Well, my metal roots show up yet again. Hey, I can't help it - not that I would want to help it - but I grew up with this stuff. OK, on with the review.

This album has started an argument in the metal community. Some absolutely hate it with every fiber of their being. Others think it is one of the best heavy metal albums since Iron Maiden's heyday. Personally, I agree with the latter. Clayman is not only one of the best metal albums I have heard in years, it is one of my favorite metal albums of all time.

In Flames perform a weird hybrid of death vocals/melodic music. Death metal with a groove? Power metal with growling vocals? Take your pick with the descriptions. In the end, In Flames have their own sound, albeit one currently being copied by many younger bands.

Clayman is easily In Flames' catchiest album to date, and that is one of the reasons it does not sit well with death metal fans. Some of these songs sound like the band is actually attempting to court the mainstream; even so, In Flames is still undeniably a metal to the core.

- - Ruthven
website: http://gothic.vei.net