Come Clarity

Come Clarity is a fulfilling eighth album on which In Flames splendidly binds sharp twin guitars, a mechanical rhythmic sense and Anders Fridén’s fierce screams and rich singing. The lyrical, beautiful lead guitar inherited from the early days and a more straight, heavy modern sound powerfully push each other up, giving the songs a sure tension and memorable accessibility at once. A record that can be called one peak of the modern era. From the power of the speeding opening classic “Take This Life” and the aggression of “Leeches” to the title track “Come Clarity,” every song is engaging, while the beautiful ballad “Dead End,” welcoming female vocals, and a cut like “Reflect the Storm” convey the work’s fullness. In particular, “Take This Life” still boasts high popularity as a live staple. A record that, even in very high-aggression passages, never loses its beautiful melody, creating a rich emotional range including quiet, beautiful space. It splendidly connected the band’s brilliant past and the modern sense of the time in an extremely convincing form. A powerful, engaging masterpiece widely supported by both early fans and new fans — a record concentrating the band’s appeal.