Sounds of a Playground Fading

I’m not the kind of guy to accuse a band of selling out and changing. When Blinded Colony changed to The Blinded a lot of fans were really angry, and felt let down. The new Sonic Syndicate album had a very different sound, and a lot of fans were really up in arms against it. I’ve always been one to embrace a new direction of a band. I love the old Sonic Syndicate stuff, but I’ve got that now, so I’m open to whatever they feel they want to play.

In Flames…. I think they’re my favourite band… With Before the Dawn coming in a close 2nd…. But in 2010 or so the guitarist, Jesper Stromblad left the band on good terms. Big disappointment for me as it meant they pulled out of their UK tour…And I missed seeing them in Cardiff…. But I digress. I was thinking we’d heard the last of In Flames when they did their collaborative track with Pendulum (Self Vs. Self), but I was pleasantly surprised when I learned of the impending new album “Sounds of a Playground Fading.”  I eagerly preordered my copy and awaited the delivery…. It still hasn’t arrived… And Spotify beat me to it. So, it is in Spotify now!

(This has been sitting in my drafts folder for a very long time.. I really need to finish and publish it)

So, on the 22nd of June (Dispite me writing this on the 27th of October, 2011 I still remember the date, it was the same date that I got my degree results) the CD finally arrived. And as it turned out, to my luck, I was working alone in the Inner Garden, so I could slam on the iPod and listen to the album profusely. The Album stuck, and I really enjoyed it, so it was my soundtrack of my summer (*fading):

^ Kept me company during hay making… Yarrr in the tractor!

^ Driving down to Wales…. A very depressing journey leaving behind a very good summer… But made bearable by Sounds of A Playground Fading (Or just 01 Sounds Of A as the dashboard seems to think)

After a lot of listening, I came to some conclusions.  Like much of In Flames there are tracks I love, and others that I just skip…

So, here’s the listing:

1. Sounds of a Playground Fading
2. Deliver Us
3. All For Me
4. The Puzzle
5. Fear Is The Weakness
6. Where The Dead Ships Dwell
7. The Attic
8. Darker Times
9. Ropes
10. Enter Tragedy
11. Jester’s Door
12. A New Dawn
13. Liberation

 

Sounds Of A Playground Fading, Track 1, a very good introduction, and while this isn’t one of my top rated tracks, it is certainly one I will listen to and not skip over. The chorus is very singable, though the theme is a little dark.

Deliver Us, Track 2. This was released as a single before the album was released, and I listened to it a lot… It’s still a good track, and one I’m not likely to skip over in a hurry. Nothing stands out particularly, but it’s still a good track.

All For Me, Track 3. This is one of those tracks that doesn’t really make an impression on me… It’s a skipable one… There is nothing really.. wrong with it, it’s just not one I really want to listen to that much…

The Puzzle, Track 4. At first this was one of those tracks that I skipped… The introduction is a little too chaotic, and I never really heard it out properly. But, when I did… This has become one of my favourites. The chorus…..Oh it’s one of those awesome epic ones… And the instrumental section at 1:40 or so is awesome…. And the section from 3:10, though very simple, is very epic… And lead to some erratic driving while I was listening to it. It’s just a shame the song ends….

Fear Is The Weakness, Track 5. This was an instant hit with e. Love love love it. Very epic.. Not much more I can say on that.. Just love singing loudly and badly along

Where The Dead Ships Dwell, Track 6. Similar to The Puzzle, not an instant hit with me, but it’s one without too much screaming and therefore I can sort of sing along with it in the car/tractor/shower. Very nice guitar solos, good all round track

The Attic, Track 7. This is one I nearly always skip over….The lyrics are just too dark and weird…. Don’t really have anything more to say on the matter……

Darker Times, Track 8. Like the Puzzle it was was one I skipped over initially, too chaotic, but when the chorus kicks in at 1:00, I decided I liked the song. It is one of those epic ones…. Though I usually just hum the bass….

Ropes, Track 9. I think this is my favourite song on the album. The intro is awesome, and it remains that way throughout.

“If this would be your last breath, would you change a thing?”

Oh I do like this track

Enter Tragedy, Track 10. Kind of neutral on this one… There are parts I like, the instrumental I do quite like…. But it’s not really one of my top songs on the album….

Jester’s Door, Track 11. This seems to be a goodbye to Jesper. So goodbye Jesper!

A New Dawn, Track 12. Locates straight after Jester’s Door, this does seem to be a look to the future. And the future looks good! Good song, not a skipable one.

“ And I can’t wait to see the sunrise again”

Was listening to it as I drove through these mountains in North Wales:

It seemed very apt.

Liberation, Track 13. The last track on the album! It is quite a slow moving song, but with some epic moments. Overall, a good track.. Definitely worth a listen.

 

 

Yea, so my overall impressions of the CD…. Very good. Well worth a listen! Go out and buy it! Available in HMV!

-Skip