Album Review

Score 8.6
Written by Gregory Bradley
Published on 6/16/2003
To keep us all nicely satisfied while we wait to see if In Flames goes even softer with their next release, the band and Nuclear Blast have released the Trigger EP. On this EP, there are even more things to make the closed-minded metal nazi go on a rampage: techno-style remixes, a karaoke version, a single version, a new track, and a Genesis cover. To those who seem to want to follow the "trend" of hating true gods of metal IN FLAMES, this EP is more fuel to your fire, but to fans of the band, this is a tasty treat. The EP starts off with the single version of "Trigger", an edited version that takes out a verse or two and moves things along a little faster. The second song, "Watch Them Feed", is a new In Flames song, previously unreleased. It is relatively heavy and pretty catchy. Good new material, there aren't any ultra clean moments like "Minus" from RTR, it is more reminiscent of "Cloud Connected" or "Trigger". Track 3 is a very cool Genesis cover. Although I've never heard the original song (for I am not a pussy), I do like the cover. Things start to get weird with the fourth track, which is an industrial remix of "Cloud Connected", called the Club Connected remix. This is the track I was worried would be incredibly gay, but it actually turned out pretty well. It isn't the disgusting happy techno bullshit, it's more of the dark, industrial kind. It has a heavier beat, but nothing annoying like most techno crap. The fifth and final track on the EP was actually my favorite. It is incredibly weird, called "Moonshield - C64 Karaoke version". Yes, this is "Moonshield" in a computerized, Sonic-the-Hedgehog-sounding version. It takes me back to the days of old-skool video gaming, therefore it is awesome. It is great to hear a song like Moonshield done in the video game way. The novelty of this track is almost worth owning the EP for. Along with all of these songs, you also get the two latest videos from In Flames, in a relatively high quality format. The first is "Cloud Connected", which is a pretty straightforward video, but the camera angles are very cool in that it makes you feel like you are an insect watching In Flames play. "Trigger" is the other video, also very straightforward, but it involves them playing somewhere underground with what appears to be the members of Soilwork watching them in disgust. If you can find this EP for under 10 dollars, I would suggest buying it if you are an In Flames fan, especially if you don't have a good internet connection in which to view the videos online from a high quality stream. The songs are great too, a well done EP. This should tide me over until the next album, or until I see them live again. Remember though, THIS IS AN EP, so don't buy it thinking it's a new album. Wrathchild's Choice Cut: Moonshield (C64 Karaoke Version) - Sonic The Hedgehog meets In Flames. not since mustard met the hot dog has a match been so perfect.



powerade's Avatar
powerade | posted on 12/2006 | Reply
genesis are as metal as they come
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Shane's Mom | posted on 11/2005 | Reply
It was a good website
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Sarcastro | posted on 10/2005 | Reply
So what you`re saying, Alex , is that if you liked what a band was doing years ago, you`re obligated to remain a fan even if they`ve drastically changed their sound and image to something you don`t like? I disagree.
Alex's Avatar
Alex | posted on 10/2005 | Reply
This will probably be the only post I will make on this site. If you call yourself a fan of a band at any time and then later change your mind then congratz, your just another top10 poser. If you stop liking the music you originally liked its because you bent over and let someone else stuff their oppinion up your nether area. You can say their new stuff sucks all you like, but lashing out at the same band that put out music you once said was good just makes you a idiot. Thanks for your time.
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adrian | posted on 6/2005 | Reply
club connected. addicted. nuff said.
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just discovered In Flames | posted on 7/2004 | Reply
I haven't read everything here so i don't know if it has been discussed earlier but i wonder if Metaphor is a cover, because it doesn't sound like In Flames at all. In my opinion it's the only song Anders is close to sing good. But then I'm not a big fan of metal-singers who screams and belches out every word.
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shane shumar | posted on 4/2004 | Reply
The Trigger EP was not the bands best efoort. In my opinion they have lost touch with there true musical influence. Anything after the Colony ablum is willing to loose their original fans.
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Asshole | posted on 3/2004 | Reply
I really don't understand who can accept a Nintendo version of Moonshield. I mean seriously, can you butcher your own songs any worse then that? (Mmmmmm.....Maybe turning it into a rap song)
Unknown Metalhead
Dan | posted on 3/2004 | Reply
stop being stupid close minded fucks. i like all forms of music, and if that makes me gay, you better hide ur ass from me
Unknown Metalhead
darrell | posted on 11/2003 | Reply
i bet you listen to incubus. you like all that soft rock pussy shit huh. how the fuck would you know if origin can't play acoustic guitar. just because they play fast brutal death metal it doesn't mean they can't play any thing else. i consider playing fast as hell on an instrument talent, and if you can't see that well i don't know whats wrong with you. it takes so much time to learn how to play fast. can you play fast? inflames doesn't . they suck and will always suck. and yes i am a true metalhead and if you can't keep up with BRUTAL ass music then keep listing to your pussy shit. one last thing IN FLAMES SUCKS!!!!
matt's Avatar
matt  | posted on 11/2003 | Reply
darrell. i dont know you. but i'm "lashing" at you because your post is the archetypical thought pattern of all "true" metalheads. You listen to all that brutal death metal shit, get angry, beat shit up, mosh with any and everything/one. Metal is about more than just playing as fast and heavy as you can, and growling out of your ass. Lets use origin as an example. I've heard few bands that play as blisteringly fast as those fuckers do. But can they stop and write an acoustic guitar interlude that makes you just sit back in your chair and not care about anything at all except that melody? Or write a lead so exceptional, you feel what the band was feeling when they composed it?i'll answer my own question...no. they run up and down the fretboard like their fingers are on fire, and blast beat a million times a fucking second, but in that fury, the melody is lost. and i'm sorry, but without melody, you lose the music.
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dale | posted on 11/2003 | Reply
i can imagine the shit that will spew forth after im done writing this.... BUT here we go anyway... In Flames are fucking great. Period. I havent heard this Ep, and probably wont bother buying it. However, i will buy the new In Flames album when it comes out, without question or prior listening. RTR is quiet obviously very different from their previous work, and i can understand people crying over this. but it bothers me when people just flat out say "in flames are faggots" or "In flames are shitty pop-stars" when they used to praise In Flames and everything they stood for. I think they still deserve a shitload more respect than they get on these pages, and indeed many other sites/magazines etc etc I feel the same way about metallica. they havent released anything good for 10 years, and i still consider myself a fan. And you people are freaking out at In Flames for delivering a weaker album than previous efforts. i think maybe some people should re-evaluate their opinions of IF because i think some people are saying they suck because everyone else is slagging them, and they dont wanna get hassled as well. maybe the title REROUTE TO REMAIN has a lot more meaning than some would think.....
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darrell | posted on 11/2003 | Reply
i totally agree with that dude who says these guys are not technical. these guys suck. here are some bands that are technical: deeds of flesh, severed savior, dying fetus, disgorge, decrepit birth, nile, orgin and so on. fuck inflames, this is for the nu-metal kids. go listen to your stupid ass slipknot. Listen to brutal death metal. fuck off you faggets.
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Jonah | posted on 7/2003 | Reply
In Flames whooped total ass live. I must say that they made good choices for the setlist, pleasing both old and new fans. Yes there was one retard with a Disturbed baseball cap on, but that was the only shithead there. I will definately see In Flames again whenever they come back. Playing with Chimaira, Soilwork, and Unearthed didn't make it worse.
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Jonah | posted on 7/2003 | Reply
Yeah, they're obviously not technical, especially on RTR, but I still think they're a great band. If anyone can tell me the setlist for them on the U.S. tour I would greatly appreciate it. Hope they play some old shit.
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MetalReview's #2 Fan | posted on 7/2003 | Reply
...is NOT a technical band!!!! Try these bands out pal, just for kicks--- Cynic, Dying Fetus, Suffocation, Death, Nile, Origin, Emperor, Disgorge, Zyklon, Theory In Practice and thousands more. All you've gotta do is ask around and direction will be given. Again, In Flames is far from technical!!!! If you like it, then great. I personally do enjoy their work, but they are faaaaarrrrrrr from technical.
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meh... | posted on 7/2003 | Reply
screw you guys. in flames is an awesome band. sure RTR wasnt as good as their previous releases, but it wasnt that much worse. its still a fuckin rockin album by a rockin band....as for you fuckers who say they suck...until you start making music that is half as technical and amazing as in flames, SHUT UP!!!!
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Wrathchild | posted on 7/2003 | Reply
Not their first cover, on Whoracle they covered "Everything Counts" By Depeche Mode, and I think they might've done something on some earlier album.
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A.D. | posted on 7/2003 | Reply
Fuck, I'm looking for the lyrics to Watch Them Feed, If Anyone can help it'd be much appreciated
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don't worry about it | posted on 7/2003 | Reply
as soon as you sign your music to a label you are a sell out. and i don't believe anyone writes music that isn't for themselves as well. at least they are manufactured like most bands. and i saw the in flames show with unearth, chimaira, and soilwork. IT KICKED ASS.
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Prophetic Entity | posted on 6/2003 | Reply
I'm gonna see them live on july 18th with soilwork, chimaira, and unearthed. Pretty sick line-up if you ask me. I've been dying to hear some of chimaira's shit but I haven't gotten the chance. Soilwork's new album is pretty good, not killer. But still, can't wait to see them on stage again. Oh, and I completely agree with you, DE.
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DE | posted on 6/2003 | Reply
Correction to previous post: They covered two bands in their Clayman release, what I meant to to was their first european released cover :P
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DE | posted on 6/2003 | Reply
RTR was not a bad album in general, and it wasn't a nu-metal album, get real. It did have talent, but it wasn't the bands full talent, and that's what hurt most people, that they didn't put all their talent into the album. Also the fact that In Flames were becoming popular has prejudiced people against their music. Also, In Flames made the progression quite quickly, if you look, there is a lot of difference between Clayman and RTR ... no solos in RTR, for instance, which was a let down, and proper clean vocals(I wouldn't call the mumbling in Clayman clean vocals) shocked many, especially Dawn of a new day and Metaphor, but hey, a band's gotta experiment, at least they aren't putting out the same shit over and over. Sure, Anders can't sing, but he gave it a go. It didn't have a lot of memorable songs either, to be fair. I think in every In Flames album other than RTR I've heard a song or two that are just amazing and I will listen to over and over, but not in this one. In my opinion RTR wasn't a good In Flames album(when compared with TJR, Whoracle, Colony, even Clayman), for me especially in terms of lyrics, but it is still a good metal album. As for the EP, I don't mind the new song ... I think it's a slight progression from RTR. The cover is quite good(their first cover, isn't it?) and the remixes and such ... meh. I like the original Trigger.
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Wrathchild | posted on 6/2003 | Reply
It's all in good fun here, people take shit too seriously... I just like to argue :-D
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Halfhazzard | posted on 6/2003 | Reply
For a prime example of how Wharwulf (Enforcer, Soulless) does the opposite of what he says, check out the initial lash against his Carnal Forge Please Die review, then look who comes to defend the "hypo-criticisms"....
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Slash | posted on 6/2003 | Reply
lol I think it's more "pussy" to listen to In Flames now than it is to listen to Genesis :P
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Legion | posted on 6/2003 | Reply
well...i guess i did come across a little to hard. i think the thing that made me so mad is that i used to be an inflames fan and it gets me furious when i see some kid with Inflames t-shirt who is wearing rubber spikes, baggy pants and making out with his fat girl friend in a slipknot t-shirt. i hope this is just a phase and the swedish scene gets itself of this slump. many sorries wrathchild...stay metal \m/
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Dmoralize | posted on 6/2003 | Reply
Well, it's understandable. Especially when the lashes consist of people saying "This band sucks, anyone who likes them sucks. You aren't metal". As if the fact that I listen to something that isn't "tr00 metal" somehow diminishes my taste in music. So, suck it up nancies... I like what I like and I listen to a lot of shit, be it metal or not, and if we disagree, then you can post a paragraph explaining why you dislike a band without writing a lash full dumbass rhetoric about fans being 12 year old mallcore kids. Write an worthwhile lash/opinion without sounding like a raging bastard and maybe people won't get so defensive and will understand your point.
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Soulless Wharwulf | posted on 6/2003 | Reply
I love how every time someone lashes out at a review or bashes the band of said review the reviewer or one of his fellow Prophets come to defend it. Example: LASHER - "Your review sucks, the band sucks, you suck!!!" REVIWER - "Wah, wah, wah, wha, I'm a pussy and can't handle hypo-criticism." It is worth a laugh for me so keep it up, whiners!!!
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Lee | posted on 6/2003 | Reply
Yeah god forbid a band makes any money. RTR is still heavier then anything on the radio or normal MTV. I wish In Flames would have a number 1 record.
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Prophetic Enitity | posted on 6/2003 | Reply
This seems to be worthy enough to check out. I've always been a die-hard in flames fan since the beginning but I have to say that they have gotten worse with each release and have indeed "sold out" as RTR was the last one on nuclear blast. However they're still an alright band in my opinion and worthy of respect.
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Diesel | posted on 6/2003 | Reply
what's wrong with Genesis?
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Wrathchild | posted on 6/2003 | Reply
None of you assholes (With the exception of The Madman) have even HEARD this EP, so all you're going on is the album Reroute to Remain, which I can understand you didn't like. So shut the fuck up, jackasses. I've never owned anything from In Flames other than a poster and a sticker, and if you morons are the ones who know that Hot Topic sells In Flames merchandise, then I suggest you get your heads out of your asses and get the fuck out of Hot Topic.
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Wrathchild | posted on 6/2003 | Reply
I don't give a damn.
The Madman's Avatar
The Madman  | posted on 6/2003 | Reply
I'm not even going to attack the other lashes cuz it's just not worth my trouble. What I am going to do is give Wrathchild shit for his "I've never heard the original song (for I am not a pussy)" comment. At one time, Genesis was one of the premier prog bands, when Peter Gabriel was still with the group, and many bands continue to cite them as an influence. Granted the Phil Collins-led stuff is way poppier, but "Land of Confusion" was definately one of the heavier/better songs of that era, not to mention having one of the greatest videos ever. That being said, the cover is definately cool, and pretty faithful to the original. I can't defend Genesis much more than that since I'm just giving a history lesson based more on what I know and not from experience.
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InWait | posted on 6/2003 | Reply
True gods of metal? I hate worshipper, because everything becomes fuzzy when a group becomes a superstar. God or not god, this is just some guys who had succeded and decided to release a more accessible album to please the mass (they say it, that they wrote RTR with the touring and fans in mind) . In this way, I thing it is in contradiction with the metal mentality, which I define as a way to communicate one's feelings. So, in my book, they are sell out. But if they have still some consciousness, they shall make an album more aggressif and more engaged, because they are now listen by the masses. Like they say in Colony : "The responsability lies on us all". Will they get the cash and stop fighting, or try something??? But an EP, with only one new song, and some weird stuff, sound bad to me...
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Legion | posted on 6/2003 | Reply
truly how can you still like this band? inflames is in the best word shitty. i mean whoracle and jester race were good...but progresively got worse and worse into the pop realm of metal. if you are a metal mall fag and shop at hot topic then Inflames is for you and eat them up. how can you listen to this stuff...i mean i listen to softer stuff(empyrium, haggard,etc etc) but come on. inflames are sell outs in the highest regard. this nu metal singy softy synth laden BS is very unorginal. i dont really care if this is an EP and i really dont care for Inflames(or Soilwork, or Defaced, or Darkane, etc). truly Inflames i hope you perish inflames. your non-sense is up...time to face the jury. get some balls and stop being sell out new metal butt fucks...and oh yah...i saw that gay cameo video thing you did with Soilwork...GAY GAY GAY! dont listen to inflames and support these pieces of Gothenburg trash...\m/
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Dmoralize | posted on 6/2003 | Reply
That "Trigger" video is pretty funny. What's even better is that Soilwork's "Rejection Role" video was filmed at the same time and it is exactly the same except that Soilwork is playing and In Flames is making fun of them. Sort of a fun idea.