In Flames is perhaps one of the most influential bands to come out of Europe over the last two decades. They really took their fanbase on a musical journey, as they continued to evolve their sound. The Scandinavian group is hailed as one of the true pioneers of Swedish Death Metal, a style that takes the concept of original death metal further by making it more melodic and splicing it up with hardcore punk influences. The band’s most recent release, “Foregone,” actually came out as a two-part set of EPs on streaming platforms, a clever and necessary move to release music in this day and age, as even bigger bands are slaves to the algorithm! Still, the album is still going to release as a whole as soon as the singles’ promotional cycle is over, so fans who prefer a more traditional album experience will definitely be happy to know. The first song on the first installment happens to be the title track, and it hits hard right off the bat. Fast tempos, relentless drumming, and melodic guitar lines are some of the trademark elements of In Flames’ sound, and they’re all here. In contrast with some of the band’s earlier music, this new record sports a modern sound, with spotless production and a lot of crisp definition. Still, this release is far from being an aseptic studio trick. The songs aren’t overproduced, and the sound still retains a very organic element to it. There is room for some great riffs and twin guitar harmonies on “The Great Deceiver,” which at times feels like a callback to some of the band’s earliest days. On the song “State of Slow Decay,” the band aims for a pounding, aggressive vibe, offering one of the most frantic and fast sets of riffs.
The second EP seems to lean more heavily on melody, and there is also room for a 3/4 time signature on the song “Foregone Pt.2,” with a vocal hook and a vibe that is almost reminiscent of alternative bands like Deftones at times!
Ultimately, what makes this new work so special is that it seems to be a combination of “old” and “new” In Flames. The band set out to look back at its heritage, while also moving forward in their leanings toward alternative music. While this record might not please people who are only interested in the pure, old-school sound of In Flames, it definitely offers something new and refreshing to fans who prefer the band’s broader current sound.
-Georgina Strilakos