r/InFlames

I listened to Gates of Ishtar – Dawn Of Flames on my morning walk today. I fucking love that record.

But it kind of made something click for me about early In Flames (Jester Race - Whoracle era), they were great at utilizing restraint.

Dawn Of Flames is amazing, but it’s a full on onslaught. There are a few pockets where they slow down and a couple cool piano parts, but it’s mostly 1000000 BPM, speedy mcspeederson in terms of tempo.

A lot of early melodeath (and a ton of metal bands in general) just go full on fucking pedal to the metal. Blast beats, nonstop riffing, etc. Sometimes it works…but it often gets exhausting as hell when there’s no breathing room.

In Flames at their peak actually understood that you don’t need to be fast all the time. They’ll drop into mid tempo rock grooves, slow things down, let riffs sit while still building atmosphere with those sweet melodic leads. I’ll use Whoracle as an example. Tracks like “Gyroscope” and “Jester Script Transfigured” have great pacing and are super balanced. Then when they thrash again on “Morphing Into Primal”, it actually hits hard instead of just blending into the chaos.

Space is the difference. It’s not just “melody + death metal,” it’s knowing when to not to go hard and when to hold back. That balance is why those records still stand out in my opinion. I’m gonna go listen to Whoracle now.

I like trigger alot, but it feels short

A lot of us have probably heard Anders say things in interviews like, "Well, there's really not that much difference between the old sound and the new sound" and while I think both obviously share some core sonic tropes, there's obviously a difference in feel between the two. What are these differences, exactly?

In my opinion, I think there are two distinct differences that separate the early sound from the latter sound. One primary difference is the death and black metal influence, which is much more prominent on Lunar Strain through Whoracle. You see this in their melodic choices, in the blastbeats they occasionally use, and the twiddly tremelo picking that is such a huge part of early Swedish death, melodic death, and black metal. I think what set In Flames apart was obviously their choice to go beyond the typical black-death sound and include more melodic passages and Iron Maiden style harmony riffs, helping to create the Gothenburg "melodeath" sound.

But I think this second difference is more fundamental: the influence of traditional Swedish folk music, giving In Flames almost the aire of a folk metal band. This is so foundational to their early sound, you can see it everywhere: the 3/4—6/8 sea shanty shuffle riffs both fast and slow, the acoustic outros and instrumentals, and even the melodic choices themselves, giving In Flames a baroque, medieval vibe on the early records.

Combining these two traits together, we get a band more aligned with Scandinavian death and power metal bands of the era, and this is directly evident in Jesper's shared history with HammerFall.

The newer sound is no longer based in death and folk influences, and while it does incorporate similar riffs—the third harmonized syncopated leads—it begins from a completely different framework, one of more traditional rock and roll structures. The early sound was almost progressive at times, and most newer songs, even on Foregone, have a verse-chorus-verse-chorus-solo structure, despite still incorporating more trad In Flames riffage. The melodies are also often different, lacking in the same minor mode sound with a medieval folk flair.

Wrapping things up, I think the foundation of the latter day sound is a post-millennium metalcore, post-hardcore and conventional metal aesthetic—not death, black and folk—with early trad In Flames sounds peppered on top. The old sound had a death, black and folk base with a new melodic sensibility peppered on top. Both sounds have different fundamentals, but similar accents.

This is not to say that I dislike the latter day stuff, of course. I'm just trying to see where the conflict is between older fans and newer fans, and I want to try and understand the actual change in sound, despite Anders claming there is little change. I personally like their entire career. As a black and death metal fan, it tend to prefer the early stuff, but I've grown to appreciate the newer as well.

Is there anything you disagree with? How do you think In Flames has actually, fundamentally changed over the years? Would love some opinions.

Full song from last night 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

Full song from last night 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

I’m bringing up this age-old debate again: what gear did Glenn Ljungstrom and Jesper Stromblad use during the recording sessions for The Jester Race and on tour? I’m obsessed with that tone and the unique vibe it creates.

We know more or less that they used the Marshall Valvestate 8100 and the Boss HM-2.

I’d be very curious to know what pickups they were equipped with. The neck pickup Jester used during that tour reminds me of a Dimarzio

Thank you guys

Has anyone else noticed the genre or stylistic pattern

In Flames has had going on for about 22 years now. They start with a style or sound then carry it on for 2 albums. Go listen to their entire discography and you will see:

["Lunar Strain" & "Subterranean"] those 2 albums are a like. Then "Jester Race & Whoracle"

Then came ["Colony" & "Clayman"] followed by ["Route to Remain" & "Soundtrack to Your Escape"]

after that came ["Come Clarity " & "A Sense of Purpose"] and so forth etc....

The 2nd album in the pairs is always more relike.

You can guess what the new up coming album will sound like based on the pattern and knowing what "Foregone" is likem.

Has anyone read the graphic novel "The Jester's Curse"? What (if anything) am I missing out on? I'm all for graphic novels, but if it's not good and/or doesn't contribute anything to the band's music or lore, I don't feel a need to spend $40 on it

Hey, I'm so stoked for the show here in London, Ontario on Friday! I'm going alone though and wondered if anyone wanted to maybe meet up? I don't know anyone in the area and thought it would be a great way to make some like minded pals. Either way, enjoy the show! it's going to be so good.. saw them almost a year ago to the day in Kelowna 🔥🤘

What songs do you hope they play? I haven't looked up the set list yet, want it to be a surprise lol

What are some modern bands from the last 10-15 years who are heavily influenced by In Flames. I just know of Eyes Wide Open.

Who all is going? Check in here!

I have a spare GA ticket if anyone is interested.

I just saw my 3rd In Flames show! I drove 5 hours to Milwaukee and am a bit bummed I didn’t snag a setlist. I have one from my past 2 other shows and would love to complete the collection with this setlist too!

I’m willing to pay good money for one if anybody is willing to part ways with theirs. If not, I totally understand! Or would anybody be able to scan a pdf of their copy and email it to me so I could print it out myself?

In Flames has been my favorite band since I was a kid and I’d love to complete my collection! Thank you all!

A few questions to those who saw them live recently:

1. Did you buy merch before, during, or after the show? If before, did you just hold on to everything throughout the entire show?

2. I'm a short dude - is it a must to try to get to the front? (It's a standing only concert)

3. Should I mentally prepare to hear the rerecorded versions of pinball map and only for the weak?