In Flames have carved themselves an endearing, enigmatic, amusing place within a scene now dominated to the left and right by American metalcore bands.
The Art of Dying is the sound of a creative entity so far beyond rudimentary thrash, that they can’t even fake their discomfort in “returning to roots.”
With all sorts of hugely symphonic and choir-blessed folk/prog passages, and plainly chugging metal bits, Sirius B/Lemuria holds one’s attention throughout.
Raised on and characterized by Germans like Helloween and the Swedish offspring of Malmsteen, the band produce another multi-faceted model of consistency.
The compressed “future metal” of Fear Factory mixed with the more singable parts of Strapping Young Lad (more accurately, Devin’s solo stuff). Pretty cool.