Gothenburg legends In Flames will deliver their new opus in couple of days. Until then, Metal Hammer decided to treat us with an e.p. containing four classics performed live and more important, four new songs from the forthcoming new album called ‘Foregone’. I will not comment live songs because we all know how In Flames sound live and that is mindblowing. New songs. Well, nice surprise. ‘State Of Slow Decay’ is a fast melodic death metal, Gothenburg style, which takes me back to the beginnings and my first listening to this band’s early albums, total blast from the past. Super energetic fast song with Anders’ trademark growling on verses and catchy clean vocal chorus. ‘The Great Deceiver’ continues in that direction, with a bit of melodic death groove thrown in making my mouth water for new album. ‘Foregone Pt 1’ and ‘Foregone Pt 2’ are connected songs with Pt 2 being more ballad and features other influences that In Flames incorporated to their music through the decades. Judging by four new songs, this new album is going to be massive and fantastic.
Ablaze My Sorrow from Sweden were one of the first melodic Swedish death metal bands that I have listened to in the nineties with their opus ‘If Emotions Still Burn’. I was very happy to see that they are still active and releasing opuses, last two full lengths being in 2016 and 2021. This is brand new e.p. out with Black Lion Records. This one contains 4 songs and band now continues where it left off last couple of years. ‘Transfiguration(The Way Of The Strong)’ starts with fantastic clean vocals and atmospheric parts only to turn into full blooded melodic death metal like we are used to from these legends. ‘Boundless’ starts with synth intro and turns into my favorite song on this e.p. having such genial and memorable guitar main melody theme, not being too fast song, but hits you in the eye with its power nonetheless. I love how this band manages to mix almost sad and lonely dark vibe with all known aggression of death metal making me remember why I love Swedish death metal more than American school of death metal. Lyrics deal with inner battles, depression, suicide and misery, being something I can relate to last couple of years definitely. I must also mention ‘Rotten To The Core’, fastest and harshest song on this record, reminding me a lot of At The Gates in many parts, not being a clone, but as an influence. ‘Enclosed In The Crystals Of Ice’ ends this one like it should, icy, dark and melodic. Nice one, indeed!
Here we are, album number twelve of Arch Enemy. I will say a blasphemy now in the eyes of many fans, but for me personally, last three albums are the best that this band made in their career. That are the three albums with Alissa White-Gluz on vocals. Her arrival brought new energy to the band, new versatility in vocals and melodies, also new aggression and brutality. Not to sad Angela Gossow was bad, quite opposite, but I love the last three records. This one offers 11 songs and I am at hardship to choose which one I like more. It took listening for like three times to decide, so I will do it like that: Handshake With Hell-awesome straightforward aggressive death thrash anthem with superb clean vocal middle parts, courtesy of little demon Alissa. In The Eye Of The Storm kicks ass with mid tempo, heavy song which adds to epic anthemic chorus and great lyrics. Poisoned Arrow-the song with contagious and such wicked little guitar melody that it stays in your ears to hum all day. There is also one short but epic instrumental called Mourning Star in which all splendid musicianship of this veteran band comes to forefront. One Last Time is melancholy, mid tempo anthem with story how to rise up and live on and I love this perfection of a song. Not to discover just everything, check this one out. One of the best records to come out this year.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 