Alot of bands I like (In flames,COF,slipknot- to name a few) seem to get lighter with age (especially cradle). I know its always good for a band to change so that their music dosent get stagnant and boring but why lighter?

Brave New World is my fave Maiden album, then Number Of The Beast and Powerslave

Somewhere in Time is one of my all time favourite albums.
The title track has probably the finest album intro ever. imo

Because they want to?
There could be a million reasons. I'm sure some bands don't do it on purpose, the music they write is lighter in comparison to their previous works.
Anyway, does it really matter?

not really but i just like the heavier stuff-oh well

Some people do change. My brother is a prime example. When he was a teenager, his music of choice was Machine Head, Sepultura, Pantera etc but nowadays he's more likely to listen to Counting Crows, The Eagles and Morrissey. It's not that he doesn't still like the heavier stuff, he's just mellowed out the older he's got.

Isnt the correct word "more melodic".
And it's called progression.
A lot of bands would get bored if they played the same sort of music all their carreers. It's good to have a variety amongst your albums.
Some bands mellow out on their latest releases, some do the opposite and get heavier.
It's the band's choice really. Because essentially a band is making music for themselves. And their fans too yes. But primarily as musicians they have to enjoy the music they write and some bands have roots in death metal but branch out into other subgenres of metal.
It doesnt make the older "classic" albums any less great.
And I sometimes perfer some band's more melodic offerings. The latest Slipknot for example has some quite memorable songs compared to their older stuff which can be forgettable. XD
In Flames have really moved away from their death metal roots but I still find albums like Come Clarity a great album
As for the other example you given... Cradle of Filth's latest is alright. I prefer Nymphetamine.

because those bands care more about money then music now.

QUOTE(Carnage @ Sep 11 2007, 11:04 AM) [snapback]392714[/snapback]because those bands care more about money then music now.

I seriously hope you were joking

Not at all, its pretty obvious bands like In Flames and Cradle of Filth are only as famous as they are today because they started playing softer, more radio friendly music. Thats why there are so many better bands in the underground of the same genres those bands play, that are as old or older then them, yet still play heavy music.

There's no guarantee of making more money playing softer music though