Last summer's Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival brought Sweden's melodic death metal pioneers, In Flames, along with Florida's Trivium back to Boise after a long absence. The response was so overwhelming the band's knew they had to include the Treasure Valley among the dates of their current U.S. tour.
Both bands released brand new albums in 2011, to solid critical acclaim. In Flames released its tenth studio effort, Sounds Of A Playground Fading. The new record find the band continuing to grow and expand sonically, while also dipping back into its earlier sounds, those that fans fell in love with on early albums like The Jester Race and Whoracle.
That has always been the beauty of In Flames, its ability to spread beyond the confines of expectation. The group can do this successfully because it does it so well. While In Flames purists always complain about change, as do early fans of most bands, the Gothenburg boys have remained consistent in their quality regardless of how they expand their sound. Sounds Of A Playground Fading is no exception to that rule.
Trivium released its fifth studio album, In Waves. In Waves returns the guys to more of a metalcore sound, with less of the thrash elements they have used in the past. The album has moments of sonic brilliance threaded together with perhaps a bit too much sameness. A very solid effort, yet at times inconsistent.
Joining In Flames and Trivium for this caustic tour are Veil of Maya, and Kyng.
The former, Illinois deathcore quartet, Veil of Maya will be releasing it's fourth album, Eclipse on February 28. A teaser for the forth coming record can be found here.
After toiling away in other bands, the trio of guitarist/vocalist Eddie Veliz, bassist Tony Castaneda and drummer Pepe Clarke Magana decided their collective side-project, Kyng, was where their real passion lay, and in 2008 they opted to put their focus there. The Southern California blues-based rock act, label their sound “California Heavy”. Their style is a hybrid sound of everything we’ve heard before, reimagined in a modern context. Think 60′s/70′s acts like Cream, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin meets 90′s grunge likeSoundgarden. If one needs a label or comparison, that is pretty close, yet still not all encompassing. The band's debut album, Trampled Sun, launched last summer.
Tickets are still available for this event:
Knitting Factory Concert House - Boise
In Flames plus very Special Guests-- Trivium, Veil of Maya, KyngThu, February 2, 2012 - Doors: 6:30 pm / Show: 7:30 pm - $25.00 - $51.00
Rustyn Rose is a veteran music journalist who owns and operates Metalholic Magazine and Mojo Radio.
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