The last time I listened to In Flames was 1999’s Clayman. I was hooked in by “Only For The Weak,” and was really hoping to hear more tunes in that vein. As I listened to this disc, I came to the realization that the reason I couldn’t name another track off of Clayman was because all of it was generic and boring, as is their most current production. If this is supposed to be their “most ambitious songwriting to date,” listeners will be sadly disappointed. It was generic and boring, as are most of the bands featured in Kerrang! magazine, who rave about them ad nauseam, calling them the “kings of melodic death metal…an inspiration to a sizeable majority of the US metal scenes,” praise that is totally without merit. This is another one of those generic metal acts that will churn out 300 albums before they tour into obscurity, playing dank, shitty bars on the edge of town to a crowd that enjoys a good three-dollar mug of green beer from dirty taps. It wasn’t even that heavy. Man, it’s weak sauce. This is for fans of Disturbed, NIN, and Linkin Park, guys who like to wear leather pants and see-through black shirts with the sleeves cut off. It’s not aggressive, it’s nothing new. It’s basic, boring and not worth your cash at all.

(Ferret Music, 167 Wayne St. #409, Jersey City, NJ 07302)