Style: Melodic metal with remnants of Gothenburg sound

Colony (199?) 8.3/10
    This album is pure melody. There's no black metal extremity or death metal sludge: it's twin dualling guitars every moment. But unlike most bands, In Flames have managed to pull off an onslaught of harmonies and power metal screaming solos with stunning success. This album is no less than quintessential melodic metal, the peak of a trend started by Iron Maiden way back in 1980. The riffs are timeless, the solos are perfection, the lyrics are fascinating and the production is sublime. It's a metalhead's dream.
    Sometimes, when I want to really understand an album, I'll go through it track by track, analysing every note, every tempo change, every subtle difference between the tracks (ideally - in reality, I probably miss half of what's going on because I'm too busy headbanging). On this album, I tried, and I found a pattern very early on: every song begins with an awesome riff, which leads to yet another one, which leads to an even better one for the chorus, which leads to an amazing solo, then, well, it's perfect. How can I dissect this album when every track is a killer?
    It may seem that I'm rambling, so now I'll get into it. The guitars of In Flames are much like Iron Maiden, although a little heavier and slightly more influenced by black metal tremelo guitars and melodic death metal. Sorry...................................................................................I just had to stop typing during that ecstatically brilliant bit in the middle of 'Zombie Inc.'. As I was saying, the guitars are reminiscent of 1980s style power metal, yet do not sound dated or cliche. The tempos are usually midpaced, with a lot of good drum rolls and fills to embellish key moments. The vocals are fantastic. They're a bit like Dark Tranquility or a less aggressive Soilwork; sharp but fun, and often quite intelligible. Most of the lyrics are great, so make sure to follow along at least once with the lyric book. But a little warning: if you're an Iron Maiden fan who's never heard black or death metal, you may want to hesitate and check it out first, because I know a lot of power metal fans don't like dark metal vocals (and they call themselves metal-heads!?).
    The great thing about album's like this is that you don't have to skip any tracks or get bored, because all the songs really are good. It annoys me with albums like Never Say Die by Black Sabbath that some songs are great, and others are just awful. With In Flames, you know what you're getting, and it's obligatory that you make In Flames one of your favourite bands.

Reroute To Remain (2002)
    Perhaps my review of Colony should have had a "Conditions Apply" clause affixed. In Flames should well be one of your favourite bands, providing you pretend that they broke up before making Reroute to Remain. I would sleep a lot better at night knowing that In Flames quit while they were ahead. If a running race is to be the metaphor of choice, this album is equivilant to leaving the track to talk to Soilwork, sitting on the sidelines collapsed with exhaustion. Let me explain.
    In Flames were never a band with much creative genius in them. Their first few albums expertly combined Iron Maiden guitar melodies with Dark Tranquility's slightly harder approach and At the Gates' death metal influence. But there was never much more that In Flames brought to the mix, and now that the metal scene is changing, Reroute to Remain finds them struggling to forge a strong identity. The only distinctive "In Flames" bits are the cliched dual guitar harmonies, something Dark Tranquility left behind with The Mind's I. The new elements - heavier guitar rhythms and many clean vocals - really bring nothing except an excuse to make another album. In Flames have done nothing good on this album that they didn't do with Whoracle, and that wasn't exactly the most mind-blowing album ever made. Yes, I'm a cynic - I also dislike the new Soilwork for the same reason. The Gothenburg formula is being milked for all its worth, to the extent that the originals are being blemished by these useless reconstructions of the past. Reroute to Remain may have its fare share of good riffs and occasionally impressive solos, but the "flogging a dead horse" analogy creeps into my mind with every riff. No doubt, many love this because its so easy to digest, but there's absolutely no reason to hear Whoracle Mark IV. Every day and in every way, yes boys, you are getting weaker.