Good old sound despite new personnel. New output from the Swedish melodic death metal pioneers In Flames: With "Battles," the band presents a new studio album in 2016, just two years after "Siren Charms," their twelfth to date. Anders Fridén (vocals), Björn Gelotte (guitar), Niclas Engelin (guitar), and Peter Iwers (bass) recorded a total of twelve new songs for it at the beginning of the year. Newcomer Joe Rickard, who replaced Daniel Svensson in 2016, was on drums for the first time. Rickard joined the band through producer Howard Benson (Motörhead, Sepultura, My Chemical Romance), who was behind the mixing desk for "Battles." That the Gothenburg quintet hasn't forgotten its musical roots despite the personnel changes was already evident before the album's release with the singles "The Truth" and "The End." Both songs confirm what the band had already announced: The mood on "Battles" is more positive than on its dark and melancholic predecessor.