작년 12월 14일 내한하여 한국의 모든 헤비메탈/멜로딕 데스밴드팬들에게 그 어느 누구도 전해주지 못했던 희열과 기쁨, 감동은 그 자리의 땀과 눈물을 겪은 모든 사람들에게 있어 인생에 결코 잊지 못할 기억으로 남을 것이다.
예테보리의 멜로딕데스메탈의 제왕이라는 자신들의 꼬리표와 같은 한계를 무너뜨리면서 자신들을 더 높은 한계에 위치시킴과 동시에 다시금 그들을 가로막고 있는 그 장벽을 또다시 무너뜨릴 준비를 하고 있는 이 5명이 바로 오늘날 전세계 익스트림씬의 제왕으로 등극하게 한 요인이 아닌가 한다.
IN FLAMES는 스웨덴 멜로딕 데스메탈의 메카라고 일컬어지는 "예테보리" 출신이자 흔히 "예테보리 사운드" 라고 일컬어지는 감성적이면서도 야만성을 동시에 지닌 자웅 동체적인 음악의 창시자로 추앙 되면서 최근 점차적인 뉴 메탈적인 접근법으로 대부분의 유럽밴드들의 딜레마로 자리하던 미국시장으로의 진출 또한 성공적인 결과를 얻어내고 있기도 하다.
푸들오브 머드(PUDDLE OF MUDD) 와 슬립낫(SLIPKNOT)에 길들여진 미국인들에게 있어 유럽의 감성과 이들이 접해보지 못한 또 다른 형태의 정형화되지 않은 음악 속의 분노야말로 개척정신으로 오늘날 미국을 있게 한 미국인들에게 새로운 미지의 세계로의 탐험과도 같은 신선한 경험을 안겨주었으리라 사려 된다.
"CLAYMAN" 의 성공에 이어 "REROUTE TO REMAIN" 은 "CLAYMEN" 의 판매고를 단 2주만에 갱신하며 앞으로의 향방을 주목하게 만들고 있는데 SLAYER, SOULFLY와 같은 거물 밴드들과의 투어에 이어 물론 자신들의 헤드라이닝 투어 그리고 이번 여름 미국투어 역시 헤드라이닝투어로서 현재 각광 받고 있는 CHIMAIRA, UNEARTH 그리고 같은 레이블 메이트인 SOILWORK 를 서포터로 기용하여 다시 한번 올 여름 북미 대륙을 뜨겁게 달굴 만반의 준비를 마쳤다고 한다.
작년 가을에 발매되어 전세계 유럽차트의 석권은 물론, 북미지역, 일본, 한국, 대만등 아시아 지역에서도 각종 차트 상위권을 잠식한 6번째 앨범 "REROUTE TO REMAIN" 을 발매한지 채 1년이 지나기도 전에 새로운 미니 앨범 "TRIGGER" 를 발매하며 조심스럽게 다음 앨범의 방향성을 제시하고 있는 듯한 느낌을 전해주고 있다.
앨범에는 최근 비디오클립으로 제작된 "TRIGGER" 의 비디오 클립이 담겨 있는데 이번 비디오 클립은 역시 최근 새 앨범을 발매하여 전세계적으로 뜨거운 반응을 얻고 있는 SOILWORK의 새 앨범 "FIGURE NUMBER FIVE" 의 타이틀 곡 "REJECTION ROLE" 의 비디오와 함께 제작된 "BATTLE OF THE BAND" 의 형태로 양측의 비디오 클립에 두 밴드가 모두 등장하여 한바탕 소동을 벌이는 재미있는 컨셉트를 담고 있다.
물론 신곡 "WATCH THEM FEED" 는"REROUTE TO REMAIN" 앨범의 "SYSTEM" 의 연장선상에 있는 느낌을 주면서, 폭발적인 헤비함과 공격적인 날카로움으로 청자들의 귀에 익숙한 즐거움을 선사하고 있는데 한가지 이 앨범에서 주목할 만한 사실은 "GENESIS" 의 "LAND OF CONFUSION" 을 커버하고 있다는 점이다. IN FLAMES 만이 완성할 수 있는 "100% IN FLAMES SOUND" 로써 원곡에 충실하면서도 자신들만의 독특한 개성으로 완전히 철저히 무장하여 재편곡하고 있으며 이 앨범에는 특이하게도 CLOUD CONNECTED 의 CLUB MIX 버전은 물론 멜로딕 데스계의 전설적인 명곡으로 평가 받고 있는 "MOONSHEILD" 의 가라오케버전이 수록되어 있어 이들의 인기가 과연 어느 정도 인지 실감 할 수 있게 하고 있다.
마지막으로 REROUTE TO REMAIN 의 첫 비디오 클립인 "CLOUD CONNECTED" 와 "TRIGGER" 가ENHANCED 트랙으로 함께 수록되어 있어 이들은 물론 SOILWORK의 최근 모습까지 확인할 수 있는 일석이조의 이점을 얻을 수 있을 것이다.
현재 덴마크에서 새로운 앨범의 프리 프로덕션과정에 돌입한 IN FLAMES 는 앞으로 이어질 미국투어와 각자 자신들의 솔로프로젝트들을 통해 전세계 어느 뮤지션들 보다 바쁜 일정을 보내게 될 이들의 향방을 주목하지 않을 수 없게 만들고 있다. .... ....
Have we lost the spark or a guide? What's the latest on the screen? Can't be too late to turn around I need all the help from you I need to find something to blame for a long lost time I am running from something, I don't know I am searching for something, which way to go? I am trying to separate what't real I'm running in a wheel Is it dark or is it bright? What's the latest on the screen? Can you please tell me my name, I haven't checked it today I am running from something, I don't know I am searching for something, which way to go? I am trying to separate what't real Im running in a wheel From green to red our days pass by Waiting for a sign to tell us why Are we dancing all alone? Collect some stars to shine for you And start today there are only a few The sign of times my friend Avoid infinity? Are you for real? Just scratch the surface, and you will find Something to blame for a long lost time From green to red our days pass by Waiting for a sign to tell us why Are we dancing all alone? Collect some stars to shine for you And start today there are only a few The sign of times my friend Just scratch the surface, and you will find Something to blame for a long lost time From green to red our days pass by Waiting for a sign to tell us why Are we dancing all alone? Collect some stars to shine for you And start today there are only a few The sign of times my friend. From green to red our days pass by Waiting for a sign to tell us why Are we dancing all alone? Collect some stars to shine for you And start today there are only a few The sign of times my friend. From green to red our days pass by Waiting for a sign to tell us why Collect some stars to shine for you And start today there are only a few
I lost my visual Cause all you fucks are in my way So drop her off this route Take'em some far place, watch them feed Seal the signs of the borders We are here to bend Penetrate the outlines Lightness of color They say the world is struggling But we are stuck upside down Imaginary reality Suffer from make-believe I'll chance the fate Take'em some far place, watch them feed They say the world is struggling But we are stuck upside down No purpose, No scorn, No sorrow will be wasted on you
I must have dreamed a thousand dreams Been haunted by a million screams But I can hear the marching feet They're moving into the street Now did you read the news today They say the danger's gone away But I can see the fire's still alight Burning, burning into the night There's too many men Too many people Making too many problems And not much love to go round Can't you see This is a land of confusion This is the world we live in And these are the hands we're given Use them and let's start trying To make it a place worth living in Ooh Superman where are you now When everything's gone wrong somehow The men of steel, the men of power Are losing control by the hour This is the time This is the place So we look for the future But there's not much love to go round Tell me why this is a land of confusion This is the world we live in And these are the hands we're given Use them and let's start trying To make it a place worth living in I won't be coming home tonight My generation will put it right We're not just making promises That we know, we'll never keep Too many men There's too many people Making too many problems And not much love to go round Can't you see This is a land of confusion Now this is the world we live in And these are the hands we're given Use them and let's start trying To make it a place worth fighting for This is the world we live in And these are the names we're given Stand up and let's start showing Just where our lives are going to
People like you You live in a dream world You despise the outside And you fear you're the next one It's in your dream There's just one question Should I kill? Or should I be left behind? Sick and tired Of all your complaints This is the hour We bring it down I've come to realize Every little glimpse, you fade I was told that I could fly When least expected, cloud connected You seem to be So introverted How come we fail? With all that is given? You crossed the line You remember my name Time runs backwards As long as you are heading that way
Have we lost the spark or a guide? What's the latest on the screen? Can't be too late to turn around I need all the help from you I need to find something to blame for a long lost time I am running from something, I don't know I am searching for something, which way to go? I am trying to separate what't real I'm running in a wheel Is it dark or is it bright? What's the latest on the screen? Can you please tell me my name, I haven't checked it today I am running from something, I don't know I am searching for something, which way to go? I am trying to separate what't real Im running in a wheel From green to red our days pass by Waiting for a sign to tell us why Are we dancing all alone? Collect some stars to shine for you And start today there are only a few The sign of times my friend Avoid infinity? Are you for real? Just scratch the surface, and you will find Something to blame for a long lost time From green to red our days pass by Waiting for a sign to tell us why Are we dancing all alone? Collect some stars to shine for you And start today there are only a few The sign of times my friend Just scratch the surface, and you will find Something to blame for a long lost time From green to red our days pass by Waiting for a sign to tell us why Are we dancing all alone? Collect some stars to shine for you And start today there are only a few The sign of times my friend. From green to red our days pass by Waiting for a sign to tell us why Are we dancing all alone? Collect some stars to shine for you And start today there are only a few The sign of times my friend. From green to red our days pass by Waiting for a sign to tell us why Collect some stars to shine for you And start today there are only a few
People like you You live in a dream world You despise the outside And you fear you're the next one It's in your dream There's just one question Should I kill? Or should I be left behind? Sick and tired Of all your complaints This is the hour We bring it down I've come to realize Every little glimpse, you fade I was told that I could fly When least expected, cloud connected You seem to be So introverted How come we fail? With all that is given? You crossed the line You remember my name Time runs backwards As long as you are heading that way