability to employ the drop tuned guitar technique of nu-metal SUCCESSFULLY. Most bands of that genre are simple carbon copies of Faith No More and early Korn. Passenger is a group of experienced metal musicians taking the sound they want and constructing it from top to bottom while taking influences from Nu-Metal, Depeche Mode, and Helmet. If you liked In Flames's Soundtrack to Your Escape, you will fall in love with this album. In my opinion, the In Flames album has many many shortcomings making it a less than par album, but Passenger uses a similar musical identity in a worth while motion. I would highly suggest this album to music fans in general, especially harder edged music fans. This is a very accessible album.

Cons: Not much.