| | Full Review | Ratings (654) |
Give your Rating |
| 0.0 | Jom STAFF | June 11th 11 |
Everybody and his mother knows I'm an In Flames apologist, and while I'm not denying I've said some arguably-delusional things over the years, there's a lot left to be desired on this record. Of course, being that In Flames apologist, I'm going to point out more highlights than lowlights: (1) I was relatively pleased with the guitars this time out - Gelotte did a wonderful job amalgamating what's left of their so-called "old-school" sound with their 2002-to-present work; (2) Anders doesn't sound like total shit on every track and is a bit more creative in his lyricism this time out; (3) each song, with some notable exceptions, is arranged very well, and the electronics are arguably even better than what we heard on RtR and StYE. Unfortunately, (1) Anders sounds absolutely horrid in some spots, and while I've read that he worked with a vocal coach during SOAPF's recording sessions, a coach can only assist you so far before your voice clearly sounds like it's losing its luster due to age and/or use/abuse (Cliff notes: his longer-held cleans sound fantastic, but his shorter, choppier cleans sound horrible) and (2) a few too many 'playing it safe' moments across the board leads to a bit of an identity crisis. Overall, I admire Gelotte's efforts on this record, and while the album does have some replay value, I'm afraid it won't stand the test of time as assertively as their 2000-2008 records.
Recommendations: "A New Dawn" (one of their best songs across their entire discography. Seriously), "Ropes," "Where the Dead Ships Dwell," "Fear is the Weakness."
9 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.5 great | Tom | June 9th 11 |
The problem here isn't In Flames being overly generic, or just plain 'bad'. No, the issue is a lot weirder than that. In Flames wants to hip and young, but they're too old to know how to make it work. This album is a mess of ideas misshapenly put together with shitty chorus' and old-school solos. Sometimes it works, like on A New Dawn and sometimes it really really doesn't, like the title track. My rating will probably drop once I get over the fanboyishness. Plus, Ander's voice is even more tired and out of place than ever before. It's not his fault, but it's true.
4 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.5 average | marcsit | June 8th 11 |
It's a good successor for The Mirror's Truth (the sound is quite the same), the absence of the old mastermind is barely noticable which is good, and it's a great album from the first listening, but to me accepting that belongs to the post Calyman era, I still prefere Reroute to Remain, so to say. Good album overall.
3 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.0 poor | Kit Brown | June 11th 11 |
Tired band releases tired album consisting of recycled riffs and hackneyed hooks. Fucking snooze.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.5 great | chug73 | June 9th 11 |
Way better than A Sense of Purpose.Reminds me of Come Clarity and Soundtrack/Reroute. Heavy keyboards and for some reason a lot of guitar solos. A New Dawn is fucking great.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.5 average | gravediggerfuneral | August 2nd 11 |
I had to really force myself to get through this record, and that is something that should never happen with In Flames albums. There isn't really an amazing track on this one...it's a collection of average tracks that are all easily forgettable.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 1.5 very poor | TheBjornIdentity | July 26th 11 |
Anders vocals make me puke in my mouth. Also lackluster guitar work and uninspired drumming make this an unforgiving listen.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.0 poor | Exera | June 18th 11 |
This album is getting far to high ratings across the board(not just here but everywhere).
The album is not good, it's musically dumbed down and only designed to please the masses.
It's even worse then the previous one. Sorry In Flames this just aint for me, Back to
listening to Whoracle and Clayman.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.5 average | jayinflames | June 13th 11 |
God his voice has gotten annoying.... And I used to be the biggest fan for years 1994-2004
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | trilogique | June 11th 11 |
If you enjoy new In Flames, this won't disappoint. If you enjoy old In Flames, you'll hate
this. If you like both (and have accepted they're a different band now) then it's enjoyable
for what it is. Nothing great, but nothing completely awful. It's just... there.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.5 average | Philalethes | June 9th 11 |
Bland and generic. In Flames makes another post-Clayman In Flames album that really offers nothing worthwhile to their discography.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | Deviant STAFF | June 9th 11 |
Who are these users with these high ratings? What the hell is going on here?
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.0 good | zxlkho | June 8th 11 |
IMO, it's their best album since Clayman (excluding Come Clarity).
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.0 good | Inferis | November 12th 12 |
A New Dawn is the best song they've written in years.
Bump |
| 0.0 | Markus | August 16th 12 |
Anders vocals almost makes me suicidal, that's how fucking horrible it is. The guitarwork is also very poor and uninspiring. This is just incredibly bland and generic mainstream-music where basically every chorus sounds the same. These guys are done, unfortunately.
Bump |
| 3.5 great | Deuce8311 | June 21st 12 |
Everyone knows In Flames is a very versatile band. From heavy earlier efforts that everyone applauds such as The Jester Race, to the somewhat less admired "electronic" efforts like Soundtrack To Your Escape, they've always managed to make a solid record and stand the test of time. Losing a critical band member is never easy, especially when it's your founding member and main song writer in Jesper Strombald. However, I have to say I'm quite pleasantly surprised at what In Flames has created. Passing the pen to Bjorn Gelotte, it almost seems like nothing has changed when listening to SOAPF. In some aspects, it's actually better than previous efforts. The electronics are actually done right and used to sound like they fit the song instead of being forced. Anders Friden still unfortunately is their vocalist though. A vocalist is supposed to bring up the band, not the opposite which is what Friden does. Granted his voice is alright at certain instances, but it's just too inconsistant throughout. Sounds of a Playground Fading may dismay some older fans due primarily to it's mainstream and electronic appeal, but it really is a very good record considering the circumstances.
Bump |
| 0.0 | Camstr | March 21st 12 |
I'll be honest, I like In Flames' more "mainstream" albums just as much as their older ones. But when I heard (from some random source that I have forgotten about) that they'd be doing things even more mainstream on their newest album I was skeptical of how things would turn out. Even more honesty: "Sounds of a Playground Fading" is one of my favourite In Flames albums now. 'Nuff said.
Bump |
| 3.5 great | Mark James Irwin | September 14th 11 |
This should have been the sequel to Come Clarity, not A Sense of Poor Vocals.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Frozenpostal | July 28th 11 |
I found in this album, the single track is certainly the most radio friendly "mainstream" type stuff they've done. Yet it still retains the "in flames" sound and not falter like other bands do over time. The guitar work throughout the album is superb in the absence of Jesper. Anders did do a much better job vocally as mentioned before. The downside on this album is certain songs seem to be just filler...such as enter tragedy. They did nothing progressive there. Besides that my personal favourite off this would be Liberation. The almost ballad of the album, it gives off a certain emotion to me and i assume Anders for the reason of writing a more depressive song.
Bump |
| 3.0 good | Josh Pye | June 21st 11 |
Both disappointed and surprised at the same time with this release. They've done well despite the departure of Str?ad, I was personally impressed with Gelotte's work in this album. It's brought a fresh sound with qualities which reminded me of their Reroute to Remain-era sound. The electronic additions are reminiscent of Soundtrack to Your Escape, yet this album is nowhere near the quality, consistency and depth of the previously mentioned releases. Ander's vocals are quite a letdown, bringing what would-be great tracks down to an average level. A lot of the tracks feel very empty and generic, and just very sub-par compared to their discography. I've been a long-time fan of In Flames, and in my opinion this is their weakest release, I was hoping for so much more.
Bump |
| 2.5 average | eman3624 | June 16th 11 |
A step in the right direction both with better guitar work and lyrics than the previous album, but overall it is still very generic sounding metal and Anders' vocals isn't helping any either.
Bump |
| 2.5 average | Will C. | June 14th 11 |
To be fair, this album is a lot more than I expected from In Flames. However, Anders' vocals seem to be more strained than ever. There is a better offering than ASoP though that doesn't say much.
Bump |
| 3.5 great | Darkvoid67 | June 13th 11 |
Not at all bad. "A New Dawn" has a vocal style from Anders unseen since STYE, while "Ropes" and "The Attic" provide us with a brand new style for In Flames. "The Puzzle" is easily the best track on here, the dreadful single and "All for Me" are easily the worst songs In Flames has done. Bjorn Gelotte does an admirable job, full of melody and heavy guitar, Svensson and Iwers are solid yet unremarkable and Friden varies from good to almost unlistenable. My rating is only so high due to the instrumentation
Bump |
| 0.0 | DinoX | June 10th 11 |
A combination of a sense of purpose, and soundtrack to your escape but not as good as either.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Dan | June 9th 11 |
Music is more versatile than it were on A Sense Of Purpose. Anders vocal became viscous and that`s not bad at all. Less scream, modern sound, and we finally get a high-quality metal work. Though, this is not MDM anymore. Their fans should reconcile with that.
Bump |
| 3.5 great | AdamK | June 8th 11 |
Sounds like something in between reroute to remain and come clarity. But possibly better than both of those. Really good album.
Bump |
| 3.0 good | Hockeytown | June 8th 11 |
As far as new In Flames goes, pretty solid stuff. Of course doesn't come close to the old albums.
Bump |
| 2.5 average | E0N | May 1st 13 |
| 1.0 awful | Escain | April 26th 13 |
| 3.0 good | Jeff N | April 17th 13 |
| 2.0 poor | Rumo | March 24th 13 |
| 2.5 average | Artuma | March 16th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | GSMC96 | March 2nd 13 |
| 3.5 great | BigC | March 1st 13 |
| 3.5 great | Conexus | February 24th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Andy37 | February 23rd 13 |
| 3.5 great | Tobi | February 22nd 13 |
| 3.5 great | Ryuujin | February 20th 13 |
| 1.5 very poor | Beauers | February 13th 13 |
| 3.0 good | KvM745 | February 5th 13 |
| 3.0 good | Spag | January 27th 13 |
| 3.0 good | gumi | January 21st 13 |
| 2.5 average | Jac | January 15th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | tz2002 | January 12th 13 |
| 3.5 great | Apollo | January 12th 13 |
| 2.5 average | BCA | January 3rd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Muhammad | December 29th 12 |
| 3.5 great | nikonic | December 23rd 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | vkristi | December 18th 12 |
| 3.0 good | mcchub | December 17th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Pwoper | December 12th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Crysler | December 11th 12 |
| 2.0 poor | srm90 | December 5th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Edwins88 | November 23rd 12 |
| 3.0 good | Keez | November 13th 12 |
| 3.5 great | A.J. | October 31st 12 |
| 2.0 poor | Sunlar | October 29th 12 |
| 3.0 good | Raizen | October 20th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Hunter | October 15th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Majkl | October 6th 12 |
| 3.0 good | sagu | September 27th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | brunch | September 26th 12 |
| 2.5 average | Vak | September 13th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | daghe | September 7th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | roabre12 | September 5th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sean Mc | August 31st 12 |
| 3.5 great | Titan | August 25th 12 |
| 3.5 great | sacc87 | August 22nd 12 |
| 3.0 good | TY2810 | August 8th 12 |
| 3.5 great | CZL | July 31st 12 |
| 3.5 great | N2B3J | July 29th 12 |
| 1.5 very poor | khole | July 28th 12 |
| 3.5 great | boff | July 24th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Josh680 | July 19th 12 |
| 2.0 poor | Geth | July 15th 12 |
| 3.0 good | Kaz64 | July 5th 12 |
| 3.5 great | WSH | July 4th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mogmi | May 23rd 12 |
| 4.5 superb | abysmo | May 13th 12 |
| 2.5 average | Viskan | May 12th 12 |
| 3.0 good | Feels | May 11th 12 |
| 3.0 good | Acorn | April 29th 12 |
| 2.5 average | DRWND | April 25th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Thomas | April 5th 12 |
| 2.0 poor | Slask | March 30th 12 |
| 2.5 average | xevman | March 27th 12 |
| 3.5 great | CutMan | March 17th 12 |
| 3.5 great | neuli | March 13th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | bain89 | March 9th 12 |
| 3.5 great | TBliss2 | February 27th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Zois | February 22nd 12 |
| 3.0 good | MTTS | February 16th 12 |
| 2.0 poor | Denhez | February 12th 12 |
| 3.0 good | Mike08 | February 10th 12 |
| 3.0 good | Duted | February 8th 12 |
| 3.5 great | chayka | February 7th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ware | February 1st 12 |
| 5.0 classic | tysly | January 30th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | backs | January 18th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Nate | January 8th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | amp112 | January 2nd 12 |
| 2.5 average | Jen | December 29th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Coast | December 21st 11 |
| 3.5 great | Pillbox | November 28th 11 |
| 2.5 average | KILL | November 27th 11 |
| 3.0 good | Nucrus | November 25th 11 |
| 3.0 good | ANJ45 | November 21st 11 |
| 3.5 great | Lesnar | November 21st 11 |
| 1.0 awful | Pndi | November 21st 11 |
| 3.0 good | Themac | November 21st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | pencils3 | November 20th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Valtair | October 23rd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | M@rty | October 18th 11 |
| 1.5 very poor | vdop | October 13th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Jimi | October 9th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | kellis7 | October 8th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Hoogles | September 28th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | aguzman | September 23rd 11 |
| 3.5 great | vox001 | September 21st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Matty | September 8th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Iciph3r | September 5th 11 |
| 1.5 very poor | true | August 14th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ben. K | August 12th 11 |
| 3.0 good | benkim | August 9th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Nathan | August 7th 11 |
| 3.0 good | ryan10 | August 3rd 11 |
| 3.0 good | Hawks | July 26th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | mrend55 | July 16th 11 |
| 3.0 good | YUJOS | July 12th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | chaos17 | June 25th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Gale | June 23rd 11 |
| 3.0 good | alsid | June 22nd 11 |
| 3.5 great | Gbhill | June 22nd 11 |
| 2.5 average | bloc | June 21st 11 |
| 1.5 very poor | Dobrozz | June 21st 11 |
| 3.5 great | IzzyG | June 21st 11 |
| 3.5 great | ZBJE | June 21st 11 |
| 3.0 good | bakor | June 20th 11 |
| 2.5 average | ev0ken | June 20th 11 |
| 3.0 good | BG | June 20th 11 |
| 3.0 good | Awake | June 20th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Toretto | June 20th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Smaizi | June 19th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Marv18 | June 19th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | GhostK | June 19th 11 |
| 3.5 great | pride | June 18th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Goler0 | June 17th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | hootdog | June 17th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Dan | June 17th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Ant0 | June 17th 11 |
| 2.5 average | MO | June 16th 11 |
| 3.0 good | Murli | June 15th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | ctax | June 13th 11 |
| 3.5 great | tnp101 | June 12th 11 |
| 2.5 average | met65 | June 12th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | 32left | June 11th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | kym | June 10th 11 |
| 1.5 very poor | fsharp | June 9th 11 |
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