THE HALO EFFECT consists now of the singer from DARK TRANQUILLITY and four former members of IN FLAMES. The album has 12 songs, and “Conspire to Deceive” is first, with a melodic lead-in from guitars and a good shot of melody. The harsh vocals are filthy, and there is a good balance between aggression and melody. “Detonate” is faster and more energetic, but still raw and filthy, and tempered with harmonies, especially in the chorus. “Cruel Perception” is a lively song that burst with a firm energy of melody and harmonies. The vocals are delivered without cleans so far, but it just accentuates the two extremes of the genre. The two guitars after the second chorus just shine.

“What We Become” is slower but still brimming with a passionate fire and aggressive guitars and vocals, and the chorus is filled with a rich sense of melody. The title track has another strong melody line running through it, but the vocals keep it hard and firm. The dual lead harmonies are exactly what defines the genre as well. “Forever Astray” has a strong palate of sonority and even some clean vocals. When Mikael sings the cleans, they have a somber feeling to them, and I’m not sure why. “A Death That Becomes Us” is a slow grind of aggression tempered with melody. The riffs are hardened, but when that melody comes out in the guitars, it’s like a beacon of light shining through dark storm clouds.

“The Burning Point” is quite emotional, and from the first few notes, you find yourself swinging along with its beguiling melodies. It is aptly titled, because it makes you feel like you are burning inside. “Coda” closes the album, and it’s a soothing instrumental. Overall, although the album overstayed its welcome just a bit with 12 songs, this was a solid listening experience. If you are a long-time fan of the genre, you have to ask yourself, is this the logical step that IN FLAMES should have taken? It’s hard to say, but for me, the album reaffirms what I like about the Melodic Death Metal, rather than taking it to new directions.