Yes, rather than the In Flames route of plagiarism, Within Y take not just a page but an entire chapter from At the Gates’ legacy and repackage it into an acceptable knock off. Solid riffs, superb musicianship, nostalgic fumes, but familiar terrain permeates this well executed but deja-vu filled album. Despite its inherent flaw, Within Y is still catchy, melodic, thrashy and tight and Andreas Solvestrom’s rasp is shamelessly Tomas Lindberg-esque. (Just listen to the “GO” in album opener “Lost in Solitude”) Choppier and more dynamic than many of the NWSDM revivalists, Within Y are at least bereft of frilly accompaniments and overindulgent harmonies, preferring a more direct approach that’s entertaining for short periods, although I personally think Nail Within’s self titled debut was even more relentless.

While well played, each track on this album seems to invoke the works of other bands; “Things” reeks of the classic ATG tune “Nausea,” while “Injection” with its late piano flourish is pure early Dark Tranquility (I actually quite enjoyed it – hoping it would flesh out rather than a simple add on for a song), and those are just two such moments that spring to mind. That being said imitation is the greatest form of flattery, and those content to listen to 2nd generation Gothenburg metal will eat this up, deservedly so as to be honest, it captures the sound of the era better than most of the clones I’ve heard, but still doesn’t stake any claim to being anything more.

Of course where else to produce such an album than Studio Fredman, which just adds to the reoccurring taste that fills your mouth upon each listen, but at least it’s a pleasant taste. I’ll admit though, “Face Down,” has its moments of pure adrenaline, if sprinkled with newer In Flames styled groove and chorus amid its short-lived carnage. Blom seems rarely challenged during the moderately similarly paced material, in fact I doubt he broke a sweat during the familiar beats, but he still delivers a tight backbone. When all is said and done, the quality of the album is pretty high, but that’s kind of expected at this point, but it lacks character above and beyond a well oiled Gothenburg sound.

To their credit, Within Y do avoid the ballad or clean vocals pitfall, thereby leaving the ATG aura untarnished with undue artistry, but the lack of identity as a whole might well have benefited from something to break its ATG stranglehold a little. Still, fans that live and breathe the Gothenburg sound can do no wrong here, because as a single entity Extended Mental Dimensions is a good album, but the shadow it thrives under is ever present throughout every note.

 So where does that leave  Ironcrosses? Other than a questionable label change, nowhere, other than being album number 6. Much like the album, the release of Ironcrosses comes with little fanfare or flare other than being another Dismember album. Like a sixth child, the excitement seems to have lost its sheen and the luster is a little muted. Of course, this is still a Dismember album, and by that fact alone is a fine album, but I’m not sure where it fits in with their discography as a whole. It contains everything Dismember stand for: the Swedish buzzing guitars, Matti Karki’s distinct bark, the hum of the bass and the infectious yet brutal simplicity of pure death metal, so in that regard fans will not be disappointed.

To cut to the chase though, and put this album in layman terms for fans, Ironcrosses stands somewhere between the ‘been there, heard that’ onslaught of Hate Campaign, and the melodic, slower groovier aspects of Massive…, maybe even more so. There is a nice mix of short sharp, gut busting savagery that starts and end the album (“Where Ironcrosses Grow”, “Forged with Hate”, “As the Coin Upon Your Eyes” “As I Pull the Trigger”), but the middle section of the album seems to take a slower/melodic turn with a long chunk of Maiden-ish harmonies or crawling songs. Granted these songs contain some of the heaviest , slowest riffs Dismember have ever penned, but the lack of raw edge that saw fans criticize Massive Killing Capacity, is once again very prevalent. Take that as you will, as some of these songs are as weighty and anything they have recorded at the expense of speed.

The lumbering climax to “Me-God” makes the album’s first controlled turn after the first 2 more urgent tracks. “Tragedy of the Faithul” drips with melody than could be Maiden meets Massive Killing Capacity, and the same thing surfaces midday into the solo heavy and maybe overly melodic “Chasing the Serpent” it just comes across as a little too much forced melody. Those that enjoyed Hate Campaign’s monstrous title track will, enjoy the chugging pace of “Where Angels Fear to Tread”, but is does not seem to peak or climax like the aforementioned track. Karki and Cabeza’s involvement in Murder Squad arises for the Autopsy-like ooze of Children of the Cross”,that while grimy and slug-like, does not go anywhere and again just kind of cements the strange sense of non-fulfillment that the album exudes.

The Sami Studio production continues the Sunlight sound, but to these ears, Richard Cabeza’s bass isn’t as menacing as before, and instead of a wall of sound, you get more of a fence. For example the initial moments of “Sword of Light” seem drowned away, and Fred Estby’s drums just are not as forceful as they have been in the past. Have Dismember evolved? Hell no, they still belt out the style they helped shape, so there is noting new here-it’s just….I dunno, restrained? I wasn’t quite satisfied when all was said and done, and that’s a shock coming from me. I don’t want to put you off, the album is still well worth owning, but don’t be surprised if this gets lets airplay than the rest of their discography. I’m truly torn on this one,: my fan boy side want to go “YAY a Dismember-its killer no matter what” but my objective review side want the potential buyer to be aware of a marked leveling out of Dismembers sound despite their legendary status.

A possible victim of their own brilliance, Dismember have simply failed to reach the bar they themselves set with their first 2 godly albums. Still, its Dismember, and they blow away most if not all other bands, but they have just failed to reach their own high standard.