Lightning rod of the metal world, the Swedes infuse the latest collection of songs with lots of subtlety and melody, further distancing themselves from the confines/conventionalities of heavy metal, as well as their legacy. A lone, jangly guitar kicks off the title cut, which opens the disc. From there, it’s more of the pop, whiz bang electronic elements that have graced In Flames platters since "Clayman". Unlike the most recent effort ("A Sense Of Purpose"), which hinted at yesterday’s glories, this baker’s dozen if firmly targeted forward, not back.

Throughout, vocalist Anders Friden is the prominent focal point, accentuating songs with singable choruses, at the expense of guitar riffs. ‘All For Me’ balances a grittier vocal with tunefulness, whereas ‘The Puzzle’ verges on a shouted, aggro hardcore delivery. The most consistent ‘metal’ moment is the infectious ‘Fear Is The Weakness’. A bit of a ballad intermezzo, ‘The Attic’ shows up about half way through, cleansing the palette for the bouncy ‘Darker Times’. ‘Enters Tragedy’ is a late entry in the aggression stakes, guitars intact. Ditto ‘A New Dawn’, even with the orchestral strings mid-section. ‘Jester’s Door’ apart from referencing one of their greatest platters ("The Jester’s Race") is a short spoken word begun ditty, Friden reciting what seems to be a eulogy, or letter of resignation. Perhaps it’s a tip of the hat to ex-founding guitarist Jesper Stromblad, whose addiction made him bow out of In Flames, maybe even the actual exit he penned to his band mates? Instead of pining for a sound that will not return, I’ve tried to embrace millennium In Flames, a venture that hasn’t always been easy for devote metalheads (see closing ‘Liberation’), but this is a strong batch of songwriting.