IN FLAMES has had a long and fabled career, pioneering the Melodic Death Metal genre in the early 1990's.  Over the years, the band has evolved, much to the chagrin of some long-time fans, who cling ever tightly to the more pure Death Metal sounds of the first EP, "The Jester Race."  I have greatly enjoyed all of their music to date, and have applauded the band for being able to stick to their roots, while loosening and experimenting here and there.  After singing a new deal with a major record label in Sony Music, the band presents their newest studio album in three years, entitled "Siren Charms."  The album contains eleven tracks.  "In Plain View" kicks off the album.  Following an electronic opening, the main riff just slams in unapologetically, and those twin guitar harmonies remind you of this band's special magic.  Vocally, Anders alternates between cleans in the verses and his trademark screams in the chorus.  Peter and Daniel provide a rich and thick bottom end.  "Everything's Gone" has a crunchy, choppy riff reminiscent of some of the work on "A Sense of Purpose."  As they have always been masters at, they drive home a long and melodious chorus that just lingers with you for several moments after.  "Paralyzed" has a looser swing to it, a more introspective and emotional number, but losing none of its punch.  Again, the chorus is a shining light here, along with a trademark Bjorn guitar solo.  "Through Oblivion" is the "Metaphor" of "Siren Charms."  It's slow and tentative until the strong key changes in the chorus take you on a carpet ride up into the clouds.    "With Eyes Wide Open" is another slower number where the focus is on clean melody.  It is crafted rather well and it's really an elegant song if you allow yourself to be swept away with it.  The title track, "Siren Charms," has a riff structure that I haven't really heard from this band before.  It fits oddly into the album however, pushing the boundaries of the genre while still being recognizable as IN FLAMES.

"When The World Explodes" is a straight up bruiser, with Anders wailing in all of his glory, complete with female clean guest vocals over the familiar rhythm of the instruments that we have come to know with the band.  "Rusted Nail" was released as the band's first single.  Following that delicate melodic entrance, the main riff and guitar harmonies are upbeat and assertive, and there is another long, pleasing chorus.  "Dead Eyes" swings back to another ballad type of a song, with a slow, pensive tempo and desperate lyrics.  This is the third slower track on the album.  "Monsters in the Ballroom" is much more aggressive, with a thudding and swift riff, and a combination of clean and Death vocals.  Another strong chorus with a noticeable and pleasing keyboard melody in the background makes it an easy listen.  Closing the album is the song "Filtered Truth," which might be the strongest vocal performance on the album.  It also probably has the best combination of melody and harshness on any track.  Some of the melodies here are really wonderful as they always are with IN FLAMES.  Overall though, the collection of songs and song structures themselves just feel incomplete to me.  There just isn't enough going on sonically to really make that impact that I am longing for, at least not consistently enough.  I will not fault the band for writing what they felt at the time they were composing the songs.  But I just can't escape the feeling that the album as a whole is thin when compared to the band's incredible legacy to date.<