2008 Woodie Awards
In Live We Trust DVD is lukewarm at best
Jameson Viens
Issue date: 9/22/05 Section: Arts and Entertainment
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Ever since their pinnacle 1999 release of Colony, their many fans have said they have gone downhill with subsequent releases, such as Clayman and Reroute To Remain. In Flames has produced a well-crafted DVD, Used & Abused: In Live We Trust, but the transformation their music has undergone has left some with a bitter taste in their mouths and a feeling of disappointment.
The band's newest release, Used & Abused: In Live We Trust, is a collection of concert footage featuring over three hours of recent and vintage material on two DVDs. Fans of early In Flames music have every right to be disappointed with the play list. Only seven tracks on a release with over 40 chapters are from their older recordings, along with a handful of repeated performances. The differences between their 1994 debut album Lunar Strain and their 2004 release Soundtrack To Your Escape are easily noticeable.
The majority of the material on Used & Abused comes from In Flames' latest album, which is widely regarded as their weakest for having almost no solos and too much synthesized music.
Tracks like "Dial 595-Escape" and "Superhero Of The Computer Rage" are far cries from older songs such as "Moonshield" and "Jotun," which are based on traditional Swedish folk songs. The only explanation behind the DVD's track list can be that these newer songs cater to a more mainstream audience.
A change overcame In Flames between Colony and Clayman. Gone were the elaborate melodic guitar solos, which were replaced with electronic beeps and buzzes. With the help of keyboardist and programmer Örjan Örnkloo, the guitars were pushed to the back of the band and the keyboards and vocals became a priority. Considering the night-and-day difference this band has undergone, it is understandable why people who have followed the band since their early days feel let down.
Regardless of the difference in sound from album to album, In Live We Trust is a well-produced DVD. Famous for their amazing musical talent, guitarists Jesper Strömblad and Björn Gelotte perform flawlessly and the incredibly beautiful guitar solos are excellently recorded. High notes and low notes are not left out as the band shreds through the outstanding melodies of songs like "Artifacts Of The Black Rain" and "Behind Space."
Along with crisp audio, the video quality of Used & Abused is also worth mentioning. In some concert footage, the camera annoyingly spins out of control in a poor attempt to excite the viewers at home.
Even in post-production, the footage can become overproduced with flashy color changes and special effects. Yet in this DVD, he cameras stay focused on the band and highlight each member respectively, although too much time is spent on Anders Fridén with his dreadlocks and ridiculous dance moves.
Despite their seemingly painful departure from the essence of the trademark melodic Gothenburg style, which was named for the Swedish city where the genre was created, In Flames is still a metal band and continues to draw fans to their concerts. In Live We Trust is a testament that the band has staying power-just with a different crowd.
Having recently finished a tour on the main stage of Ozzfest that enjoyed high fan attendance thanks to big name artists like Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath, In Flames must be doing something right, much to the chagrin of their fans.
One positive to come from In Flames' popularity is that more money creates a better DVD. Some added features to the DVD are a backstage interview with the band and footage of a sound check.
Overall, Used & Abused: In Live We Trust is sort of a lopsided release. Rather than playing music from the entire collection to create a well-rounded selection of their catalogue, In Flames sticks to their newer and more controversial material for this DVD.
It is a good purchase for die-hard fans or people who listen to their new music, but perhaps not such a prudent choice for those who feel forgotten by the band that pioneered an exciting sound only 11 years ago.