These dates alongside In Flames are Sonic Syndicate’s second trip to the UK having done a stellar job opening the Eastpak shows last year. With a stage time so early that people were still filtering into the venue the Swedes ploughed through their short set with the emphasis very much on last year’s Only Inhuman album. ‘Flashback’, ‘Denied’, Psychic Suicide’ and ‘Blue Eyed Fiend’ all made appearances alongside an enthusiastic rendition of ‘Jack Of Diamonds’ from their newly released Love And Other Disasters. With the passion, the energy and the songs all of the ingredients were in place for what should have been an excellent performance, only let down by the fact that with vocals seemed way too quiet, more's the pity that they didn't have the sound mix to go with their effort. 

Although Gojira came across slightly static after Sonic Syndicate’s enthusiasm, they did prove to be equally as entertaining. Their heavy groove laden songs went down well with the Birmingham crowd, newer material like ‘Vacuity’ fitting in nicely with the monstrous ‘Backbone’, which was the highlight of the show, although set closer ‘The Heaviest Matter’ did come a close second in those stakes. Given the reaction the Frenchmen received here it appeared that much of the audience were actually in the Academy just here for them; even a drum solo (why?) didn’t distract from what was a great show. 

In Flames have an abundance of fans of that there is no doubt, that those same fans are difficult to please is also not in question: one fan’s ideal set is another’s nightmare. It's must be difficult for a band that has evolved over the years to please everyone however the bold move of starting with ‘The Chosen Pessimist’ whilst silhouetted by backlights against a large white curtain hanging in front of the stage was probably not the wisest decision. Although it made for an atmospheric start it lacked the necessary impetus to get the crowd involved from the off. ‘I’m The Highway’, also from A Sense Of Purpose, followed before the band offered up ‘Vanishing Light’, possibly the worst song from Come Clarity to play after the slow start given it’s lack of big hooks, hooks that are evident on the rest of that particular album. It was left to ‘The Mirrors Truth’ to give the set the kick start it required, but even with the impetus it garnered In Flames quickly slowed the pace back down again with ‘Satellites And Astronauts’ and the inclusion of ‘Pinball Map’ didn't help either, not getting as great a reaction as normal.  

For some reason Anders Fridén didn't seem to be able to communicate with the crowd either, perhaps not helped by the fact a minority in attendance insisted on screaming out for the inclusion of older songs, but even when the band acceded to such requests and offered up material from Colony and The Jester Race it may have pleased the minority but the majority proved to indifferent to the band's efforts and it showed. The whole set felt disjointed with the older material not quite mixing as well as it should with the new. Apart from ‘Cloud Connected’, which really did get the crowd moving, itwas left to the end of the set: ‘Come Clarity’, ‘The Quite Place’, ‘Alias’, ‘Trigger’ and ‘Take This Life’, to really make the show come alive, which sadly was all a little too late. It’s not like the band didn't put effort in, they really did and the addition of a wall of lights as a backdrop flashing up partial lyrics was a nice touch. Perhaps this criticism is too harsh on In Flames but, based on the evidence of this show and from past experiences, they could and should have been so much better.