#8: IN FLAMES – CLAYMAN
Thursday, June 25th, 2009 at 5:00pm by Anton OyVey
We recently polled a wide array of musicians, managers, publicists, label reps, and writers from within the world of metal to find out what they thought the 21 Best Metal Albums of the 21st Century So Far have been. Eligible albums were released between January 1, 2000 and April 1, 2009. Each panelist turned in a ballot, with their #1 album worth 21 points, their #2 album worth 20 points, and so on and so forth. The ballots are now in and we’ll be counting down one album a day until we reach #1. Today we present the #8 album, coming in with a total of 170 points…
In Flames, Clayman (Nuclear Blast, 2000)
Anders Fridén – vocals
Jesper Strömblad – Guitar
Björn Gelotte – Guitar
Peter Iwers – Bass
Daniel Svensson – Drums
Produced by Fredrik Nordström
It was my senior year of college in 1996, sitting in coffee shop, reading the latest music rag (taking a break from my Old Testament studies) when I came across a review for In Flames’ The Jester Race. Something about it caught my eye as that was the time I was getting more into of the Scandinavian metal like At The Gates and Amorphis. I picked it up and was blown away how they had made “death metal” so “melodic.” I almost denounced my religion and started a cult dedicated to this semi-new genre of metal!
A couple of years later, I get the amazing Colony record, and then in 2000, In Flames release the genius that is Clayman. From the first riff on “Bullet Ride” to the last beat on “Another Day In Quicksand,” the album became the first real example of “melodic-death-metal” perfection. Not only was it a brutal record that would care the normal person walking down the street, but it also incorporated intricate acoustic guitar work, electronic samples and more. Now, I know in the year 2000 (well, the year 5760 on the Jewish calendar), there was nothing new about having all these elements in metal, but to have it connect so perfectly with fans, the press and even the industry as a whole – is something most bands will never get to experience.
The impact of this album can be shown with one of the band’s most popular songs of all time, “Only For The Weak.” I was lucky enough to see the band headline at CBGBs in 2000 (Nevermore and Shadows Fall also played the show, pretty amazing line-up, huh?) When before the new millennium, in the US, you saw a crowd jumping up and down instead of moshing during a Swedish metal band? Not only that, but to have Metal Hammer Germany name the song a Top 10 “death metal” song of all time along side Carcass, Death and Cannibal Corpse? This for a song with some clean vocals, samples and real production. The song was special, the album as a whole was special, and that is why, like Moses in the desert, Clayman will stand the test of time for centuries to come.
-Anton OyVey
THE LIST SO FAR:
#9 – Gojira, From Mars to Sirius
#13 – Mastodon, Blood Mountain
#14 – System of a Down, Toxicity
#15 – Nachtmystium, Assassins: Black Meddle, Part 1
#16 – Machine Head, The Blackening
#18 – Lamb of God, New American Gospel
#20 – Shadows Fall, The War Within
#21 – Slipknot, Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses
THE PANEL OF VOTERS
Chris Adler, Lamb of God
Dan And, Bison B.C.
Ben Apatoff, Apatoff for Destruction/Metal Injection
Jason Bittner, Shadows Fall
Tim Brennan, Ferret Music/Channel Zero Entertainment
Freddy Cai, Painkiller Magazine
Ian Christe, Bazillion Points
Reverend David J. Ciancio, Yeah! Management
Betsey Cichoracki, Relapse Records
Paul Conroy, Ferret Music/Channel Zero Entertainment
J. Costa, Thy Will Be Done
Dallas Coyle, ex-God Forbid/Coyle Media
Doc Coyle, God Forbid
CT, Rwake
Anso DF, MetalSucks/Hipsters Out of Metal!
Vince Edwards, Metal Blade Records
Charles Elliott, Abysmal Dawn/Nuclear Blast Records
Brian Fair, Shadows Fall
Leo Ferrante, Warner Music Group
D.X. Ferris, author 33 1/3: Reign in Blood/Freelance Journalist
Mike Gitter, Roadrunner Records
Nick Green, Decibel
Matt Grenier, August Burns Red
Anthony Guzzardo, Earache Records
Kevin Hufnagel, Dysrhythmia
Mark Hunter, Chimaira
Steve Joh, Century Media
EJ Johantgen, Prosthetic Records
Kim Kelly, Metal Injection/Hails & Horns/Freelance Journalist
Josh “The J” Key, Psychostick
Jason Lekberg, Epic Records
Eyal Levi, Daath
Bob Lugowe, Relapse Records
Matt McChesney, The Autumn Offering
Jake McReynolds, Psychostick
Marc Meltzer, The Syndicate
Josh Middleton, Sylosis
Matt Moore, Rumpelstiltskin Grinder
Vince Neilstein, MetalSucks
Sammy O’Hagar, MetalSucks
Anton OyVey, MetalSucks/Bacon Jew
Rob Pasbani, Metal Injection
Alex Preiss, Psychostick
Carlos Ramirez, NoiseCreep/Universal Music Group
Brian Rocha, Fresno Media USA
Jeremy Rosen, Roadrunner Records
Axl Rosenberg, MetalSucks
Satan Rosenbloom, MetalSucks/Cerebral Metalhead
David Bee Roth, MetalSucks
Jason Rudolph, Heavy Hitter, Inc.
Amy Sciarretto, Roadrunner Records/NoiseCreep
Carl Severson, Ferret Music/Channel Zero Entertainment
Gary Suarez, MetalSucks/No Yoko No/Brainwashed
Geoff Summers, The End Records/Crustcake
Bram Teitelman, The Syndicate/Metal Insider
Alisha Turull, Heavy Hitter, Inc.
Christopher R. Weingarten, 1000TimesYes/Freelance Journalist
Epic. Win.
id like to take this oppertunity to say that metalsucks has really been dropping the ball lately. i havent really been entertained by them in a while. but maybe thats because nothings going on in metal at the moment. or maybe i just have to high expectations for them. certainly the list has not lived up to the hype it had at all. im not saying i disagree with this pick, but as a whole, not great…hopefully there will be more interesting things on here soon. makes me sad.
regarding the list im forcasting as i lay dying “frail words collapse” as number 7? (im not saying i like the album, but its probably gonna be number 7)
Obvious pick. No problem with that.
The last great In Flames album. No arguments here.
I’d agree except that I really enjoy Reroute To Remain. Soundtrack To Your Escape is forgettable and roughly half of Come Clarity is good. I often forget A Sense Of Purpose exists. It does seem that Clayman is usually were most metal fans kinda give up on In Flames though.
I can admit that I like Reroute to Remain a lot more than I did when I first spun it. They took some risks, and I think a lot of them paid off, but I wouldn’t say it’s a ‘great’ album. But I agree with your assessment of their later albums. Soundtrack sucked, Come Clarity has a couple of decent songs at best, and A Sense of Purpose was a huge disappointment to me.
in flames became dead to me when they released RtR. i havent even touched anything newer, and i barely spin the older stuff (except the occasional dialogue with the stars). im gonna have to go back and listen now…i remember liking it, but does it belong on my personal list or not?
their last great and mabey their best
Reroute and Soundtrack aren’t nearly as bad as people seem to say they are. Come Clarity is decent, if forgettable. I’d say A Sense of Purpose is just as good as this.
They’ll never top Whoracle though
Reroute is awesome maybe superior to clayman, its probably my fave, plus
A Sense Of Purpose is a lot better than ppl think, its just not been given a
chance far better than Soundtrack or CC. Good pick Id wouldve probably had
Reroute though.
BS. Reroute to remain was incredibile. I’m a little surprised that Clayman replaced it on this list, but at the same time not really. Clayman was great too. Both are still overshadowed by The Jester Race which belongs in the top 10 of all time.
this album will always rule
N*Flames
This is my last comment on here for a few days. Boring picks = boring discussion. I shall be lurking…
Haha, that’s a little harsh, especially for this album. For STYE, maybe, but Clayman I don’t think deserves a comparison to a bubblegum boy band.
Awesome!!! The 20 yr old know it all is gone!!! Probably laundry time for his collection of black trench coats.
lol
Fuck yes.
I actually wasn’t expecting to see this album.
But I’m glad it’s on here. One of my favorites.
So the picks get good and the “debates” die. And it was just starting to get fun to read the comments.
i don’t think clayman is a good pick…
The debates have definitely been fun, but I’d rather not debate and have this list gain some credibility.
I’m sure there will be another opportunity for debate quite soon.
Great choice. If only In Flames didn’t go downhill from there.
I will have to disagree with you here, I loved this album BUT I still think their new stuff is amazing… better sounds quality, cleaner vocals and more varied drum fills
I love this album, not as much as Whoracle, but I still love it
Anton, learn grammar
no shit! what a drip!
I guessed it would be Come Clarity, but this is still a good choice, especially considering how early it came out this decade.
Good stuff. I like Whoarcle better, but still… defintiely deserves to be up there.
Freakin’ A, what a great record. I haven’t listened to it in awhile; I think I will give it a spin and stroll down memory lane.
That’s really been the best thing about The List – breaking out those old (well, more like “old”) discs and remembering how great they are. It had been a really long time since I’d listened to Toxicity, White Pony, Lateralus… Lots of fun to hear them all again.
exactly. i own nearly every album on the list and have busted out each one just to walk down that road again. it kind of reminds you of the places you were in life when you first heard each album
Yep. Like hanging out with an old friend you haven’t seen in awhile. Same with books and movies. My wife doesn’t understand why I’m reading “Watership Down” for the fourth or fifth time. That’s why.
“i own nearly every album on the list ” Gee..that sucks. Im sorry to hear that. Do you own any albums that are not available to instore purchase at your local Best Buy?
Wow, if we don’t see any Lamb of God soon, they’re going to take the top three spots. Which will be awesome.
We’ve already seen Lamb of God on this list.
To be fair, I think we all know Ashes of the Wake is coming.
I know, I was talking about their other albums as well.
Palaces better be on this list.
and only Palaces
I Wouldnt be suprised, but they only have 2 good albums left
Fucking Anders! Fair Placement.
I just gotta say that, although I don’t agree with a lot of the albums/bands on this list being on the list, I have had a great time seeing what everyone recommends as what SHOULD be on the list. I have discovered a bunch of bands and albums that I’ve never heard of or had heard of but never gave a listen to. Great job guys.
lol I’ve been doing the same. It’s great isn’t it?
No doubt. I’ve learned of some bands that are new and some bands I’ve overlooked.
Del: “You know what Double D stands for?”
Sanford: “Yeah, really big boobs. And you know who’s got really big boobs?”
Del: “Your Mom?”
Sanford: “Yeah, and they’re SWEET.”
hmmmm never listened to it
Fuck yes! Love In Flames, glad it found it’s way on to the list.
This band got me into metal!! fucking LOVE this album. FANTASTIC STUFF.
Good choice that spawned 1000s of bands. The last awesome In Flames record and one of the main incorporaters of melody and catchiness into death metal and metalcore. Good Shit.
Part of me misses all the bitching.
All of me misses all the bitching
We need Ziltoid to instigate some shit. But alas, he already said his peace.
I dont even feel compelled to comment anymore.
I really like in flames’ stuff before clayman, but this album was boring as hell, with the exception of maybe bullet ride and the title track. i think colony, which i haven’t seen mentioned, is solid. i like it even more then whoracle. i can’t really stomach much after this record though. its sad cuz i was really excited about this band for a long time. i remember when i had these guys, dark tranquility, and arch enemy on constant rotation. ahh the days…..
I remember smoking a good ‘ole bowl and driving around discussing what the true meaning of what a “Pinball Map” is…
..and life no longer seems as shiny.
I think i was there one of those times.
Good call, good call
Methinks this is the closest yet to a “classic” or “seminal” pick. (Mostly, this list just makes me realize what a forgettable and depressing decade it’s been.)
Yes, yes and even more yes, I love this album. I was fortunate enough to see them last year where they played Satellites and Astronauts live. Amazing album, both sonically and technically.
can anybody help me with this one? I got it after it won the Metal Maniacs readers’ poll and couldn’t stand it.
what about it warrants a second chance?
because chicks can dig it.
That depends, GuuGuu… name a few albums that you DO really like
I get chills just thinking about this album… great choice!
Not a fan of melodic death metal, but everybody seems to like this album so that’s good.
shit choice, inflames suck
Leave now
ewwwwwwwwwwwww
Initiate flamewars….now. IMO, good pick.
There is not an In Flames album I don’t like, but I will say that this was a turning point. I certainly listen to Whoracle, Jester Race, and Colony more than this or the later albums.
Michael Jackson is DEAD!!!
Don’t forget Farrah Fawcett
And Ed McMahon.
she died of anal cancer. HA
somehow, this is the pick that’s made me the most angry so far!
yeah, this is a great CD, but it does not belong on a top anything list, as far as i am concerned.
What did you expect from a panel of trendy faggots?
… Outta right field!? Love the pick though, just wasn’t expecting to see it on this list. Great album and awesome live band
YES YES YES YES YES. One of my favourite albums ever. It’s also good to see that a band’s best album has actually been chosen for a change.
I don’t really like this album. Call me an elitist asshole but I prefer their earlier stuff.
elitist asshole
way to be that guy
ha ha i kid, i kid
Pretty obvious but still a sick album.
YES!
In Flames We Trust!
Fuck this. Where’s Chris Cornell’s Scream?! They must be saving that for number one.
you know axl is gonna use that and make it the banner for a day, right?
Not my favorite In Flames album, but that one doesn’t qualify.
Finally, worthy albums in the Top 10. :)
Opeth and Gojira aren’t worthy?
I can’t argue this album, because I know how influential In Flames were in terms of the popularity of melodeath, but it’s been a long time since I’ve listened to this album. I think it was a decent album, although I don’t think I was that impressed with it. I do recall thinking that In Flames had some retarded song titles, though.
This list would make more sense if it was “most influential” and not “best.” In Flames is definitely influential.
considering the list is a poll of dozens of people, whats the difference? in this context, doesnt ‘best’ mean ‘most personally influential’? and doesnt ‘most influential’ mean ‘generally recognized as best’?
Has some good songs on it, has influenced a lot of bands, but I still wouldn’t count it as one of the best metal albums of the 21st century.
I really like this choice. I’m not against all their later albums though, because they’re how I got into In Flames.
Sadly, IF went downhill after this. Reroute to Remain was uneven as fuck, Soundtrack to Your Escape was every bit as bad as Octagon and St. Anger, and Come Clarity and ASoP were good but not great. This album is truly the end of an era but a great album at that.
GODDAM I THOUGHT THIS ALBUM WAS MADE LATE 1999 AND WASNT ELIGIBLE!
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRR
This has been the best pick out of all the albums so far. It doesn’t say much, but this album is decent. Disturbed will be #7 and Metallica’s – Gay Inc #6. Fuck this list.
just previewed it on ITunes, 10 seconds…fucking shite
poor strategy, bro. have you ever listened to metal before?
Huh. Who knew In Flames would make the list with watered-down melodeath pop metal? Oh wait a minute, I think WE all knew.
I wonder if Ensiferum/Wintersun or Amon Amarth will be on here… It seems like these all are pretty popular choices and I don’t know how big folk/viking is in the U.S.
I could see Amon Amarth. There’s no way Ensiferum or Wintersun will be on this list though, allthough they should.
HELL YEAH
one of my all time fave metal bands
but if there here does that mean bodom will also get a spot?
Shit yeah. The last three days have been WIN.
I didn’t realize this was a 21st century release, thought it was ‘99, but nonetheless i’m happy to see it here. This is one of my favorite In Flames albums and I thought this list was gonna get completed without an appearance by them. This pick is a definite win.
Who gets the remaining 3 spots after Mastodon, LOG, Opeth, and Gojira each take at least one more? Wouldn’t mind seeing The Ocean, Meshuggah, and Textures. And I still want Drowning Pool. Let the bodies hit the floor.
great fucking pick
awesome album awesome band period
This is also the first album I heard from In Flames, just like yesterday’s From Mars to Sirius was for Gojira, and What a fucking great introduction to the band, been a fan ever since backtracking their catalog, of course. The albums after haven’t been nearly as good, and this is their landmark achievement.
1 more down and 1 step close to Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water being # 1. This site will be Rollin then!
Sirs, this is the new banner
never got what made In Flames influence, they were awful to me.
That album cover looks like it was made in the fucking 80s. Terrible design. Shame on them.
You can see why they put SOAD and whatnot on the list. Clayman – like 100 comments (so far). White Pony – almost 450.
They didn’t make this list, you dumbass!!!!!!!!!! Other people voted!!!!!! How many times do we have to type this for you idiots to get it through your thick skulls?!?!?! FUCK!!!!
I’m not saying they did. I apologise, allow me to clarify. I was suggesting that the panel had a broader view of metal than the average commenter here, which has stimulated a vogirous and interesting debate which in turn provides some great marketing numbers for Metal Sucks.
Again, my apologies. I see how my post could have been misinterpreted.
And dude, you gotta chill out. Get that anger out y’know? It’s bad for the soul and all that.
mea culpa
That’s probably the case because this has been a pretty popular pick, while certain people turned the SOAD and Deftones picks into bitchfests.
Good album but I like “Colony”, “Come Clarity” and “A Sense Of Purpose” better with my favorite being “Come Clarity.”
If only “Colony” had come out a year later than it did, it could easily be in the top 5 on this list.
God I love that album.
Good pick overall though MS.
Great pick…PERIOD, I was hoping this or Reroute to Remain would make it
I would Have Said…
21. Fate Of Norns – Amon Amarth
20. Traced In Air – Cynic
19. A Sense of Purpose – In Flames
18. As Daylight Dies – Killswitch Engage
17. Subliminal Verses – Slipknot
16. Colors – Between The Buried And Me
15. Versus The World – Amon Amarth
14. Leviathan – Mastodon
13. Wrath – Lamb of God
12. ObZen – Meshuggah
11. Blood Mountain – Mastodon
10. Clayman – In Flames
9. Silent Waters – Amorphis
8. Mezmerize – System of A Down
7. The Way Of All Flesh – Gojira
6. Blackwater Park – Opeth
5. Train Of Thought – Dream Theater
4. 10,000 Days – Tool
3. From Mars To Sirius – Gojira
2. Crack The Skye – Mastodon
1. Ghost Reveries – Opeth
theres a lot of bands i enjoy, but some weird album picks. i have the same four bands in my own top four, but in a different order and no albums in common. weird. so why 10000 days over lateralus? why wrath over, well, any other album? why mezmerize at all? nice to see you put versus the world above fate of norns though. its the only amon amarth album i care about. you did make this list for me, right? since im the one commenting on it…?
wow…
i wonder how they could pick this album over ‘Colony’ or even ‘Whoracle’…
oh well… im guessin maybe a metallica or a pimp bizkit album coming up…
lol…
SCAM!!!
Because those albums came out in the 90s, dumbass.
oooh shit…
yeah ur right…
my bad…
but still those albums were way better than clayman…
Nah, I’m sorry for calling you a dumbass…it’s just that this is the album that got me into the heavier side of metal, and I get kinda defensive about it.
# 1 = Ziltoid – “Michael Jackson you dead whore” – The tr00 metal experience.
i do not care for this band…
its like paint by numbers… but for harmony, melody and rhythm…
IMO, last good In Flames album, it all went “chug chug, chug chug” from there…
I can’t believe this amazIng album is from the same band that wrote A Sense Of Purpose. Hang you heads in shame, In Flames.
excellent choice
Two words : Fuck Yeah.
I haven’t heard this album, but I know what melodic death metal is; bad.
I’ll be leaving for a week for Roskilde Festival, so I’m looking forward to the revealing of #1 when I come home, and the massive amount of hate-comments being dropped about it.
Great pick! Just reading the lineup of the CBGB’s gig in 2000 made me wish I had been there. I’m still a big In Flames fan and they never fail to play these songs great when they play out live.
Big In Flames fan here so guess I’m happy about this pick. All tho I’ve stopped listening to anything post-Colony, Pinball Map is still the shit.
I would agree with this one..best In Flames release of the Aughts. I saw them headline after “Re-Route” came out, the came with Unearth, Chiamaria, and Soilwork. Not a bad line-up. “Only for the weak” was the highlight of the night…on and the show being in July, in Austin, Texas and the dickhead club-owner being to cheap to turn on the AC…that was pretty awesome..I call it the heavy metal weight loss plan.
Good call! The last time they were mighty.. and wrote songs that didn’t all sound the same.
Another good one!
I guess the other crap was because most of the judges are in shit bands/ work for shit labels.
ya i think there may have been some collusion for promotional purposes.
quite a big fan of this record, and it def deserves some place on thi slist. I don’t know if I woudl put it as high as #8, but its better than the other crapola thats been showing up.
YOU SHOULD DENOUNCE YOUR RELIGION ANYWAY COS RELIGION IS GAY.
SO IS SWEDISH METAL.
Jester Race is still my favorite, and even though they suck now, I’m glad they made the list.
YOU ARE GAY.
This album, along with Alive or just Breathing from KSE, are 2 of my personal favorite albums of all time.