In Flames - Reroute To Remain
2002 Nuclear Blast America

Track Listing:
1.  Reroute To Remain
2.  System
3.  Drifter
4.  Trigger
5.  Cloud Connected
6.  Transparent
7.  Dawn Of A New Day
8.  Egonomic
9.  Minus
10. Dismiss The Cynics
11. Free Fall
12. Dark Signs
13. Metaphor
14. Black & White

Line-Up:
Vocals:  Anders Friden
Guitars:  Björn Gelotte, Jesper Strömblad
Bass:  Peter Iwers
Drums:  Daniel Svensson

Website:  www.inflames.com

Skin Splitter's Rating:  B
Overall Rating:  B

Also be sure to read:
In Flames - Clayman by Shev
In Flames - Come Clarity by Follow The Hollow
In Flames - Soundtrack To Your Escape by Skin Splitter
In Flames - Whoracle by Skin Splitter

Skin Splitter's Review:
If you read the review of Whoracle then you'll know what I'm talking about.  If you didn't then I'll sum it up right here.  In previous releases, the guitars rocked my world.  The vocals pissed me off.  Something had to give.  Maybe it was the fans' request.  Maybe it's because they're trying to get a new record deal.  Either way a compromise was made.  The vocals were changed and the music was changed.  Whether it's for good or bad is totally an opinion.  I will tell you that this is the first album by In Flames that I can sit down and listen to it all in one sitting.  I can also tell you what changed to make this happen.  With older In Flames, the guitar riffs were basically straight rip-offs of Iron Maiden (plus death metal) down tuned and screamed over.  Believe me, the music was fun to listen to and fun to play (with some amount of difficulty).  In Reroute To Remain, the music quality has dropped off significantly!  Not in terms of quality, but in terms of difficulty (maybe they lost the death metal influence).  Let me put it this way.  I am very limited in my guitar skills.  I could play very little old school In Flames.  This album, I can play most of it with no problem.  Why?  No more Iron Maiden arpeggio rip-offs.  Instead they decided to go with more chords and powerful riffs.  This is a double edged sword.  If you liked the Iron Maiden style, it's going to be tough to immediately like, but you can get used to it.  There are some parts in this album that let you know they haven't forgotten to play their arpeggio style, but there are more easier things that are played during the vocals.

Oh yeah, about the vocals, major improvement.  Anders Fridén sings on this one more than any of the other albums.  Plus, he learned when to shut up.  Remember in old In Flames the music would be ripping but the vocals would rape your attention away?  That does not happen this time.  Instead, the vocals are more of an accompaniment of the music.  I have to give Anders Fridén credit here in changing his vocal style even if old school fans don't appreciate it.

Final summation, this album is compromise.  If you are looking for old style In Flames, this isn't the album for you.  If you're looking to show your friend what In Flames is like, this might be one to try only to ease them into the more complicated stuff like Whoracle or Colony.  Because this album is so different, I'm going to review the songs two ways:  One as an old In Flames fan, and as a person listening to In Flames for the first time. 

Song summaries include:

1. Reroute To Remain - Good Iron Maiden style opening.  Nice solo.  owever, after that it gets pretty simple.  Vocals go well with the song.  (Old C) (New B)

2. System - Nice speed, good hard riff.  Sounds like old school In Flames, then 41 seconds in, everything changes and the album goes into singing and simple, well, CRAP!!  If you can get passed that twice, there is a good riff near the end that sounds more like their style.  (Old D) (New C)

3. Drifter - Now we're talking!  Perfect example of what I'm talking about.  Great guitar work, once the vocals kick in, it's just a straight one note riff.  They got it right on this one.  (Old B) (New A-)

4. Trigger - Arguably the most in harmony song on the album.  The music and the vocals go very well here.  Both are pretty simple however.  (Old B-) (New A)

5. Cloud Connected - Seen on MTV probably.  Simple slow song to play.  Nothing too fancy.  Yet, it's different enough not to sound like all the other main steam crap.  New fans will love it for it's catchy chorus and easy listening appeal.  Old School will probably hate it for the same reason.  (Old C-) (New A)

6. Transparent - I don't know what tuning this intro is (low A, I think) but it sounds like hell opened on the guitar tone.  Shows some Iron Maiden style as well.  Vocals switch from singing to growls.  Not a bad solo.  (Old B+) (New C-)

7. Dawn Of A New Day - This is everything I wished In Flames started out as.  Great music and the vocals match it.  Reminds me a little of 1/2 Braveheart 1/2 Flogging Molly.  (Old B-) (New B+)

8. Egonomic - OHHH the guitar work on this one.  Damn good.  More screaming vocals, as well.  Chorus is a little different.  Could make or break the song.  For me it makes it.  Smoking riff at 1:22.  (Old A) (New C-)

9. Minus - Simple riffs with growling vocals.  :58 seconds in, the music changes and singing commences, but don't worry, it quickly goes back.  This one has a little bit for both the old and new fan.  2:25 on it sounds like old school In Flames two guitar accompaniment until 2:55.  (Old B-) (New C+)

10. Dismiss The Cynics - Good intro.  Simple but effective.  Everything is rocking for the first minute.  Then things get trippy and strange.  The chorus is once again singing and simple chords.  Back to the riff, then the chorus.  At 2:15, things change again and go into a dragon slayer type we've come to love.  Then the chorus comes back and ruins it.  (Old C) (New C)

11. Free Fall - I felt like I was listening to Marilyn Manson.  This one sucks on all levels.  Hide all from this one, it's boring, slow, and goes no where.  (Old F) (New D-)

12. Dark Signs - Not a bad intro and some double bass.  The chorus, well, by this time they all sound the same.  This one is no different.  Not really any good riffs to save this one.  (Old D) (New C)

13. Metaphor - The most difficult song for me to review.  In the old school fan eye, it sucks.  It sounds nothing like In Flames.  Nothing in this song would even hint to it being In Flames.  Hell, there's a violin in it for Christ sakes.  However, a new listener would love this.  This is the type of song you play to your parents to show them that metal bands have a lighter more musical side.  (Old F) (New B+)

14. Black & White - This one is a mystery as well.  There isn't anything in this song that would lead you to believe that this is indeed In Flames.  Nor is there anything that makes this song very good for either side of the coin.  (Old D) (New D-)

Skin Splitter's Rating:  B

Discography (last updated 6.2.06):
Lunar Strain - 1994
Subterranean EP - 1994
The Jester Race - 1995
Black Ash Inheritance EP - 1997
Whoracle - 1997
Colony - 1999
Clayman - 2000
The Tokyo Showdown - 2001
Reroute To Remain - 2002
Trigger EP - 2003
Soundtrack To Your Escape - 2004
Come Clarity - 2006