(Rated this album with 6 out of 10) Reviewed by
mirrorpool
from KZOO
This was my first In Flames purchase, after seeing them perform with Mudvayne. At first listen, I thought it was quite good, a lot catchier than expected. I then, slowly, purhcased the In Flames catalog, and after excessive listening to all of their albums, I conclude that "Reroute to Remain" is by far their weakest. It is obvious that In Flames desperately want to redefine their sound, or more specifically, separate themselves from their imitators. What results, unfortunately, is a severe decline in musicianship coupled with a dramatic letdown in vocals. Anders' singing isn't really as bad as many make it out to be, but the overall feel of the album is stale; their attempt at modernizing the Gothenburg scene gets too crossed in American nu-metal sludge. If you're a fan of nu-metal, this is a wise choice, since it really is better sonically than most in that class. If you're a fan of death metal, this release may be a little too nasal and poppy. For a metal masterpiece, see In Flames' "Whoracle", the insurpassable pinnacle of melodic death metal.
