In Flames: Come Clarity

It seems that Pitchfork will give any ambient sub-pop/electronica or post-punk/noise-dance act at least an 6.5. And it would seem the only thing cooler than being brooklyn based is to be norse. Icelandic, Norway, or Sweden will pretty much guarantee a place in the heart of a body shrouded in faded ringer tee.

In Flames should be Pitchfork darlings

In Flames is a Norse outfit, so I guess they got that going for them in the alternate reality that is the Pitchfork rating system, but this band will not be opening for Sigur Ros any time soon. Yeah, they're Swedish, but even Bjork might think them to be a little dissonant. Why not? I suppose it could be because These guys might be considered thrashcore. Perhaps goth, death metal, perhaps even speedmetal at points. But subgenres be damned. Call it whatever the hell you want to. This disc is 100%-pure-knuckles-to-the-teeth metal.

Can I understand a word lead vocalist Anders Fridénsays? Most of the time, no. But whoopdeshit, nobody knows what anyone says in music. No Trent Reznor was singing, "I want a duck shaped like a triangle."

So just pretend it's swedish and that you're not supposed to understand.

Besides, Looking at that picture I could have told you he was an acoustic singer songwriter. He's got dreads and everything!

But this pic is the fury of the man on the stage:


I know the majority of you will not add this album to your playlist. But I've been on a bit of a metal kick lately so mustn't I transcend my it to Feldheim? Or perhaps schadenfreude my motivation for my recent Feldheim post? Maybe I want you irk you all by posting something at which you will immediately turn up your elite noses?

No. I just want you to listen to the first track.

Just the first track, "Take This Life." The first 50 seconds invade your ears, kicking down the door, giving way to a head bangingly good chorus. Despite the blistering pace, the phrasing is ubiquitously trepidatious, as the melody makes sudden u-turns only to find its way back to the original route.

The the bridge offers a rave-worthy build up only to break out into a growl and a coda back to the intro closing with the chorus. The percussion is expressive but not intrusive, the guitar work throughout methodical.

And fucking fast.

You'd think they had a palm mute pedal.

I only ask you listen to track number one to sample some phenomenal metal. But listen to Reflect the Storm, Come clarity for depth of rock and some hooks. The problem I have with a lot of black metal that incorporates melody is that it comes off sounding operatic and dumb. What I love about metal like this is that everyone can yell. Just about anyone can sing. But not a lot of people can yell like this.

Listen to Leeches, Dead End, and Versus Terminus for driving beats, machine gun riffs, but also because of choruses catchy enough that you can hum along.

Or check out Crawl Through Knives just for its badassness

This is a great disc. But I'm gonna make like LeVar Burton, and look at kiddie porn. As well as say, "Don't take my word for it," my hipster friends. For despite some jabs, your beloved Pitchfork rated In Flames' Come Clarity a 7.3.

Now you're not cool if you don't like it.