However I'm definitely rereading part 2 whenever it's over since that's how I experienced part 1 and reading weekly definitely affects my perception of the manga
I was already sold on the series during the katana man arc but it's the reze stuff that really solidified it as a true personal favorite, but part 2 has been so slow despite its many good ideas that it kinda killed the enjoyment
It may be that I'm in the minority, because I wasn't really sold on Chainsaw Man for a good ways into the series, but I'm really digging all the stuff with Asa and the church and whatnot.
I'm not reading JJK (it's on the list, but I have other series to finish before I start that); I'm liking CSM part 2 quite a bit, though. I was ambivalent about part 1 until about two-thirds of the way through, when it turned
01. Moonshield 02. The Jester's Dance 03. Artifacts Of The Black Rain 04. Graveland 05. Lord Hypnos 06. Dead Eternity 07. The Jester Race 08. December Flower 09. Wayfaerer 10. Dead God In Me 11. Goliaths Disarm Their Davids [2002 re-release bonus] 12. Gyroscope [2002 re-release bonus] 13. Acoustic Medley [2002 re-release bonus] 14. Behind Space [live][2002 re-release bonus]
Additional info Recorded and mixed at Studio Fredman, November 1995. Produced by Frederik Nordström & In Flames. Engineered by Frederik Nordström & Patrick Hellgren.
Re-Released in 2002 by Nuclear Blast with the Black-Ash Inheritance [EP] as bonus tracks.
The Jester Race is the best album from In Flames era pure Melodic Death Metal, unfortunately for the fans of this precise style, that would also be the last. The Swedish band was still playing a lot of acoustic almost classical music, and was still very close to its alter ego Dark Tranquillity. Honestly I love both "versions" of In Flames music and it's obvious for me that their "pre-Whoracle" work reached its climax with the album The Jester Race.
Nostalgic reminder: exactly fifteen years ago melodic death metal was still a respectable genre instead of a curse word, and we all thought In Flames were the tits!
Crazy times, crazy times... now get the hell off my playground!
Yeah I got what you said, but Iron Maiden as Iron Maiden appeals to me more than Jester-Race-era In Flames, so I don't more from Jester Race.
I wouldn't say that new In Flames appeals to me as much as mid-era In Flames, Colony through Come Clarity.
Well Colony to Come Clarity covers a whole bunch of sounds from more traditional In Flames, to whatever Reroute was (some kind of alternative melodeath slash nu-metal) to the faux-industrial Soundtrack to whatever the current stuff is. I wouldn't even like to speculate on what In Flames are now. I'd take Clayman, Reroute and Soundtrack over Colony, so I guess there really is no accounting for taste in the context of In Flames.
Yeah I got what you said, but Iron Maiden as Iron Maiden appeals to me more than Jester-Race-era In Flames, so I don't more from Jester Race.
I wouldn't say that new In Flames appeals to me as much as mid-era In Flames, Colony through Come Clarity.
Well Colony to Come Clarity covers a whole bunch of sounds from more traditional In Flames, to whatever Reroute was (some kind of alternative melodeath slash nu-metal) to the faux-industrial Soundtrack to whatever the current stuff is. I wouldn't even like to speculate on what In Flames are now. I'd take Clayman, Reroute and Soundtrack over Colony, so I guess there really is no accounting for taste in the context of In Flames.
Come Clarity isn't really like the current stuff, whatever the hell In Flames is currently doing, it's somewhere between Reroute and Clayman. After Come Clarity the stuff is more alternative than Reroute or Soundtrack. I'd say mid-era In Flames is sharply divided into two groups, Clayman and Colony and Reroute and Soundtrack, with Come Clarity muscially falling between the two despite coming after them. Anyway, yes, the distinction is pretty arbitrary as I prefer Whoracle to Jester Race and A Sense of Purpose to Sounds of a Playground, I just like the stuff closest to Clayman/Come Clarity the most.
Finally listened to this in its entirety. Great record, but the excessive praise this album received - and continues to receive - created expectations that just weren't met.
It's a very Melodic and enjoyable album, I particularly liked the songs "Moonshield", and the title song most, and I really enjoyed the main riff on "December Flower". In Flames best album Without a doubt Imo, but I always thought DT were overall the better band, but that's just my personal preference.
Flawless. the melodies In Flames crafted on this record are transcendent
I dont know about flawless but this one was my first touch with MDM back at the time of the album's release. I will always hold it up high just for that.
I'm ashamed to say I had not listened to this album and I love MDM. After spinning it for the last couple of days, yeah, this is excellent. "Moonshield", "Graveland", "Dead Eternity", "December Flower" are all absolutely fantastic. Clayman and Come Clarity are the only IF albums I really checked out, time to check Whoracle and Colony.
Clayman and Come Clarity are the only IF albums I really checked out, time to check Whoracle and Colony.
Indeed, time to check out the latter two. If you turn out to like all these four albums you definitely need to try Reroute to Remain too. It is kind of the link between Clayman/Colony and Come Clarity, and it is a great album (their last one), though not as great as the former two, if you ask me.
Easily the best In Flames album IMO. Such a shame to think about what this band has turned into...Still, this is a melodic death metal masterpiece that will cement them pre-2002 as one of the greats. 'Artifacts Of The Black Rain' was one of the first songs my old band learned to play back in 2011
9.2/10 for me - 'Artifacts Of The Black Rain' is the standout song. 'Moonshield', 'The Jester's Dance', 'December Flower' and 'Wayfaerer' are all also great. 'Graveland' and 'The Jester Race' are the weakest songs on this album IMO.
I also covered 'Artifacts Of The Black Rain' back in 2012
I don't give out a 10 on a whim. This album is more than worthy of such a rating. This is not only peak In Flames, it's a high point in MeloDeath as a whole. Killer guitar sound to go with beautiful harmonized leads, one of my all time favorite guitar solos(guest musician or not) in "December Flower", each song is memorable and brings something to the table from the acoustic guitar in Moonshield to The Jester's Dance soothing interlude to December Flower jumping right at you. I never feel like I want to skip any of the songs. It's a MeloDeath Masterpiece through and through.