*Concert Review*
In Flames
Clayman Tour 2000

By Matt Tulini
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Thursday August 31, 2000,
The Trocodero, Philadelphia, PA.

  There were three other bands on this tour, but who cares about them. I arrived at the show a little late, caught the end of Skinlab (who I could care less about), and next came In Flames! After In Flames wrapped up I promptly split.

In Flames is touring in support of their excellent new album, Clayman. This is their second tour of the US. I attended their last tour expecting to be blown away and was disappointed. The last time I saw In Flames they were touring for their fourth full-length album, Colony. In Flames peaked with their second album, The Jester Race. Their first album 'Lunar Strain' is also a classic. What galled me was that they completely ignored their first two full-length albums and the "Subterranean" EP, playing songs only off their last two (comparatively mediocre) albums, Whoracle and Colony. They did play one song from Lunar Strain ("Behind Space"), but I can't really count that because they re-recorded it for Colony.

I expected the same thing to happen this time and my fears were confirmed: they again played "Behind Space" but they added one song from 'The Jester Race.' They're lucky their new album is so good, because they played 5 songs from it and basically saved the night by doing so. So I only got to hear two old songs, but the new ones sounded superb and they are a very powerful live band. This show was definitely head-and-shoulders above the last In Flames tour. This is one of the better tours coming around this year, and In Flames don't come around very often so I'd highly recommend seeing them when you can.

Enjoyment: 70