(Rated this album with 8 out of 10) Reviewed by
Sergio F. Morales
from Levittown, NY United States
In Flames are a unique band. On the one hand it seems you either like them or hate them. Their sound is so unique some people find it some of the most entrancing music ever written and others find it to be the most boring. Rarely do i hear anyone say that they're an OK band. I like them, and this is the third album I've picked up from them aside from Whoracle and Colony. This reissue of their second album offers more of what newer In Flames fans (Colony, Whoracle, Clayman albums) will find more of the same of. People who've just gotten into them with their latest album "Reroute to Remain" might not like this one as much upon first listen just because the sound has changed somewhat. Anyone who needs the definition of "Melodic Death Metal" will surely find it in this record. The In Flames sound is mostly great twin guitar harmonic melodic leads mixed with hard basic heavy metal grungy riffs- vocals are mostly raspy growls which tend to mix black/death/metalcore style are hard to get used to at first but one will surely find it best fits the music. This album has a lot of these elements which In Flames has used all throughout their career up until their latest album. Production on this album was somewhat more messy then later records but seeing it's only thier second album, it's easily forgiveable. Songs on Jester Race start off well and remain well all the way until the end of the record. The sound is mostly all the elements I've mentioned above throughout each song, which unfortunately upon the first few listens make each song sound too similar to appreciate. Both instumentals (track 2 and 9)add immediate change, only because their what In Flames do best. These guys just can't write a mediocre instrumental, and they're as usual nothing less then great. Give it more then just 2 listens straight through and you'll soon appreciate its art rather then the distorted noise you might pick up upon first listen. Sure there are a couple of tracks on here you might end up skipping, but you'll end up liking most of them, which still makes this CD worth the money. Overall, the only significant flaw I found on this record was just that most of the song structures were very similar, making it difficult to differentiate some songs. Also, you can tell while listening to this that even though it is good, In Flames was still trying to truly grasp their signiture sound which is more like Whoracle and Colony sound like (although on Colony they seem to overdo it a little). Anyone who got into In Flames after their first 2 albums should pick this one up but to me it seems it will truly be loved by die-hard Flames fans rather then just casual fans like myself. Brand new fans of their latest album should pick this one up just to see where these guys originated from. This is a very worthy record and worth the cash. Check it out and stick with it.
