A melodic death metal band, one of the leaders of the "Gothenburg" style (after the whole spawn of bands arising from that Swedish city: At The Gates, In Flames, Dark Tranquility, etc.). This term is also used to describe non-Swedish bands, such as Sentenced and Amorphis. But, while Sentenced and Amorphis have completely abandoned death metal, In Flames and Dark Tranquility managed to develop within the original style, creating "melodic death." In Flames debuted in 1993 with "Lunar Strain" (1993). In 1995 the band was joined by a former Dark Tranquility frontman, Anders Friden, and the subsequent album "Jester Race" (1995) is hailed by some as their best. "Whoracle" (1997) and "Colony" (1999) were agreeable follow-ups, that cemented the band's position as the undisputed leaders of the genre, as they developed a huge following and spawned countless imitators. Band's current line-up consisted of Friden, Bjorn Gelotte (guitars), Daniel Svensson (drums), Peter Iwers (bass), and Jasper Stromblad (guitars). The band also showed strong work ethic, by touring the USA more than all NWOEPM bands combined. But then strange things started to happen. Possibly in order to expand their American fanbase, the band started to change their sound. "Clayman" (2000) generated more variable responses, as it showcased a more mellow, more modern approach, followed by even more controversial "Reroute To Remain" (2002) and "Soundtrack To Your Escape" (2004), both of which their old fans took as a slap in the face, although their latest, "Come Clarity" (2006) was taken more favorably. Band members often guest star on other bands' albums (the weirdest of all was Jasper Stromblad appearance on Hammerfall's "Glory To The Brave" album, where he played... drums).
JESTER RACE / BLACK ASH INHERITANCE (1996/2002)
RATING: ****1/2
BEST SONGS: "Moonshield," "Artifacts of the Black Rain," title track
Believe it or not, In Flames' breakthrough album is also their most melodic one. Melodies are unequaled, use of acoustics is tasteful and masterful. The album starts very much on the melodic side, but gradually progresses to the more energetical forms. Most of the songs have at least one critical tempo change, and overall the song canvas are pretty complex. In the beginning you can see how the band perfected their use of waltz tempos: their waltzes are probably the best in metal ("Moonshield"). Instrumental "The Jester Dance" is another acoustically-driven artifact of beauty. Speaking of artifacts, driving "Artifacts of the Black Rain" is a great upper-mid-tempo song that the band still gladly plays live. "Graveland" is a grinder with tempo shifting from fast verses to midtempo pre-choruses and choruses. I must specifically mention the lyrics. While the issues In Flames deal with are typical death metal issues: the evil of mankind, its way of destroying itself and the surrounding world, unbearable heaviness of being, search for sanctuary and salvation in the other worlds, lost hopes, and abandoned dreams. BUT, there are two differences from most death metal song lyrics. Number one, there is very little blood and gore. Number two, lyrics actually make sense, and they are absolutely stunning in their poetic imagery. "We, the plague of Terra Firma / nature's grand and last mistake / plant the poisoned seed of cancer / set the severed fruits awake / Burning like frozen relics / in god's archaic graveland" ("Graveland"). "Hypnagonia's lucid horizons / play with the yearning I've quelled / as I strike towards the Pantheon / and what therein is held" ("Lord Hypnos"). Strangely enough, most of the lyrics are rhymed, albeit one can never tell from Anders Friden's "singing." Yes it's been almost three years since I've heard him for the first time, and even though I love his singing now, I remember very well how I would quiver at the sound of it. "Lord Hypnos" has a terrific break in the middle, and the entire song is outstanding. It is hard to pick favorites, because the whole album is great in its melodical approach and depressing, yet invigorating power. Jesper is a king of melody, played in the heaviest way possible, as he (and the rest of the band) is simply killing you with beauty. "December Flower" starts like a top notch blastbeat grinder, but quickly turns into yet another wonderful display of elegance (great solo too), and it explains the band's name: "We are In Flames! Towards the dead archaic heavens! We are the Mantle and the Texture! The alters the mantle of the earth!" "Wayfaerer" is another instrumental, mostly midtempo rocker. I gotta mention guest vocal appearance of Hammerfall's guitarist Oscar Drojnak in "Dead Eternity." Yeah, weird. The main portion of the album ends with yet another display of faster, more aggressive In Flames in "Dead God In Me." I have a digipack with four bonus tracks, entitled "Black Ash Inheritance": an excellent song "Goliaths Disarm Their Goliaths" ("Bible Arm on social hell spins its downward spiral / with each year of unprogression a fine of failure is added"), even better "Gyroscope" (which we all know from the Whoracle album), an acoustic medley instrumental, and live version of crowd's favorite "Behind Space." Add excellent production and sound from Fredrik Nordstrom (also contributed the keyboards) & the guys themselves, excellent artwork from Andreas Marshall, and you get yourself a must-have instant classic from the mid-90s.
WHORACLE (1997)
BEST SONGS: "Food For The Gods," "Gyroscope," "Morphing Into Primal"
One awesome death metal album! More melodic than brutal (actually, it's not brutal at all), it clearly shows that one does not have to be mellow to conduct the sense of charm and beauty. "Dialogue With The Stars" (instrumental) and "Gyroscope" (with great lyrics like "Neo-wolf, but older again than the Lupus itself / linked its fur to the gyroscope of time" and "I see the nursing all-mother spitting out a trail of termites / in the mouth of her first-born hope / breasts ripe with smog-filled rebellion") are among the prettiest pieces a metalhead can ever be graced with. Yet, it still rocks, with "Morphing Into Primal" being one of the best driving, grinding, and catchy songs I know. If you can pass the harsh vocals (which, btw, have nothing in common with standard American cookie monster vocals). Virtually, all of the album is a masterpiece, and the melodies are simply outstanding. The lyrics mainly remain the same, full of hate for humanity and searching for the way out of hell that it has created. These guys (namely Jesper Stromblad) truly possess the sense of MELODY to the highest degree. Other great tunes are opening "Jotun," "Episode 666," and cover of Depeche Mode's "Everything Counts." A must have.
COLONY (1999)
BEST SONGS: "Embody The Invisible," "Ordinary Story," title track.
Simply great music overshadows the death metal vocals that I dislike so much. I will probably never be able to comprehend death metal, but this one comes the closest. The melody and energy are outstanding, and the term "melodic death" acquires a new meaning in this album. It's a lot more "melodic" than it is "death," but it's fast, furious, and really kicks ass. Although death metal purists from Sweden accuse In Flames of "selling out" and "going pop," I am a lot more pleased with this demonstration of sense of melody, as opposed to just brutal rage. Virtually every song is good, but my favorites are the ripping and catchy opener, "Embody The Invisible," its follow-up, "Ordinary Story," extra melodic title track, and mellower "Behind Space 99." Lyrics, as it's always the case with In Flames, mostly express disgust with mankind, describing it as a "colony" of evil insects. Superb musicianship and energy of the band alone would make it a valuable purchase, but great songs make it nearly a must.
CLAYMAN (2000)
RATING: ****
BEST SONGS: "Pinball Map," "Square Nothing," "Satellites And Astronauts"
Unlike my instant love of Whoracle, this one takes some time to sink in. It took 6 months to grow on me, but it's still an excellent album. Definitely not as harsh or fast as their classics are (and, damnit, the song "Bullet Ride" should be FRIGGIN' FAST!), there's more melody than ever before, but it's still the same band. "Pinball Map" is an excellent song, and so are "Square Nothing," the title track, and "Brush The Dust Away." "Only For The Weak" rocks, and the sense of melody is just amazing. Great drumwork from Daniel Svenson (check out the intro to "Brush The Dust Away") and Stromblad is... well, Stromblad. "Satellites And Astronauts" is a curious death metal waltz, with melody oozing out of its ears. It took me a couple of months before I realized that this album should definitely remain in my collection. I just hope they don't get any more watered down. As my friend put it: "they've been touring the States too much and picked up a lot of bad habits." We'll see.
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